Ahmed Timol was born on the 3rd November 1941 in Breyten in current-day Mpumalanga. He grew up in Roodepoort and trained as a teacher. In 1964 he attended the funeral of Suliman 'Babla' Saloogee who had died in detention. This influenced him to join the liberation movement. He went for political training abroad in 1969. He was trained with Thabo Mbeki and Anne Nicholson. In February 1970 he returned to the country and went underground. He was arrested at a roadblock and 4 days later, on the 27th Oct 1971 he died at the hands of the security police at the infamous John Vorster Square. The initial inquest ruled that he had committed suicide by jumping from the 10th floor. After many years of struggle, his family managed to get the inquest re-opened, the initial finding reversed and currently there are 3 of the security police being pursued for their role in his death.
Ahmed Timol was the first political detainee to be killed at the notorious John Vorster square, by the security police of the apartheid government on 27th Oct 1971, four days after being arrested at a roadblock. He had been using the house and car of Amina Desai, who was later sentenced to 5 years in prison, even though she had not been politically involved.
The case is very important as it has already broken ground that apartheid operatives can be charged for their crimes . A successful prosecution will help thousands of other families find justice.
Ahmed Timol was a resistance fighter, who was part of the broad liberation struggle against the apartheid regime. He was killed in detention on the 27th Oct 1971. The inquest into his death has been re-opened and three of the security police linked to his death are being pursued. His case is important as it leads the way for the prosecution of other members of the apartheid state who were involved in killing of activists.