WATCH | ‘Families want to know why!’ — Ramaphosa vows transparency over apartheid-era crimes

Ramaphosa

Cape Town – President Cyril Ramaphosa says he will soon reveal the names of those who will lead a Judicial Commission of Inquiry into the delays in investigating and prosecuting apartheid-era crimes identified by the Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC).

Speaking to the media on Thursday in Middelburg, Mpumalanga, after May Day celebrations, Ramaphosa emphasised the government’s aim to help victims’ families find closure and understand the reasons behind the slow progress in handling these cases.

“We have established that commission of inquiry and I’ll soon be announcing the names of those who are going to lead the commission. And this is as a result of the continued pain and suffering that those who suffered through the atrocities of the apartheid government want to find closure because people were killed, people were maimed and injured,” the president said.

“And families want to know exactly what happened, And they also want to know why? What gave rise to us as a government having slow movement in actually investigating those cases and prosecuting them.

“So, as a transparent government, we are doing precisely that, so that the families can have closure and so that those who were responsible for atrocities can also be brought to book. And so that we can also correct our own errors in terms of dealing with things that happened in the past.”

Ramaphosa on Wednesday announced a judicial inquiry into claims of deliberate delays in prosecuting apartheid-era crimes three decades after the end of white-minority rule.

The Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) created in 1996 exposed crimes, including murder and torture, carried out during apartheid but few of these cases have progressed to trial.”Allegations of improper influence in delaying or hindering the investigation and prosecution of apartheid-era crimes have persisted from previous administrations,” the presidency said in a statement.”Through this commission, President Ramaphosa is determined that the true facts be established and the matter brought to finality,” it said.Led by the late Archbishop Desmond Tutu, the TRC heard over two years harrowing accounts from hundreds of victims and perpetrators of apartheid-era abuse.

It granted amnesty to 850 people who confessed to their crimes and also recommended more than 300 cases for prosecution.

Ramaphosa would soon announce who would head the new inquiry as well as its timetable and terms of reference, the statement said.

The announcement came after 25 families of victims and survivors sued Ramaphosa and the government in January over a lack of justice.

They included the son of Fort Calata, among anti-apartheid activists known as the Cradock Four who were abducted and killed by security police in 1985.

Lukhanyo Calata, whose father Fort was stabbed to death and burnt, said they looked forward to the hearings and finding out who interfered with the work of the National Prosecuting Authority.

“Their dark and dastardly deeds must be brought into light. This is yet another crucial step to help the long suffering families on their journey towards truth, justice and closure,” told AFP.

Compensation 

The victims’ legal suit sought constitutional damages for the government’s alleged failure to investigate and try the case.

“Following discussions involving the presidency, the families and other government bodies cited in the application, there was a joint agreement to establish the commission,” Ramaphosa’s office said.

“Government will be seeking a stay of application on these outstanding matters pending the conclusion and outcomes of the Commission of Inquiry,” it said.

The rights group representing the victims said welcomed Ramaphosa’s move but expressed displeasure at the mediation not ceding to all their demands.

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