Cape Town - That Security Branch (SB) members paid more attention to the request for medical help for complaints of haemorrhoids (piles) as opposed to “severe headaches and chest pains”, piqued the interest of a witness at the re-opened inquest into the death in detention of late Imam Abdullah Haron.
This emerged in the Western Cape High Court on Wednesday, where Judge Daniel Thulare and expert witness forensic pathologist Itumeleng Molefe deliberated on how anti-apartheid activist Haron had received more medical attention for haemorrhoids for two consecutive days over a weekend.
According to the initial inquest report, Haron had received suppositories after his complaint on September 14, 1969.
However, on July 7, 1969, when Haron had first complained of chest pains, he had received no further medical examination other than painkillers, received three days after his complaint.
According to medical notes made at the time, Haron, who received medical attention in the presence of an SB officer on July 10, 1969, had again complained about his chest pains and “tenderness” around his rib area on the day he received his painkillers, but the cause of the pain was noted as “general malaise (illness)” with no specific diagnosis or further examination.
Molefe said: “I do find it perplexing that he was issued with Anusol (for piles) and was seen again the next day, especially on a weekend.
This when chest pains and headaches are a much more serious complaint than piles. Especially when it was not just a headache, but noted as severe headache.”
Judge Thulare said: “It strikes me that police would seek medical attention on a Sunday for piles but not for severe headaches (previously reported by Haron). It seems something to hide.”
Molefe granted that the post-mortem report conducted by the district surgeon at the time of Haron’s death “was good, but it is lacking”.
Molefe substantiated her observations saying that when the district surgeon noted the bruises on Haron’s body, with no abrasions, there had to be “flaying of the skin” to conduct and present a thorough post-mortem report.
“The post-mortem was not adequate and if a thorough process was done, it could have indicated that the injuries Haron suffered could have led to his death.”
The re-opened inquest into the circumstances leading to late Imam Haron’s death will seek to confirm that he died while in police custody due to brutality he suffered, having undergone intense interrogation after being arrested under the Terrorism Act.
The family and counsel for the Haron family disputed the alleged reasons for his death in the first inquest. Haron’s body was found in a solitary confinement cell at Maitland SAPS.
Cape Times