Minister Kubayi requests Judge to reopen Boiki Tlhapi inquest

Justice and Constitutional Development Minister Mamoloko Kubayi has requested the Judge President of the North West Division of the High Court to designate a judge to preside over the re-opened inquest into the disappearance of Boiki Tlhapi.

Tlhapi was a 26-year-old community activist who had been detained by the members of the apartheid-era police and disappeared after having allegedly been released from police custody in 1986.

Tlhapi was a politically active member of the Ikageng Civic Association in Potchefstroom.

It is alleged that on 20 March 1986, at around 8 pm, Tlhapi and eleven other mourners boarded a taxi to attend the funeral of three other activists who had been shot dead by the police.

Investigations revealed that they were arrested in Jouberton on their way to Klerksdorp during the state of emergency declared by the government.

All of Tlhapi’s fellow detainees were released after 14 days. Tlhapi was nowhere to be seen and has not been seen since.

The inquest will be set down for hearing before the High Court on a date to be determined in due course.