Executive director of the Ahmed Kathrada Foundation (AKF), Neeshan Balton has been subpoenaed to appear before the Randburg Magistrate's Court on Friday in connection with the death of two Lenasia-based ANC members of the armed unit, the uMkhonto weSizwe (MK).
In a statement, the Ahmed Kathrada Foundation said Balton has been subpoenaed by the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation, also known as the Hawks, to answer question about the death of Prakash Napier and Yusuf Akhalwaya.
The duo was killed on December 11 1989 in a limpet mine explosion at Park Station in Johannesburg.
Chairperson of the Ahmed Kathrada Foundation, former Cabinet minister Derek Hanekom said Napier, Akhalwaya and Jameel Chand, as members of MK’s Ahmed Timol Unit (ATU), were on their way to conduct a sabotage attack at the railway station, when the limpet mine bomb exploded prematurely, resulting in the tragic deaths of the two MK combatants.
“Lieutenant Colonel Jason Naidoo of the SAPS: Directorate of Priority Crimes Investigation or Hawks has been engaging on the matter with Balton over the past two years as Balton was the underground political commander of the Ahmed Kathrada Political-Military Committee in Lenasia in the late 1980s that oversaw the activities of the ATU. The Hawks claim that they are investigating the circumstances of the explosion, and possible murder of the victims, by suspects who are unknown at this stage,” said Hanekom.
“They claim that this matter emanates from the report of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC), and they believe that Balton may have material or relevant information relating to the case.”
The Ahmed Kathrada Foundation said it is aware that Balton has submitted a detailed response to questions posed to him by Naidoo, which the latter seems to believe is inadequate; hence the subpoena.
“The Kathrada Foundation would welcome the possible re-opening of an inquest into the deaths of comrades Yusuf Akhalwaya and Prakash Napier based on new, reliable, and credible information.
At the same time, it must express its serious concerns regarding the manner in which the investigation is being conducted. From the beginning there has been an absence of transparency in terms of the scope of the investigation,” said Hanekom.
“It has shifted from a preliminary investigation to cases relating to the Truth and Reconciliation Commission, to the re-opening of an inquest and finally to an alleged offence of murder suspected to have been committed by unknown persons.
“From the available public information, the Kathrada Foundation is not aware of any findings and/or recommendations by the TRC, specifically relating to the deaths of Yusuf Akhalwaya and Prakash Napier,” said Hanekom.
He added that the Ahmed Kathrada Foundation has not been able to access any record of an inquest into the deaths of the two comrades that was apparently held secretly by the security police during the apartheid era.
The foundation stated that given the context, it is left with the impression that the investigation may be “based on a fishing expedition, possibly driven by sinister motives that may not publicly justifiable”.
“The Kathrada Foundation expresses its full support to its executive director, Mr Neeshan Balton, and is proud of his commendable contribution to the liberation struggle in our country,” said Hanekom.
IOL