Two former apartheid police officers, Abraham Engelbrecht (61) and Pieter Stander (60), have been convicted of the premeditated murder of student activist Caiphus Nyoka, who was shot nine times in 1987. The Pretoria High Court delivered the verdict, marking a significant milestone in the pursuit of justice for victims of apartheid-era crimes.
Nyoka, a member of the Congress of South African Students (COSAS), was killed during a raid on August 24, 1987. The court found that Engelbrecht and Stander, along with other members of the Reaction Unit, had planned and executed the murder. The National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) welcomed the conviction as a step towards justice for Nyoka's family.
The case has been ongoing, and Engelbrecht and Stander are currently in custody, awaiting sentencing on December 11, 2025. A third accused officer, Leon van den Berg, was acquitted due to insufficient evidence linking him to the crime. The NPA has stated that it will review the judgment regarding Van den Berg's acquittal.
Nyoka's murder was one of many alleged abuses by apartheid police that went unpunished for decades. The conviction serves as a reminder of the atrocities committed during the apartheid era and the ongoing efforts to bring perpetrators to justice. The NPA has described the conviction as a significant and impactful outcome, providing recognition for Nyoka's family and serving as a milestone in South Africa's pursuit of accountability for past crimes.
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