The Khampepe Commission has heard testimony on the 1983 kidnapping and torture of anti-apartheid activist Nokuthula Simelane, whose case was stalled by political decisions. Investigator Andrew Leask detailed how security police officers were linked to her death, but prosecutions were halted by orders from former justice minister Brigitte Mabandla. Interference from police commissioner Jackie Selebi further obstructed efforts to bring suspects to trial.
Nokuthula Simelane, a 23-year-old student and uMkhonto weSizwe undercover courier known as “Mpo,” was abducted on 11 September 1983 after being lured to a meeting at the Juicy Lucy restaurant in Johannesburg's Carlton Centre by Norman Mkonza, an Askari who had turned against the liberation movement. She was taken to Norwood for interrogation and torture by security police, then moved to a farm where the abuse continued until her death. Her remains have never been recovered.
Andrew Leask, a former Scorpions investigator now with AfriForum’s Private Prosecution Unit, testified before the Khampepe Commission on delays in Truth and Reconciliation Commission-related prosecutions. Leask linked Warrant Officer Willem Coetzee and Sergeant Anton Pretorius to the kidnapping, with other officers including Frederick Mong, Msebenzi Radebe, and Sergeant Johannes Pule Lengene implicated. He described tracing Simelane's last movements: “We could follow the trail up until the point where the evidence of where she was last seen was exhausted. She was last seen in the car of Coetzee, still cuffed and badly injured. That is where it stopped. She was in the boot of the car.”
Leask's team had prepared a strong case for trial, but in 2004, Brigitte Mabandla directed the National Prosecuting Authority to suspend all TRC cases pending review by an “outside mechanism” called the Amnesty Task Team, involving officials from justice, intelligence, police, and defense departments. Dr. Silas Ramaite, former Special Director of Prosecutions, confirmed this order halted imminent arrests, including in the poisoning of Rev. Frank Chikane.
Further complications arose from Jackie Selebi, who accused the authority of targeting ANC leaders and withdrew SAPS investigators. Around 400 TRC dockets were abruptly transferred, and Leask was removed from the case, which later went missing. He noted an atmosphere of intimidation, including efforts to influence witnesses like Sergeant Peter Lengene, who recanted under pressure from Pretorius.
Leask conducted interviews with Simelane’s family—mother Sizakele and sister Thembi—in Swaziland, where she studied, as well as friends and students. Despite two reports recommending suspensions for assault only, Leask viewed it as a clear murder investigation. The family expressed thanks to Leask through advocate Howard Varney for his persistent work. Advocate Gerrie Nel represented Leask at the inquiry.
