‘Resources were allocated to TRC cases when I was Justice Minister’

During his tenure as Justice Minister from 2019 to 2024, Ronald Lamola asserted that the period he allocated to Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) cases was the most successful in South Africa's post-democratic era. Testifying at the TRC Cases Inquiry during its 69th public hearing in Newtown, Johannesburg, Lamola highlighted his commitment to ensuring the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) had the necessary resources and capacity to pursue TRC cases.

He explained that he secured additional funding from Treasury for personnel and worked closely with then-National Democratic Party (NDPP) member Shamila Batohi to assign investigators from the Hawks to work on these cases using a decentralized model of prosecution. Lamola's claims were supported by data showing that thirteen new prosecutors were appointed, bringing the total to 23 dedicated prosecutors collaborating with 34 DPCI (Department of Public Counsel Investigations) investigators.

This enhanced prosecutorial capacity led to the active attention of 53 TRC cases nationwide by April 2021, which increased to 115 matters under investigation by March 2022. These cases were selected from the TRC report, with evidence provided by family members of the deceased and audits of deaths in detention.