Aggett and Haffejee inquests: Justice minister asks for judges to be appointed
Justice Minister Ronald Lamola has written to the judges president of the Gauteng and KwaZulu-Natal divisions of the High Court to ask them to appoint judges for the inquests into the deaths in detention of anti-apartheid activists, Dr Neil Aggett and Hoosen Haffejee.
"The minister's decision is in terms of Section 17A of the Inquest Act No 58 of 1959 and follows an application by the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) for the reopening of an inquest," justice ministry spokesperson Chrispin Phiri said in a statement on Friday.
Earlier this year, former justice minister Michael Masutha announced that the ministry had authorised the NPA's request.
Phiri said the department could confirm that the decision was still in effect.
"In light of the findings of Judge Billy Mothle in the inquest of Ahmed Timol, the sixth administration is committed to ensuring that the justice system addresses TRC matters expeditiously," he said.