Mrs. Nohle Mohapi's case against the Minister of Police for damages (see FOCUS 24 p.4) arising out of Mapetla Mohapi's death in police detention in August 1976 (see FOCUS 6 p.7.) opened in Grahamstown Supreme Court in October 1979.
Mrs. Mohapi's lawyer Adv. A.B.M. Wilson told the Court that the amount of damages claimed was now R35,000, comprising support for Mrs. Mohapi and two daughters aged 5 and 3. It was submitted that Mohapi had been assaulted by Sgt. H.P. Nicholson and Capt. P.A. Schoeman and/or other members of the South African security police for whom the Minister of Police was responsible. As a result of this assault, it is claimed, Mohapi was injured and died on 5 August 1976. The alleged 'suicide note' is held to be a forgery and the inference, according to Adv. Wilson's submission, is that it was produced by those members of the SAP who killed Mohapi.
Adv. Wilson said Mohapi was healthy at the time of his detention on 16 July 1976 and had smuggled out three letters to his family which revealed no signs of depression or suicidal thoughts.
The first witnesses called were handwriting experts who told the court that the 'suicide note' was not written by the same person as the letters to Mohapi's family. The toilet paper used was of a different brand.
The case has been adjourned to February 1980. (CT 17/18.10.79; RDM 17/19.10.79)
