US EditionSouth Africa sets up inquiry into apartheid prosecutions
- On May 1, 2025, South Africa’s leader, Cyril Ramaphosa, initiated a judicial investigation into reported delays in prosecuting crimes from the apartheid era dating back to the 1980s and 1990s.
- The inquiry results from settlement discussions linked to a Pretoria court case initiated in January by 25 families and survivors who allege that governments since the end of apartheid have failed to thoroughly pursue investigations into these crimes.
- The Truth and Reconciliation Commission, established in 1996 to uncover apartheid abuses including murder and torture, handed over hundreds of cases for prosecution, but few progressed to trial and some alleged killers were never charged.
- The presidency acknowledged ongoing claims that past administrations interfered to obstruct or slow down efforts to investigate and prosecute crimes from the apartheid period, while Ramaphosa expressed his commitment to uncovering the full truth and resolving the issue conclusively.
- The commission aims to determine if attempts to obstruct justice occurred, which could help families find truth, justice, and closure after three decades since apartheid ended in 1994.
44 Articles
44 Articles
New inquiry into whether prosecutions of apartheid-era crimes were blocked – The Mail & Guardian
President Cyril Ramaphosa has ordered an inquiry to establish whether previous governments led by the ANC intentionally blocked investigations and prosecutions of apartheid-era crimes. The landmark move, which survivors and families of those who were killed have demanded for more than 20 years, will address allegations of “improper influence in delaying or hindering” investigations that have been levelled against post-apartheid governments led b…
South Africa: President Ramaphosa to Launch Commission of Inquiry Into TRC Cases
[SAnews.gov.za] President Cyril Ramaphosa is set to establish a Judicial Commission of Inquiry to investigate alleged interference to prevent the investigation or prosecution of apartheid-era crimes referred by the Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) to the National Prosecuting Authority.
South Africa to probe whether prosecutions of apartheid crimes were blocked
President Cyril Ramaphosa ordered an inquiry Wednesday to establish whether previous governments led by his party intentionally blocked investigations and prosecutions of apartheid-era crimes
South Africa: A Commission to Address the Lack of Justice on the Crimes of Apartheid
In South Africa, President Cyril Ramaphosa announced on 30 April the establishment of a commission to investigate the lack of justice around crimes that date back to apartheid. After the work of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission, many suspects who had not obtained amnesty should have been prosecuted before the courts. But very few were finally worried.
News24 | Ramaphosa launches commission of inquiry to probe apartheid-era prosecution failures
President Cyril Ramaphosa is setting up a judicial commission of inquiry to establish whether attempts were made to prevent the investigation or prosecution of apartheid-era crimes referred by the Truth and Reconciliation Commission to the National Prosecuting Authority.
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