Vlakplaas pre-trial delay ‘to iron out issues’

THE pre-trial of former Vlakplaas police officer Thlomedi Ephraim Mfalapitsa in connection with the deaths of three student activists in Krugersdorp nearly 40 years ago has been hit by another delay as the court has granted the State and the defence teams time to “iron out some issues”.

Mfalapitsa, 67, a former Security Branch officer based in Vlakplaas, appeared at the Gauteng Division of the High Court yesterday where the matter was postponed to Friday.

He is accused of luring Congress of SA Students (Cosas) supporters, Eustice “Bimbo” Madikela, Ntshingo Mataboge and Fanyana Nhlapo to an old pump house on a deserted mine near Krugersdorp in 1982, and setting off an explosion killing them.

Zandisile Musi survived the blast but was seriously injured.

The students were later known as the “Cosas 4”.

While Musi recently died of Covid-related complications, the State has vowed to continue with the case and believed Mfalapitsi was an askari – a term used to describe former members of the liberation movements who joined the Security Branch and were working against former comrades.

In its indictment, it maintained that Musi and the three dead activists wanted to join the ANC in exile.

They allegedly befriended Mfalapitsa – who was in Umkhonto we Sizwe with Musi’s brothers – and asked him to give them military training.

The State believes he took the boys to the old pump house under the guise of arming them with military gear and training them.

lNPA spokesperson Phindi Mjonondwane said the judge opted to postpone the matter to allow the State and defence to “iron out” some issues.

“There are some outstanding items from both parties,” Mjonondwane said.