Western Cape High Court Judge Daniel Thulare has been appointed to oversee a reopened inquest into the death of anti-apartheid activist Imam Abdullah Haron.

National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) Western Cape Director of Public Prosecutions advocate Nicolette Bell welcomed the appointment, saying "many strides have been made in building capacity in the NPA to ensure that families of apartheid-era victims find closure".

Haron was arrested on 24 May 1969 and detained for 123 days under the provisions of Section 6 of the Terrorism Act of 1967. He was interrogated by members of the notorious Security Branch of the police force. Haron died on 27 September 1969 at Caledon Square police station in Cape Town.

The apartheid regime held an inquest in 1970, and the findings were primarily based on reports from medical experts and police witnesses. It found that his death had been caused by an "accidental fall' on a flight of stairs at the police station.

"The successful application to have the 1970 inquest of the late Imam Haron reopened with the recent allocation, by the Judge President of the Western Cape High Court, of a judge to preside over the proceedings is what the organisation believes is a small victory on the road towards the truth, which we can only trust would inspire the families with hope and comfort that they have not been forgotten," Bell said.

Earlier this week, Justice and Correctional Services Minister Ronald Lamola asked the Western Cape judge president to designate a judge to reopen the inquest.

Lamola's decision followed an NPA application for the reopening of the inquest to help it determine whether the original court finding that Haron had died as a result of falling down the stairs had been correct.

The renewed investigation is expected to consider expert reports from a state pathologist, an aeronautical engineer and a trajectory expert, who will provide a new perspective into the probable cause of Haron's death, according to the Department of Justice and Correctional Services.