Rodrigues dies an accused person

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02/08/2017. Joao Rodrigues at the high court in Pretoria during the Ahmed Timol inquest. Picture: Oupa Mokoena
Joao Rodrigues at the high court in Pretoria during the Ahmed Timol inquest. File Picture: Oupa Mokoena
Former security branch police officer Joao Rodrigues. Felix Dlangamandla/Gallo Images/Netwerk24
FILE: Joao Jan Rodrigues testifies during the Ahmed Timol inquest on 1 August 2017. Picture: Barry Bateman/EWN.
JULY 30, 2018. Joao Rodrigues, the apartheid policeman implicated in the murder of slain activist Ahmed Timol, is seen in the dock before court proceedings. PHOTOGRAPH: ALON SKUY
Image courtesy: Oryx media
Former apartheid security police officer João Rodrigues, who was charged with the murder of anti-apartheid activist Ahmed Timol in 1971, died at his home on Monday. (Anthony Schultz/M&G)
Former apartheid-era Security Branch policeman João Rodrigues (left). (Photo: Greg Nicolson) Ahmed Timol (right), who was murdered in 1971.
 

REFLECTION

The death of Joao Rodrigues: Now we will never know the truth about the death in detention of my uncle Ahmed Timol

9 September 2021 By Imtiaz Cajee

Former security branch police sergeant Joao Rodrigues during a 2018 appearance at the Johannesburg Magistrates’ Court in relation to the murder of anti-apartheid activist Ahmed Timol. (Photo: Gallo Images / Netwerk24 / Deaan Vivier)

We will never know the truth, and nobody will ever be held criminally accountable for the death of Ahmed Timol. We recognise, however, that we are in a better position than most victim families, having forced the state to reopen the inquest and reach an honest conclusion.

https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2021-09-09-the-death-of-joao-rodrigues-now-we-will-never-know-the-truth-about-the-death-in-detention-of-my-uncle-ahmed-timol/

Ahmed Timol murder accused Joao Rodrigues dies

07 September 2021: Sowetan by Ernest Mabuza

Joao Rodrigues died without disclosing what happened to my uncle

7 September 2021: 702

Ram White speaks to Ahmed Timol’s nephew Imtiaz Cajee about the death of Joao Rodrigues. Former apartheid policeman Joao Rodrigues has died at the age of 80. He was meant to stand for trial for the death of anti-apartheid activist Ahmed Timol.

https://www.702.co.za/articles/426535/joao-rodrigues-died-without-disclosing-what-happened-to-my-uncle

Apartheid-era policeman Joao Rodrigues, charged with the murder of Ahmed Timol, has died

7 September 2021: News24 by Lwandile Bhengu

Apartheid-era police officer Joao Rodrigues, who is charged with the murder of anti-apartheid activist Ahmed Timol, has died. Rodrigues’ lawyer, Ben Minnaar, told News24 his client had died at his home on Monday evening after battling an illness.

https://www.news24.com/news24/southafrica/news/just-in-apartheid-era-policeman-joao-rodrigues-charged-with-the-murder-of-ahmed-timol-has-died-20210907

He got away with it – Timol’s family reacts to Rodriques death

7 September 2021: JacarandaFM By Gaopalelwe Phalaetsile

The family of anti-apartheid activist Ahmed Timol says apartheid-era police office  Joao Rodrigues escaped with the truth. Rodrigues died on Monday after a long illness. He was charged Timol’s murder. The anti-apartheid activist died in 1971 five days after being arrested in Johannesburg. Rodriques is accused of pushing Timol off a ten storey window at the John Voster sqaure police station. 

https://www.jacarandafm.com/news/news/he-got-away-it-timols-family-reacts-rodriques-death/

Former apartheid policeman João Rodrigues dies with secrets about Ahmed Timol’s death

7 September 2021: IOL By Zelda Venter

Pretoria – Former apartheid policeman João Rodrigues has died without disclosing his secrets about exactly how anti-apartheid activist Ahmed Timol died nearly 50 years ago.Rodrigues, who was in his 80s, died on Monday evening at his Wonderboom South home in Pretoria. His estranged son-in-law, Driekus Stander, told the Pretoria News they were still waiting for the death certificate to see exactly how he had died.

