South Africa to investigate potential obstruction of prosecutions for apartheid-era offenses
In the heart of South Africa, South African President Cyril Ramaphosa has ventured into uncharted territories by announcing an investigation into allegations surrounding delayed or hindered probes of apartheid-era crimes – a demand voiced by victims' families and survivors for over two decades.
This ground-breaking decision comes amidst a court case filed by 25 victims' relatives and survivors in January, who accused the government of neglecting post-apartheid Truth and Reconciliation Commission's recommendations regarding unresolved killings, disappearances, and other crimes during the era of forced racial segregation.
The African National Congress (ANC), champion of the fight against white minority rule and architect of South Africa's transition to democracy in 1994, has been under scrutiny for putting national reconciliation above justice for victims.
The upcoming judicial commission of inquiry is a part of the settlement agreement in the court case, aiming to address the improper influence that some claim was exercised in stalling or obstructing investigations.
In 1996, the precedent-setting Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC), chaired by Nobel Peace Prize laureate Desmond Tutu, was established by then-President Nelson Mandela. Its primary goal was to uncover apartheid-era atrocities and provide an opportunity for confessions to those responsible, including members of the apartheid government's state security forces.
Many cases remain unresolved. One of the most prominent is the Cradock Four – a group of anti-apartheid activists brutally murdered by security forces in 1985. Though six former police officers appeared before the commission in 1999, none were granted amnesty, and no prosecutions have taken place. The commission's recommendations regarding these murders have been disregarded, leaving victims' families still seeking justice.
Lukhanyo Calata, son of Fort Calata, one of the Cradock Four, is part of the group that brought the current South African government to court in January. He alleges that successive governments since the Thabo Mbeki administration from 1999-2008 have failed to act on the TRC's recommendations and denied justice to victims and their families. He and other relatives claim that government ministers intervened to prevent the investigation and prosecution of crimes.
Other cases gaining attention include the Highgate Hotel Massacre, where five white people were killed by gunmen in 1993. The reopened inquest into these shootings aims to shed light on the killers' identities, providing a glimmer of hope for victims' families seeking answers.
Another significant step towards addressing historical injustices is the June 2025 reopening of the inquest into the murders of the Cradock Four, offering relatives the opportunity to testify and bringing the atrocity to national attention. The National Prosecuting Authority supported this move, citing new evidence and inconsistencies in previous investigations.
As the judicial commission of inquiry commences, we await answers to long-standing questions, bringing hope for justice for the countless families still affected by the lasting legacy of apartheid.
source: our website
Update: As of June 2025, a high court in South Africa has reopened an inquest into the murders of the Cradock Four. The current inquest allows relatives of the victims to testify for the first time and broadcasts proceedings live on national television. The National Prosecuting Authority supported reopening the case due to new evidence and inconsistencies in previous investigations.
- The ongoing judicial commission of inquiry, stemming from a court case filed in January, is intended to address improper influence that may have stalled or obstructed investigations into apartheid-era crimes, thereby aligning with the media's general coverage of politics, policy-and-legislation, and general news.
- In the midst of elections, South African President Cyril Ramaphosa's decision to announce investigations into delayed or hindered probes of apartheid-era crimes has brought renewed attention to the elections' potential impact on crime and justice, a topic of interest for the media and political discourse.
- The media's close scrutiny of the South African President and the African National Congress (ANC) during the elections may uncover information relevant to the upcoming inquest and its investigation of allegations surrounding delayed or hindered probes of apartheid-era crimes, shedding light on the politics and policy-and-legislation surrounding these historical investigations.
