Struggle hero and anti-apartheid activist, Ahmed Timol was an anti-apartheid activist who was tortured and murdered while in police custody in October 1971.
Image: File
ADVOCATE Chris Macadam testifies at the TRC Cases Inquiry, denying allegations of negligence in the investigation of Ahmed Timol's death and asserting his commitment to TRC-related matters.
The former Deputy Director of Public Prosecutions (NDPP), has firmly refuted allegations that he deliberately refused to investigate the Ahmed Timol matter and/or shielded his colleagues from scrutiny.
Macadam gave his testimony at the TRC Cases Inquiry on Wednesday, following allegations that he interfered with the TRC cases investigations during his tenure in the Directorate for Specialised Operations and as part of the Priority Crime Litigation Unit (PCTU).
Timol was an anti-apartheid activist who was tortured and murdered while in police custody in October 1971.
An initial inquest held in 1972 concluded that Timol had died by suicide after jumping out of a window of the John Vorster Square police station in Johannesburg.
However, a second inquest, reopened in 2017, found that Timol had been severely ill-treated and tortured, refuting earlier claims that he jumped to his death.
Former Deputy Director of Public Prosecutions Advocate Chris Macadam has refuted claims that he was reluctant to reopen and investigate Ahmed Timol's murder.
Image: Itumeleng English / Independent Newspapers
Macadam, who has extensive experience in handling TRC-related cases through his work in the PCTU, was questioned by the commission about the alleged interference.
This was after he was accused of 'reluctance' by Imtiaz Cajee, Ahmed Timol's nephew, IOL reported.
Macadam alluded to an email he received from Cajee on 16 April 2022 informing him that Macadam was sitting on important information relating to his uncle’s death, of which he was unaware. Cajee is said to have requested Macadam to share this information with him, which he did.
According to Macadam, Cajee, who identified himself as a member of the intelligence agency during a 2003 meeting with him, accused him of negligence in prosecuting this matter.
However, when called to explain his alleged 'reluctance', Macadam stated: "I deny that I ever used political interference as an excuse for not doing my job. When there was an application for a stay of prosecution in the Timol matter, I was approached by the head of the unit. I immediately offered my assistance and provided a supporting affidavit, which was used to oppose the stay of prosecution."
Macadam stated that at all times he afforded the Timol matter, as well as other TRC matters, support in the form of resources and extra help.
"When Mr. Cajee met with me, an instruction was given to gather information. In October 2015, when the matter had been closed, I got the police to reopen it... So, the allegation of reluctance on my part to prosecute the Timol matter is untrue against the facts. I believe my energy and efforts to advance TRC-related matters, despite the challenges that I have mentioned, speak for themselves," he added.
The TRC Cases Inquiry continues on Thursday with former NDPP, Advocate Anton Ackerman set to be cross-examined by Advocate Menzi Simelane, representing the Department of Justice and Constitutional Development, the NPA, and the SAPS.