Latest news with #FHR
Yahoo
30-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
South Africa sets up inquiry into slow apartheid justice
South African President Cyril Ramaphosa announced Wednesday 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. The Foundation for Human Rights (FHR) said it rejected the proposal to use the commission to address victims' rights and constitutional damages, arguing that only a court can determine such matters. "The applicants are very disappointed at the about-turn of the president," FHR said in a statement. Critics have long alleged a covert agreement between the former white-minority government and the post-apartheid leadership of the African National Congress to prevent prosecutions. The foundation of the country's last white president, FW de Klerk, suggested in 2021 that prosecutors halted the trials due to an "informal agreement" between the post-apartheid leadership of the African National Congress and the former government. ho/giv
Int'l Business Times
30-04-2025
- Politics
- Int'l Business Times
South Africa Sets Up Inquiry Into Slow Apartheid Justice
South African President Cyril Ramaphosa announced Wednesday 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. 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. The Foundation for Human Rights (FHR) said it rejected the proposal to use the commission to address victims' rights and constitutional damages, arguing that only a court can determine such matters. "The applicants are very disappointed at the about-turn of the president," FHR said in a statement. Critics have long alleged a covert agreement between the former white-minority government and the post-apartheid leadership of the African National Congress to prevent prosecutions. The foundation of the country's last white president, FW de Klerk, suggested in 2021 that prosecutors halted the trials due to an "informal agreement" between the post-apartheid leadership of the African National Congress and the former government.
News24
29-04-2025
- Politics
- News24
Ramaphosa agrees to establish inquiry into alleged sabotage of apartheid prosecutions
Families of victims of apartheid-era atrocities, victims and survivors have won a bittersweet breakthrough as President Cyril Ramaphosa commits to probing political interference that stalled Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC)-recommended prosecutions. The families and survivors as well as the Foundation for Human Rights (FHR) are suing Ramaphosa and government for constitutional damages and an order forcing the president to institute the inquiry. The president withdrew his intention to oppose the lawsuit and has now undertaken to establish a commission of inquiry to investigate the alleged political interference in the apartheid crimes referred for prosecution by the TRC. WATCH | Apartheid victims' early victory in R167 million apartheid damages lawsuit The applicants welcomed the commitment but rejected Ramaphosa's proposal for the commission also to deal with the declaration of their rights and the constitutional damages claim. According to the foundation, the proposal was legally flawed as the commission had no power to determine rights and remedies. The FHR said in a statement: The applicants are very disappointed at the about-turn of the president. In February, the president stated in the media that he deeply appreciated the pain experienced by the families for the many years they had been denied justice. He stated firmly that they needed closure. The president withdrew his notice to oppose the court case and publicly called for mediation to resolve the issues raised by the families and survivors. According to the FHR, the applicants viewed Ramaphosa's statement as the first serious acknowledgement of their plight after years of silence on the part of the authorities. The organisation said the statement that mediation was the way forward was particularly welcomed, as it suggested that the president was "serious about resolving" their issues expeditiously. The FHR, however, lamented that yet, just weeks later, Ramaphosa rebuffed all attempts by the families to commence mediation and, instead of entering into mediation, has decided to offload the declaration of rights and constitutional damages onto a commission of inquiry, which has no authority to deal with it, aside from offering advice. The foundation said in the statement released on Tuesday: This fundamental shortcoming was pointed out to the President's legal team, as well as the fact that it will likely result in the issues remaining unresolved for years. This will perpetuate the pain and trauma that the families and survivors have experienced for many years. In the circumstances, the President's statements made in February acknowledging the pain of families and calling for closure and mediation cannot be taken seriously. His extraordinary about-turn has caused the families much anguish. According to the outcomes of the out-of-court settlement negotiations, Ramaphosa will establish the commission by the end of May. However, although he withdrew his opposition to the case, FHR has lamented that the president has since refused to engage in mediation on the constitutional damages and the declaration of rights. The organisation said Ramaphosa has since decided that, despite the applicants' objections, he will proceed to promulgate terms of the reference for the commission that will include the claim for constitutional damages and the declaration of rights. The president will also apply to the court to stop the litigation from proceeding pending the outcome of the commission of inquiry.
