Two former apartheid police officers convicted of the murder of student activist Caiphus Nyoka will spend the New Year behind bars after the court denied their bail application.
Abraham Engelbrecht and Pieter Stander were convicted last month for Nyoka’s killing, which took place in 1987 at his family home in Daveyton, east of Johannesburg. The State successfully opposed their release, arguing that bail was not in the interests of justice.
Apartheid-Era Crime Revisited
Nyoka, a student activist, was shot and killed inside his home during the height of apartheid repression. His death became one of many politically motivated killings that symbolised the brutality of the apartheid security forces.
The case resurfaced decades later as part of renewed efforts to pursue justice for unresolved apartheid-era crimes.
Third Accused Already Sentenced
A third former police officer implicated in the murder, Johan Marais, pleaded guilty earlier in the proceedings. He was sentenced to 15 years’ imprisonment, avoiding a full trial.
Sentencing Set for 2026
Engelbrecht and Stander will remain in custody until their sentencing hearing in July 2026. The court found that there were no exceptional circumstances that justified granting bail, particularly given the seriousness of the crime and the interests of justice.
Long-Awaited Justice
Nyoka’s conviction has been welcomed by human rights activists and victims’ families as a rare moment of accountability for apartheid-era atrocities, many of which have gone unpunished for decades.
The case continues to highlight South Africa’s unresolved past and ongoing calls for justice, truth, and accountability for crimes committed under apartheid.
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