Kin want TRC cases probe
FAMILIES of apartheid victims have written a letter appealing to President Cyril Ramaphosa for the appointment of a commission of inquiry to investigate the suppression of Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) cases.
The families took the opportunity, as the president prepared to address the nation, to appeal to him and his Cabinet to give particular attention to all victims of apartheid who were killed at the hands of the infamous Security Branch.
They said “justice delayed is indeed justice denied”.
“We, family and friends of victims who were unjustly killed, thus use this opportunity to petition you, as our country’s state president, to do the very least and that is to honour the souls of our country’s martyrs – individuals who valiantly sacrificed their lives to attain social justice for us all.
“Although we only remind you of the names of Imam Abdullah Haron, Nicodemus Kgoathe, Simon Modipane, James Lenkoe, Caleb Mayekiso, Michael Shivute and Jacob Monnakgotla, since this year is the 50th year (since) their killings while they were held in detention, we should not forget the names of many others such as Steve Biko and Neil Agget.
“Essentially, we would like to drive home the point that as you address us all during the opening of Parliament… that you remember, even by mentioning some of the names, all of these martyred men and women,” the letter said.
Political interference has stopped the investigations
The families drew the president’s attention to an extract from a letter issued by former members of the TRC, appealing to him for a commission of inquiry into the “political interference that has stopped the investigation and prosecution of virtually all the cases referred by the TRC to the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA)”.
The families noted that these members of the TRC to date had not received a response and for them, this was “very disconcerting”.
They made mention of a submission made to the Zondo Commission by Lukhanyo Calata, son of Ford Calata, one of the Cradock Four, in April.
Representing other victims of the apartheid era, Calata made a special request that an investigation be undertaken regarding the political interference that resulted in the suppression of virtually all the 300 cases.
The family and friends want the president, to, at least, bring closure to not only the traumatised families but to a “deeply troubled nation”.
The Presidency did not respond to requests for comment by deadline.