South Africa: Justice for victims of apartheid, the state finally opens the file on judicial interference

South African President Cyril Ramaphosa has announced the creation of an independent commission of inquiry to shed light on allegations of interference in judicial proceedings related to apartheid-era crimes. This long-awaited initiative by victims’ families aims to identify those responsible for persistent delays in investigations and to revive the pursuit of justice.

Chaired by former Constitutional Court judge Sisi Khampepe, the commission also includes retired judge Frans Diale Kgomo and lawyer Andrea Gabriel. It will investigate whether state actors—particularly within the police or the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA)—deliberately blocked or obstructed investigations into cases submitted by the Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC).

Established in the 1990s to document the atrocities of the apartheid regime, the TRC had recommended prosecutions for those who had not been granted amnesty. Yet, decades later, most of these cases remain unresolved, prompting outrage from families who denounce what they see as organized political obstruction.

“For years, there have been allegations of deliberate interference. This has caused unacceptable delays in access to justice,” President Ramaphosa stated, viewing the commission as an opportunity for truth and reparation.

The investigation will cover the period from 2003 to the present, reviewing complaints from families and their legal representatives. It will also assess the need to initiate new prosecutions or grant financial reparations. The commission has six months to complete its work, followed by a final report within two months.

Although the initiative has been welcomed, debates continue over constitutional reparations. Ramaphosa acknowledged the families’ right to pursue other legal avenues while calling for patience. This commission could open a new judicial chapter and help South Africa close a painful part of its history by reaffirming the right to justice for the victims of apartheid.