RODRIGUES LEGAL TEAM PETITIONS THE SCA
OCTOBER 16, 2019
The legal team of Joao Antonio Jan Rodrigues has petitioned the Supreme Court of Appeal (SCA) in Bloemfontein against the Judgment and Order of the High Court of South Africa (Gauteng Division, Pretoria) delivered on 18th September 2019. This is in relation to the Order that dismissed their leave to appeal for a permanent stay of prosecution against their client for his role in the murder of anti-apartheid activist, Ahmed Timol who was killed in police detention on 27th October 1971 at the notorious John Vorster Square Police Station (renamed Johannesburg central Police Station).
The main points of argument for the petition includes amongst others that an amnesty granted to perpetrators or alleged perpetrators of unlawful conduct of a political nature alternatively that there was an agreement with the authorities to the effect that no prosecutions would be instituted for political offences of this nature.
It also argues about improper conduct of deponents who filed opposing affidavits for the first and second respondents, namely the National Director of Public Prosecutions (NDPP) and Minister of Justice and Correctional Services, for failing to file affidavits timeously.
To commemorate Timol’s 48th anniversary, Freedom Park is hosting an exhibition titled, TIMOL – QUEST FOR JUSTICE that will be opening on 22nd October 2019 a. A powerful celebration of the life and legacy of an anti-apartheid activist whose life was brutally cut short by the apartheid regime.
Issued by Imtiaz Ahmed Cajee – nephew of Ahmed Timol, 16 October 2019
