South Africa: Slain anti-apartheid activist's killers to prosecuted

Nearly 33 years since her disappearance, South Africa’s National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) has decided to criminally prosecute four former apartheid policemen who several years back confessed to killing Nokuthula Simelani – an underground anti apartheid activist for the African National Congress.

Her sister, Thembi Nkadimeng says this will give the family, particularly their mother, closure.

“I should not be wiping my mum’s tears today, because I’m sure 20 years down the line, she should have healed, like any other parent who comes through a loss of a child. She should have healed. She can’t do that, it’s a pain she lives with daily. You don’t know what this process is doing to her currently. So they must be prosecuted,” said Nkadimeng

Simelani was part of the now ruling ANC’s military wing- Mkontho we Sizwe, translated into “the spear of the nation”. She was abducted and brutally tortured by the policeman, but her remains were never found.

The group confessed before the Truth and Reconciliation Commission, that was tasked with uncovering the past wrongdoings of South Africa’s apartheid regime.

Simelani’s family however said they are not entirely confident that the four will be succesfully prosecuted.

The four perpetrators are expected in court in two weeks.