Cape Town | Monday
FORMER Cape Times photographer Benny Gool was subpoenaed at the weekend to testify in the urban terror trial of four members of People Against Gangsterism and Drugs accused of murdering gang boss Rashaad Staggie.
Staggie was shot and set alight when he was confronted by an angry mob as he alighted from his vehicle in front of his Salt River, Cape Town home in August 1996.
Gool was present on the night of the murder and photographed the incident.
Pagad’s national co-ordinator Abdus-Salaam Ebrahim, security chief Salie Abader, Pagad member Moegsien Mohamed and Abdur-Razaak Ebrahim are due to appear in the Cape High Court on February 4 to face charges in connection with Staggie’s murder. The State dropped charges on December 12 against Pagad’s former security chief Nadthmie Edries.
A representative for the directorate of public prosecutions, Sipho Ngwema, confirmed that Gool had been subpoenaed.
Ngwema said the State had withdrawn a subpoena for Gool to appear as a witness in October last year as it was felt his evidence was not needed at the time, but had indicated that the decision would be reviewed at a later stage.
“At this time, we think his evidence is crucial in the case,” Ngwema said.
This is the sixth time Gool has been served with a subpoena to appear at the trial but he has repeatedly refused to testify, citing impartiality and freedom of the press.
Gool told the Cape Times on Sunday that his stance on the matter had not changed.
“My position remains the same. I’m not going to testify.”
He said heavily armed policemen, wearing bullet-proof vests had knocked at the door of his house early in the morning.
When he asked about the huge presence of heavily armed police he was told the authorities were looking for him.
Cape Times editor Chris Whitfield said the newspaper would continue to support Gool’s stance. The SA National Editor’s Forum is also supporting Gool. – Sapa
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