South African President Cyril Ramaphosa has announced the formation of a judicial commission of inquiry to investigate claims of deliberate suppression of justice in apartheid-era crimes. The move comes amid growing pressure from families of victims who argue that successive post-apartheid administrations have failed to fully investigate or prosecute political killings and disappearances that occurred during the brutal regime.
According to a statement from the presidency on Wednesday, the commission will examine allegations that state officials may have influenced or delayed justice in cases referred by the Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC). The TRC, established in the aftermath of apartheid in 1994, had submitted a list of hundreds of unresolved cases to prosecutors—many of which remain unaddressed nearly three decades later.
“This commission will seek to establish the truth and bring closure to families who have waited for justice for too long,” the presidency said. “President Ramaphosa is determined that the true facts be established and the matter brought to finality.”
The inquiry is a result of settlement talks in a legal case filed in January by 25 family members and survivors of apartheid-era crimes. The claimants are demanding around 167 million rand (approximately $9 million) in constitutional damages from the state, alleging government negligence in pursuing justice.
However, the presidency indicated that the state would request a suspension of the damages case pending the commission’s findings. This has sparked criticism from civil society groups. The Foundation for Human Rights, which is supporting the families, welcomed the commission but opposed the delay of the court’s ruling on damages.
“Instead of entering into mediation, he has decided to offload the declaration of rights and constitutional damages onto a commission of inquiry, which has no authority to deal with it,” the foundation said in a statement.
As South Africa continues to reckon with its apartheid legacy, this inquiry represents a critical test of the government’s commitment to historical justice and accountability. No timeline has been provided for the commission’s work.