https://www.iol.co.za/pretoria-news/news/former-apartheid-policeman-joao-rodrigues-dies-with-secrets-about-ahmed-timols-death-0df5148d-a00a-4f88-9efa-f7e8aacd405a

João Rodrigues, accused of 1971 murder, dies aged 82

7 September 2021: Mail & Guardian by Eyaaz Matwadia

Former apartheid security police officer João Rodrigues, who was charged with the murder of anti-apartheid activist Ahmed Timol in 1971, died at his home on Monday. The 82-year-old’s attorney, Ben Minnaar, said Rodrigues was discharged from hospital and sent home to recover, but his condition took a turn for the worse, according to The Sowetan. Minnaar said the criminal court case against his client could therefore not proceed now.

https://mg.co.za/news/2021-09-07-joao-rodrigues-accused-of-1971-murder-dies-aged-82/

Speed up inquests into apartheid-era deaths, says Ahmed Timol’s family after Security Branch cop João Rodrigues dies

7 September 2021: MAVERICK CITIZEN By Ufrieda Ho

The NPA must get its house in order and stop deliberately dragging its feet, says the family of slain anti-apartheid activist Ahmed Timol. The death of former apartheid-era Security Branch policeman João Rodrigues on 7 September slams shut another door in the ongoing effort to bring to book those implicated in the torture and deaths of anti-apartheid activists. 

https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2021-09-07-speed-up-inquests-into-apartheid-era-deaths-says-ahmed-timols-family-after-security-branch-cop-joao-rodrigues-dies/

Murder-accused apartheid cop João Rodrigues has died

7 September 2021: By Citizen reporter

Ahmed Timol’s death was initially ruled a suicide but this was later reversed, and Rodrigues was charged with his murder. ormer apartheid police officer João Rodrigues, who was facing a charge of murdering anti-apartheid activist Ahmed Timol 50 years ago, has died. Lawyer, Ben Minnaar, told News24 Rodrigues died at his home on Monday night, and that he had been sick for some time. Timol’s death was initially ruled a suicide, but this judgment was later reversed, and Rodrigues was charged with his murder. 

https://www.citizen.co.za/news/south-africa/2616584/ex-apartheid-cop-joao-rodrigues-has-died-taking-info-about-timols-death-with-him

METRO FM Talk with Ayabonga Case

Tuesday, September 7, 2021 8:19 PM

THE HEADLINES | IMTIAZ CAJEE, AHMED TIMOL’S NEPHEW

DESCRIPTION: THE HEADLINES

Joao Rodrigues, the man charged with the murder of activist Ahmed Timol in 1971 died today. He was an apartheid-era security police officer. His lawyer Ben Minnaar said today – as a result of Rodrigues death, the criminal case cannot proceed. To speak to us, Imtiaz Cajee, Ahmed Timol’s nephew.

S.African Apartheid-era Cop Facing Decades-old Murder Charge, Dies

(@ChaudhryMAli88)

Johannesburg, Sept 7 (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News – 7th Sep, 2021): A South African former apartheid-era officer, accused of killing a liberation activist half-a century ago, died Tuesday weeks before his appeal against prosecution was due to be heard, his lawyer said. Joao Rodrigues, who was 82 at the time of his death, was an officer in the police‘s feared security branch and was charged with murdering anti-white rule campaigner Ahmed Timol while he was in custody in 1971. “He passed on early this morning,” lawyer Ben Minnaar, told AFP.

https://www.urdupoint.com/en/miscellaneous/safrican-apartheid-era-cop-facing-decades-ol-1345417.html

WATCH: Joao Rodrigues’ daughter speaks out

8 September 2021: ENCA

CAPE TOWN – Joao Rodrigues was one of the many faces of unsolved apartheid-era atrocities but what was life like for those inheriting his checkered legacy? His daughter, Tilana Stander, says she suffered years of harrowing sexual abuse at the hands of the apartheid-era policeman. In an exclusive interview, Stander, told us that nobody believed that her father had abused her.


