ā
Johannesburg ā The Johannesburg High Court has reserved judgment on the bail applications of two former apartheid-era police officers, 64-year-old ex-Sergeant Abraham Hercules Engelbrecht, and 62-year-old ex-Sergeant Pieter Stander.
Earlier this month, on 2 December 2025, the former apartheid law enforcers were convicted of the premeditated murder, nearly four decades ago, of 23-year-old student activist Caiphus Nyoka.
The Congress of South African Students (COSAS) member was shot dead by the accused at about 02:30 at his Daveyton home on 24 August 1987.
Following their conviction, Engelbrecht and Stander applied for bail pending sentencing.
In affidavits before the court, they claimed to suffer from various health conditions and stated that they are financial providers for their families.
However, on Thursday, 11 December 2025, the high court reserved judgment and remanded both accused in custody.
National Prosecuting Authority spokesperson Lumka Mahanjana said the state opposed the release of the accused on bail.
She said the state is arguing that both men were convicted of a serious offence, they pose a flight risk, particularly Stander, who has previously worked outside South Africa and failed to fully disclose potential assets abroad, despite having worked in Iraq and Afghanistan since 2015.
The Judge in the Johannesburg High Court reserved judgment on their bail application and adjourned the matter to next year, 20 July 2026.
On that date, sentencing proceedings will begin in the Pretoria High Court sitting in Benoni.
The ruling means the former apartheid cops, who cut sad figures in the dock, will spend Christmas behind bars.
The sadness was more evident when the pair was led down the stairs to the holding cells below, after their matter was adjourned.
A few people in the court tried to shake the hands of the accused before they disappeared.
The post Caiphus Nyoka Murder: Court Reserves Ruling On Bail For 2 Convicted Apartheid Cops appeared first on The Bulrushes.
Ā Ā Ā
