Cold case unit’s goal to catch a killer
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Ashley Kriel was killed by police on 9 July 1987 for his role in advocating anti-apartheid actions. CREDIT: File photo
The SAPS and The Department of Public Prosecutions are working hard to catch killers who may have thought they have gotten away with the perfect murder, including the case of Struggle fighter, Ashley James Kriel, and Imam Haron.
These include the murders of Kriel and anti-apartheid activist, Haron, which forms part of the TRC, Truth and Reconciliation related cases.
Police confirmed Kriel’s case was at an advanced stage.
Haron’s case will be heard at the Cape High Court from November 7-18, 2022.
With its newly formed Cold Case Squad, the police has hand-picked two officers and seven non-commissioned officers together with the DPP to solve cases which have been shelved or removed from the court roll due to no arrests, lack of witnesses or a docket that has vanished.
This week, the SAPS gave insight into their elite unit which solved a 10-year-old case.
The merits and circumstances of the investigation were shared with Weekend Argus after the accused was sentenced to three years behind bars.
The team are currently revisiting six cases in Leeu Gamka.
Mario Masoes, 32, pleaded guilty to an incident which occurred on September 22, 2019 when he was involved in an altercation with the victim, Piet Jacobs, 27.
Masoes had beaten Jacobs with a gemsbok horn which resulted in death.
Captain Frederick Van Wyk, police spokesperson, said as the case proceeded, it was struck off the court roll due to an incomplete investigation.
Once the unit was assigned, the case was finalised with Masoes receiving a three year sentence for culpable homicide.
“The detectives at Cold Case Investigation, Western Cape, were identified and selected from serving detectives and not re-enlistments,” said Van Wyk.
“The unit currently comprises two officers and seven non-commissioned officers and resorts under the command of the Provincial Head: Organised Crime, Western Cape.
“Since inception in the Western Cape they received a conviction for a murder committed in Leeu Gamka in 2012.
“This formed part of the six cases from Leeu Gamka that were being revisited.
“The incident occurred on September 22, 2019 at 10pm in De Villiers Street, Merweville, in Leeu Gamka.
“The victim and suspect were fighting. The suspect hit the victim with a gemsbok horn.
“The victim succumbed from the effect of the injury. The suspect was later traced, arrested and placed on the court roll.
“The case was provisionally withdrawn due to SPP-Queries and the investigation stalled.
“The Cold Case Investigative Unit took over the case and finalised all the outstanding investigations timeously in concurrence with the DPP.
“A J175 was issued, and the team determined the accused absconded. An application for a J50 warrant of arrest was submitted and issued.
“Members of the unit tirelessly shadowed the accused, utilising and exercising their skills to successfully apprehend him.
“The investigating officer successfully opposed bail against the accused who remained in custody. The case was transferred from the magistrate’s court in Merweville to the regional court in Beaufort West.
“On July 26, 2022 the accused pleaded guilty on a charge of culpable homicide and was convicted. He received a sentence of 3 (three) years’ direct imprisonment and was declared unfit to possess a firearm.”
Van Wyk explained that the unit was also involved in the TRC matters.
“The unit is also responsible for the investigation of two TRC related cases.
“The investigation into the death of Imam Haron will be heard in the Western Cape High Court between November 7 and 18, 202.
“The investigation into the death of Ashley James Kriel is at an advanced stage.
“Currently all cold case matters under investigation by the unit are guided by senior prosecutors from the office of the DPP, Western Cape.”
Kriel of Bonteheuwel, had re-entered South Africa in 1987 after being in exile.
While being in isolation for protection purposes, he was ambushed by men who shot him. The men were police pretending to be municipal workers.
In June, the DPP announced a new inquest into Haron to determine whether he died as a result of falling down a flight of stairs or if he was murdered while being in police detention in 1969.
During a media briefing last week, Western Cape Director for Public Prosecutions, advocate Nicolette Bell, stated that their teams would assist police in the investigation of cases that had no arrest, no suspect or where the matter had been struck off the roll, and aimed to re-roll these cases.
She said cases where witnesses had gone missing and were reluctant to testify were also on the agenda.
Bell explained their main agenda was to exhaust all forensic tools to solve a crime, to monitor the further outstanding investigation with a view of re-enrolment, to identify possible serial matters and to refer matters where no further action can be taken for an inquest.