Witness and forensic expert cast further doubt on official version of Mabelane death

Fresh testimony at the reopened inquest into the death of anti-apartheid activist, Matthews “Mojo” Mabelane, has raised further questions about conditions inside apartheid-era detention facilities, while a forensic pathologist has highlighted significant flaws in the original investigation.

The Johannesburg High Court heard evidence on Friday from former student activist, Chippa Joseph Dikgole, who described prolonged interrogations, assaults and psychological intimidation by Security Branch officers following his arrest in 1977.

Dikgole, now 70, testified that he was detained under Section 6 of the Terrorism Act after attempting to leave South Africa to join the African National Congress (ANC). He said he was part of a group of activists involved in the 1976 student uprising who were arrested while trying to cross into Botswana.

He told the court that security police repeatedly demanded information about political leaders who had allegedly arranged their departure from the country. Dikgole said the abuse began immediately after his arrest and continued through several detention facilities before he was transferred to the notorious John Vorster Square.

Dikgole testified that he was held in solitary confinement, forced to repeatedly rewrite statements, and subjected to daily questioning aimed at extracting information about anti-apartheid activities. He added that after his release he later learned that Mabelane had died after allegedly falling from the 10th floor of John Vorster Square.

His testimony was followed by evidence from forensic pathologist, Dr Steve Naidoo, who challenged several aspects of the original investigation into Mabelane’s death.

Naidoo told the court that key forensic procedures were not followed after the 22-year-old died in police detention in February 1977. He said there was a strong possibility Mabelane had already died before being placed in an ambulance following the alleged fall.

The forensic expert questioned why no emergency medical practitioner attended to Mabelane at the scene and described the lack of immediate medical intervention as highly irregular. He also criticised investigators for failing to call a forensic doctor to examine the scene, despite established procedures governing deaths in police custody.

Naidoo further described the original post-mortem as inadequate, citing the absence of photographs, detailed injury measurements, clothing analysis and proper assessment of possible bruising. He said these gaps have significantly complicated efforts to reconstruct the circumstances of Mabelane’s death.

The court also heard evidence relating to allegations that Security Branch detainees were subjected to torture methods, including suffocation and electrocution. Naidoo testified that oxygen deprivation from such methods could lead to unconsciousness without leaving detectable signs during a post-mortem examination.

He said medical science cannot conclusively determine whether Mabelane was unconscious before the fall, but added that the possibility cannot be excluded.

Naidoo maintained that Mabelane’s fatal head, spinal and leg injuries were consistent with a fall from the 10th floor, which would have caused immediate unconsciousness on impact and rendered him incapable of purposeful movement.

The testimony forms part of ongoing efforts to establish the circumstances surrounding Mabelane’s death, which his family has long disputed, rejecting the apartheid-era finding that he died while attempting to escape police interrogation.

The reopened inquest is expected to resume on Monday.

Written by: Lebohang Ndashe