2 days ago
Johan Marais faces sentencing for the murder of activist Caiphus Nyoka in apartheid-era case
Former apartheid police officer Johan Marais, who was earlier found guilty of the 1987 murder of student activist Caiphus Nyoka, will be back in the Gauteng High Court, Pretoria.
Image: Jacques Naude / Independent Newspapers
Former apartheid police officer Johan Marais, who was earlier found guilty of the 1987 murder of student activist Caiphus Nyoka, will be back in the Gauteng High Court, Pretoria, on July 7, when arguments will be further presented regarding his possible sentence.
The defence called a psychologist last week who assessed the 66-year-old Marais.
She told the court that he has remorse for what he had done 38 years ago, and he wishes that he could undo what had happened.
Apartheid-era police officer Johan Marais will be back in the dock in July to face punishment for his role in the killing of Caiphus Nyoka.
Image: Zelda Venter
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The proceedings have been set down for a week in July, during which the family of Nyoka is expected to state their feelings about the case.
In mitigation of sentence, psychologist Kirsten Clark pointed out that Marais is willing to partake in rehabilitation programmes, as well as his age, and the fact that he is not healthy.
Marais, however, indicated that he would abide by a prison sentence if this was what the court had in mind.
In August 1987, Nyoka was fatally shot at his family home in Daveyton by a police unit established to deal with terrorism.
In 1988 and 1989, an inquest held before the Benoni Magistrate's Court resulted in a ruling that the police had acted in self-defence, despite evidence presented by the family suggesting otherwise.
In 1997, Nyoka's mother, Saroma Nyoka, and his sister, Alegria Nyoka, approached the Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) to seek justice and to unearth the truth behind the killing. None of the police officers involved in Nyoka's killing applied for amnesty.
Marais described his role as a section leader in Reaction Unit 6 (riot unit) based in Dunnottar at the time of the killing.
He said on August 23, 1987, he and other members were called by their commander.
