Children of Imam Haron, Fatima Haron-Masoet, Prof Muhammad Haron and Shamila Haron at the Cape Town High Court.

• The family of Imam Haron said they hoped other cases of police torture during apartheid would be brought to the fore. 
• On Monday, the court confirmed Haron was tortured severely before he died in detention. 
• The NPA said the number of prosecutors and investigators had been beefed up for another 135 apartheid-era cases.

The family of Imam Abdulah Haron said Monday's new inquest into his death confirmed what they had known for decades - that he was killed by the apartheid police while detained without trial in Cape Town in 1969.

"It was always our feeling that he was killed, and there it is," said the Muslim cleric's son, Muhammed Haron, after Western Cape High Court Judge Daniel Thulare ruled the Imam's death was caused by torture inflicted by Security Branch policemen, and then ignored by the justice system and two district surgeons.

"So, in a sense, it brings some sort of closure to ourselves, as a family, to our community, and we only hope that our other cases that are still in the queue will have a similar outcome," he said. 

However, the family wished there had not been such a delay, considering that the Imam died on 27 September 1969.

"We feel that, if only this could have happened decades ago, instead of 54 years down the line, and if only we could have prosecuted each of those murderers, who basically died," he said. 

READ | Last surviving cop in Imam Haron death says it will all be 'piled onto him'

Thulare listed the names of the police, judicial officers, and doctors who he said contributed to Haron's death, but almost all have died. 

However, he referred names to the Western Cape Director of Public Prosecutions, advocate Nicolette Bell, for possible prosecution and ordered that the registrar send over the inquest record, which contained the tragic details of the Imam's time in detention, his death, and the effect on his family. 

Read the full inquest judgment here.

In a statement, Bell welcomed the judgment, attributing it to the National Prosecuting Authority's (NPA) pursuit of Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) cases - of which there were currently 135 under investigation.

"The NPA will implement the required measures to ensure accountability for TRC matters despite the regrettable delays stemming from past inaction," said Bell. 

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"The NPA remains committed to ensuring accountability for TRC crimes and justice for victims and their families as they search for answers to what happened to their loved ones. 

Bell said the NPA and the Hawks had been enhancing its capacity to handle these cases, with 16 prosecutors and 39 Hawks investigators appointed within the various divisions to deal exclusively with TRC matters, work with families, and to investigate cases of murder, torture, and disappearances. 

Of the 135 cases, some prosecutions had begun, and in others, inquests were being held and re-held to establish the circumstances and responsibility for the deaths. 

"We must continue to strive for justice," said Bell.