28 February 2017
The South African Communist Party (SACP) has learnt with sadness of the passing on of Judge Essa Moosa on 25 February. The SACP sends its message of condolences to Moosa's family, colleagues and comrades.
Judge Moosa rightly understood that the dislodging of Apartheid in April 1994 did not mean that the oppression, marginalisation and exploitation of the workers and poor across the world have come to an end. He firmly appreciated that the struggle is not over, that the struggle continues.
The SACP dips its red banner in honour of Judge Moosa, including the role he played in our liberation struggle as a whole and in establishing the Kurdish Human Rights Action Group (KHRAG). The Kurdish people among other international communities will also be saddened by his passing on. Judge Moosa was involved in active expression of solidarity with the Kurdish people in their struggle for democratic self-determination, as well as linguistic, cultural and other human rights. The SACP worked with him very closely in taking forward this struggle and will intensify its work in this regard in memory of Judge Moosa.
Judge Moosa also independently headed the Office of the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation (DPCI) (aka the Hawks) Judge. The Office of the DPCI Judge is mandated to conduct investigations on complaints from members of the public about the Hawks and from members of the Hawks against members of the public, including politicians and civil servants. In memory of Judge Moosa, it is important that as a nation we examine the mandate, workings and resourcing of the Office of the Hawks Judge and its position vis-à-vis the Independent Police Investigative Directorate (IPID) especially duplication and the necessity to optimise the utilisation of public resources.