Media Advisory / 28 August 2025
Final Sitting of the Highgate Inquest: 1 – 5 September 2025
The Highgate Inquest will hold its final sitting from 1 to 5 September 2025 at the Special Tribunal in East London, before Judge Potgieter. The inquest concerns the 1 May 1993 attack on the Highgate Hotel in East London, in which five people were killed and seven others seriously injured. In a statement, Judge Potgieter emphasised the importance of public cooperation: The proceedings, regulated by the Inquests Act 58 of 1959, are tasked with investigating the circumstances of these deaths and determining whether they were caused by any act or omission amounting to an offence.
“To achieve this purpose, it is necessary for any person who bears knowledge of the circumstances leading to the deaths and/or the incidents of the deaths to avail such information to the court conducting the inquest proceedings. This Court will welcome any information that will assist these proceedings.”
Information can be submitted through:
- The Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation (Captain Vaughn Peterson – PetersonVW@saps.gov.za)
- Attorneys for the families, Cliffe Dekker Hofmeyr (Paige Winfield – Paige.Winfield@cdhlegal.com / 011 562 1763).
Closing arguments are expected to be delivered on the last 2 days of the hearing, 4-5 September 2025.
ENDS
