Judgment expected in murder trial of struggle stalwart Caiphus Nyoka

Johannesburg
Kgomotso Modise

Kgomotso Modise

2 December 2025 | 6:38

Nyoka, a 23-year-old student activist, was shot by apartheid police in his Daveyton home in August 1987.

Judgment expected in murder trial of struggle stalwart Caiphus Nyoka

Three former police officers accused of the 1987 murder of student activist Caiphus Nyoka appeared in the Pretoria High Court sitting in Benoni on 14 May 2025. Abram Engelbrecht (63), Pieter Stander (62) & Leon van den Berg (75) are accused of shooting Nyoka in his Daveyton home nine times & torturing his three other comrades. Picture: Kgomotso Modise/EWN

The family of slain struggle stalwart Caiphus Nyoka will finally get closure on Tuesday, as the Johannesburg High Court will hand down judgement for his murder.

Nyoka, a 23-year-old student activist, was shot by apartheid police in his Daveyton home in August 1987.

Four apartheid police officers were prosecuted for the crime but one of the men, Johan Marais, pleaded guilty and was sentenced to 15 years behind bars.

On Monday, apartheid major Leon van den Berg sergeants Abraham Engelbrecht and Pieter Stander will learn their fate after over a year of trial.

The State believes van den Berg gave the order for Engelbrecht and Stander to carry the killing inside Nyoka’s house while he stood outside.

They argued that apartheid police made Nyoka their special project and it was their mission to kill him and that’s why Engelbrecht wore a balaclava.

While the men pleaded not guilty to the crimes, they have opted not to give a defence.

Judge Ismail Mohammed will hand down judgement in the matter..

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