16 August 2002
Following a delay of two years in the prosecution of the murderers of former SACP Gauteng leader and Soshanguve community leader, Dr. George Mukhari, the South African Communist Party (SACP) calls for the transformation of the criminal justice system in South Africa starting with a strong implementation of the Batho Pele programme by civil servants working in the criminal justice system.
The SACP also calls on the Department of Justice to investigate the work and role played by the prosecution in the Mukhari murder case. The case of Dr. Mukhari (summarised below) is an example of how millions of our people are denied justice by the criminal justice system we inherit from apartheid in our country.
On the night of 01 April 2000, four killers shot dead Dr. Mukhari in Soshanguve. At the time Dr. Mukhari was a key activist in the Soshanguve Community Policing Forum and was highly active in community mobilisation against crime. Following his death, the family and the community of Soshanguve worked day and night to help with the police investigation in order to bring the murderers to book. But this community support was met with poor investigation. Eventually when the matter was ready for prosecution in February 2002, the case has been delayed for three times. The community of Soshanguve is frustrated and strongly believes that the prosecution is deliberately stalling the case and thus undermining the fair execution of justice. +IBw-We note with sadness that ideals of human rights and fair process, for which Dr. Mukhari fought, are today denied to him even in death., said Wilson Manganyi, SACP Pretoria District Secretary.
In support of these calls, the SACP Pretoria District has organised a picket to coincide with the next court hearing to be held as detailed below:
DATE : Monday, 19 August 2002
TIME : 09h00
VENUE : Garankuwa Magistrate's Court, Zone 5 Garankuwa, Pretoria
As a medical doctor, Dr. Mukhari provided medical services for free to those who could not afford and he volunteered his time and resources to poor people and the Garankuwa Hospital. Through a successful, just and fair trial in the Mukhari murder case, the SACP will ensure that his name and contribution are not forgotten.
CONTACT
Wilson Manganyi
SACP Pretoria District Secretary
Cell: 082 364 1489
OR
Mazibuko K. Jara (surname Jara)
SACP Department of Media, Information and Publicity
Tel - 011 339-3621/2
Fax - 011 339-4244
Cell - 083 651 0271
Email - mazibuko@sacp.org.za