The Steve Biko Foundation yesterday commended the Timol family for their unyielding quest for justice for the murder of Ahmed Timol.
“Indeed, the Timol family bowed their heads and ploughed steadfastly through what then seemed to be a mountain of impossibilities,” the foundation said.
They said the ruling by Judge Billy Mothle was historic, concluding that Timol, did not commit suicide but was murdered by apartheid police in Johannesburg in 1971.
“But today their convictions have been confirmed and, finally, the truth around the circumstances of Timol’s death has been uncovered.
"Significantly taking place in this 40th anniversary year of Steve Biko’s death in detention, this judgment is a victory, not only for the Timol family, but for the entire nation.
"It was quite shocking to hear the details surrounding the brutal torture and killing of Ahmed Timol during the inquest.
"This judgement brings closure to the Timol family, renews confidence in the rule of law and arouses hope for justice for many other anti-apartheid activists who died under mysterious circumstances in police custody.
"Ahmed Timol represents a category of many other people who went through a similar horrendous experience and died in custody under state security laws."
Executive trustee of the Steve Biko Foundation, Nkosinathi Biko, who is Biko's son, said: “Our constitution guarantees in the extreme only two rights: the right to life and the right to human dignity.
"And it asks itself the extent to which these should be protected. And the response it gives is that they are inviolable.
"Many years ago, Ahmed Timol’s human dignity and life were violated. This finding is important in that it begins a process to restore Timol’s dignity, and we are grateful to the Timol family for moving the nation to this stage.”