Mbeki blames NPA for failed TRC prosecutions
Mbeki strongly denied that his administration had ever politically interfered with the NPA
Former South African President Thabo Mbeki has stated that the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) officials responsible for failing to prosecute Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) cases must face accountability. This comes in response to accusations made by Lukhanyo Calata, the son of one of the Cradock Four, who claimed that Mbeki was being disrespectful in a March 2024 statement.
However, Mbeki's statement strongly denied any political interference by his administration in the NPA to obstruct or suppress the prosecution of apartheid-era atrocities, including the 1985 murders of the Cradock Four.
Mbeki testified before the TRC Cases Inquiry in Newtown, Johannesburg, on Monday, rejecting the allegations against him. He dismissed Calata's characterization of his statement as disrespectful, stating that it only made sense if Calata sought to shield the prosecutors who he believed had failed in their duties. Mbeki emphasized that accountability requires these prosecutors to explain their reasons for not prosecuting, which cases were affected, whether anyone prevented or attempted to prevent prosecution, and who was responsible for the lack of prosecution.
Mbeki suggested that the NPA's failure to prosecute over 300 cases referred to it by the TRC Amnesty Committee might be due to the institution's compromise. He pointed out that the post-apartheid NPA inherited prosecutors from the apartheid era, raising questions about whether some or all of them were motivated to prosecute individuals who had been their comrades in the defense and perpetuation of that system.
Written by urgent.news from SABC News's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
