Timol fell to his death in 1972, with the security branch claiming that he had taken his own life by jumping from the 10th floor of the John Vorster Square Police Station.

PRETORIA - The High Court in Pretoria has ruled that Ahmed Timol did not commit suicide but died after being tortured and pushed from a window by security branch police officers.

The court on Thursday overturned a 40-year-old inquest finding that endorsed the police’s version that Timol jumped to his death.

The anti-apartheid activist died in 1971 after falling from the 10th floor of the John Vorster Square Police Station.

Judge Billy Mothle says that from the day Timol was arrested until he died, he was assaulted and tortured by the security branch.

#TimolInquest Mothle: the court accepts that Timol was pushed in the morning. BB — EWN Reporter (@ewnreporter) October 12, 2017

#TimolInquest Mothle: Timol died as a result of being pushed. It amounts to murder. BB — EWN Reporter (@ewnreporter) October 12, 2017

#TimolInquest Mothle: Roderigues should be investigated for his role in covering up the murder. BB — EWN Reporter (@ewnreporter) October 12, 2017

"Timol did not jump out of the window of room 1026 but was either pushed out of the window or from the roof of the John Vorster Police Station. Thus he did not commit suicide but was murdered."

Mothle says the security branch went to great lengths to hide their crime.

"The sub-standard and sloppy manner in which the investigation of Timol's death was conducted, supposed the view that there was clear intent to cover-up the incident through a fabricated version of suicide."

The court ordered that the last person to see Timol alive, Sergeant Jan Rodrigues, be investigated for murder as an accessory after the fact.

WATCH: Court delivers findings on Ahmed Timol's death