Timol witness relives 1971 ordeal

Struggle icon Salim Essop yesterday took the court back to 1971 when he relived his experience of being detained at John Voster Square on Commissioner Street. The building, now the Johannesburg Central Police Station, is the same building where his friend, anti-apartheid activist Ahmed Timol, fell 10 storeys to his death. A News24 report notes that on the second day of the inquiry looking into Timol’s death, the Gauteng High Court (Johannesburg) conducted an inspection in loco at the police station, where detainees were allegedly tortured and allegedly mysteriously died in custody in the hands of the apartheid police. Timol’s death was ruled a suicide in 1972. However, a private investigation launched by Timol's family uncovered new evidence, which it presented to the NPA, asking for the inquest to be reopened. Essop dominated the visit to the police station, showing and leading the delegation through the corridors and some of the important rooms where the torture allegedly took place. He re-enacted a scene from his testimony where he recalled seeing two policemen holding a man he believed was Timol. With two legal officials holding onto Essop, he proceeded to show Judge Billy Mothle that the man he saw appeared to not have enough strength to walk on his own. The delegation was also led to room 1026 where it is alleged Timol took his life. Essop read out the police statement and told Mothle he believed it would have been impossible for Timol to commit suicide because he was in the presence of another officer. ‘According to the police, at 3:48pm, Captain Cloyd and Van Niekerk, who also interrogated me (Essop), left the room. Roderick and Timol remained behind. ’Timol asked to go to the toilet and stood up with Roderick at the same time, Roderick moved to the left…Timol rushed to the window…’ Essop said there were many questions surrounding how Timol managed to get to the window in the manner police had claimed.