 

Death of apartheid-era cop João Rodrigues a blow to victims’ families

8 September 2021: By Ntombi Nkosi 

Johannesburg – The Foundation for Human Rights says the death of former apartheid policeman João Rodrigues comes as a huge blow, not only to anti-apartheid activist Ahmed Timol’s family, but also to many other families of victims, particularly those affiliated to the Apartheid-Era Victims’ Families Group.

https://www.iol.co.za/news/politics/death-of-apartheid-era-cop-joao-rodrigues-a-blow-to-victims-families-6acd9aa5-5c58-4365-a28c-769f98610e91

Timol family react to death of João Rodrigues

8 September 2021: IOL By Ntombi Nkosi

The family of anti-apartheid activist Ahmed Timol, who died in police detention in October 1971, say they are angry to hear that former apartheid policeman João Rodrigues has died without being held accountable for his role in the murder of Timol. Rodrigues died without disclosing his secrets about exactly how Timol died nearly 50 years ago.

https://www.iol.co.za/news/politics/timol-family-react-to-death-of-joao-rodrigues-71485ca0-9308-4256-b21f-19e862589906

‘I am glad I got my closure’ – Daughter of apartheid-era policeman Joao Rodrigues

8 September 2021: News24 by Sesona Ngqakamba

  • Joao “Jan” Rodrigues, a former member of apartheid’s feared Security Branch, died on Monday evening. 

  • Rodrigues died after an illness, his lawyer said.

  • The former apartheid-era cop previously faced allegations of sexually violating his daughter.  


Tilana Stander, the daughter of apartheid-era police officer Joao “Jan” Rodrigues, says she had not been in contact with him and only heard about his death through a cousin. Stander had previously spoken out about the sexual abuse she suffered at the hands of her father.

https://www.news24.com/news24/southafrica/news/i-am-glad-i-got-my-closure-daughter-of-apartheid-era-policeman-joao-rodrigues-20210908

Hope lost for Ahmed Timol’s family after apartheid-era cop João Rodrigues dies

8 September 2021: CapeTalk by  Qama Qukula

ON THE COUCH: WILL THERE EVER BE JUSTICE FOR AHMED TIMOL FOLLOWING THE DEATH OF JOAO RODRIGUES?

CapeTalk host Pippa Hudson speaks to Ahmed Timol’s nephew Imtiaz Cajee about the family’s quest for justice.


https://www.capetalk.co.za/articles/426628/hope-lost-for-ahmed-timol-s-family-after-apartheid-era-cop-joao-rodrigues-dies 

‘Rodrigues goes to his grave without being held accountable’ – Ahmed Timol’s nephew reacts to his death

8 September 2021: News24 by Sesona Ngqakamba
 
  • Apartheid-era police officer Joao Rodrigues died on Monday evening after an illness.

  • He died while a criminal case for his alleged involvement in the death of anti-apartheid activist Ahmed Timol in 1971 was underway. 

  • Timol’s nephew, Imtiaz Cajee, said the former police officer’s death was inevitable.

“He goes to his grave without being held accountable for his role in the murder of my uncle.” These are the words of anti-apartheid activist Ahmed Timol’s nephew, Imtiaz Cajee, reacting to what he described as the inevitable death of former apartheid police officer Joao Rodrigues. 

https://www.news24.com/news24/southafrica/news/rodrigues-goes-to-his-grave-without-being-held-accountable-ahmed-timols-nephew-reacts-to-his-death-20210908

An old man escapes ANC justice

 

João (Jan) Rodrigues, formerly a clerk in the security police who was charged with the 1971 murder of Ahmed Timol in July 2018 (47 years later), died on Monday evening, 6th September, at his Wonderboom South home in Pretoria. According to his attorney, Ben Minnaar, 82-year-old Rodrigues “had spent a couple of weeks in hospital. After the lobe of his one lung was removed, he had difficulty breathing and spent some time in the intensive care unit. He went home and was home for a week or two. He was recuperating and feeling stronger, [but] had a setback and passed away”.

https://www.politicsweb.co.za/opinion/an-old-man-escapes-anc-justice


 

The family of anti-apartheid campaigner Ahmed Timol, who died in police custody in October 1971, is outraged to learn that former apartheid policeman João Rodrigues died without facing charges for his role in Timol’s death. Rodrigues, who was in his 80s, died at his Pretoria home in Wonderboom South without revealing his truths concerning Timol’s death nearly 50 years ago. Radio Islam International interviewed Imtiaz Cajee, nephew of late Timol; “It makes me angry to learn that Rodrigues died before his criminal prosecution had even begun and all we needed was answers. This presents many issues that the government must address, particularly the NPA (National Prosecuting Authority) and the Justice Minister”.

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