A South African court found two former apartheid-era police officers guilty Tuesday of murdering student leader Caiphus Nyoka in 1987. The Johannesburg High Court acquitted Maj. Leon van den Berg, citing insufficient evidence linking him to the deadly raid on Nyoka’s home.
Judge Mohammed Ismail said van den Berg, accused of ordering the attack in Daveyton, could not be held responsible for Nyoka’s death. Sergeants Abraham Engelbrecht and Pieter Stander were convicted, with the court ruling they directly carried out the shooting that killed Nyoka, Eyewitness News reported.
Nyoka was 23 when officers raided his home during apartheid, a system enforcing racial segregation and oppressing non-white South Africans for decades. Following their convictions, Engelbrecht and Stander applied for bail, prompting the court to review whether they should remain in custody pending appeal.
Apartheid ruled South Africa from 1948 until 1994, with the white minority imposing harsh laws against the non-white majority, restricting freedoms and opportunities. The system ended after South Africa held its first multiracial election in 1994, bringing the African National Congress, led by Nelson Mandela, to power.
Nyoka’s murder and decades-long legal battle symbolize the enduring struggle for justice in post-apartheid South Africa, highlighting wounds still being addressed today. The court’s ruling underscores ongoing accountability for apartheid-era crimes, as South Africa continues reconciling with its turbulent history and fight for equality.