PRESS RELEASE: 08 April 2021
João ‘Jan’ Anastacio Rodrigues made another court appearance at the South Gauteng High Court in Johannesburg this morning for his role in the murder of anti-apartheid activist Ahmed Timol. A visibly upset Judge Monama, who is presiding over the management of the Roderigues’s criminal trial was livid in court today.
The long awaited decision from the SCA in Bloemfontein is pending after appeal from the legal team of Roderigues was heard on 6 November 2019.
“Roderigues remains innocent until proven guilty,” remarked Monama. He however questioned the lengthy detail for the commencement of the criminal trial. The family had been waiting for justice as 2021 marks the 50th anniversary of the murder of Timol.
The judge further remarked that what he found completely baffling was the continued legal representation of Roderigues by Mr. Ben Minnaar. Minnaar previously worked for the State Attorney’s office and represented Roderigues at the re-opened inquest in 2017. Roderigues made his first criminal court appearance in 2018. Minnaar had by then resigned and gone into private practice. He was then appointed by the State Attorney’s office to represent Roderigues as his instructing attorney in the criminal trial. Presently, Roderigues is also represented by Advocates Cilliers SC and Coetzee SC. The State continues paying for Roderigues’s legal fees. The Judge added that the resources of the country are been exploited and overplayed with the lengthy court delays. It appeared as if there was a strategy to prolong the commencement of the criminal trial. The judge viewed the lengthy delay as depressing.
The Timol re-opened inquest was concluded on 12 October 2017 when Judge Mothle reversed the 1972 verdict of suicide to the murder of Ahmed Timol. Roderigues made his first court appearance on 30 July 2018. Nearly three years later, his criminal trial has not yet commenced.
In order to expedite proceedings, Roderigues is set to re-appear at the Palmridge High Court on 6 May 2021. His bail was extended.
Timeline:
26 June 2017
Re-Opening of the Timol Inquest
12 October 2017
Ruling handed down and 1972 Verdict overturned
30 July 2018
Rodrigues charged and 1st court appearance in Johannesburg Magistrate Court
18 September 2018
Rodrigues Court Appearance at South Gauteng High Court in Johannesburg
15 October 2018
Rodrigues Court Appearance at South Gauteng High Court in Johannesburg
22 October 2018
Rodrigues Court Appearance at South Gauteng High Court in Johannesburg
20 November 2019
Meeting in Chambers
28 January 2019
Rodrigues Court Appearance at Palm Ridge Court, Germiston
28 & 29 March 2019
Application for Permanent Stay of Prosecution (342A) Argued at South Gauteng High Court in Johannesburg
31 May 2019
Judgment handed down at South Gauteng High Court in Johannesburg
28 June 2019
Rodrigues Court Appearance at the South Gauteng High Court in Johannesburg
02 August 2019
Rodrigues Court Appearance at Palm Ridge Court, Germiston
18 September 2019
Application for leave to appeal, South Gauteng High Court dismissed
25 September 2019
Rodrigues Court Appearance at the South Gauteng High Court in Johannesburgfor Criminal Proceedings
22 October 2019
Meeting in Chambers in Palm Ridge High Court
12 December 2019
Provisional Criminal Trial Case
28 February 2020
Rodrigues Court Appearance at the South Gauteng High Court
28 May 2020
Rodrigues Court Appearance at the South Gauteng High Court
31 July 2020
Rodrigues Court Appearance at the South Gauteng High Court
29 October 2020
Rodrigues did not attend proceedings at Palmridge High Court. Order of Arrest held over
06 November 2020
SCA hears matter in Bloemfontein: High Court & SCA Papers: https://www.ahmedtimol.co.za/rodrigues-high-court-sca-papers/
Repeat Broadcast: Rodrigues at SCA & Media Coverage
07 December 2020
Rodrigues Court Appearance at the Palmridge High Court. Warrant of arrest cancelled and bail extended
16 February 2021
Rodrigues Court Appearance at Palm Ridge Court, Germiston
08 April 2021
Rodrigues Court Appearance at the South Gauteng High Court
06 May 2021
Next Court Appearance at Palm Ridge Court, Germiston