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.

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.