A new investigation into apartheid-era crimes in South Africa has been launched following settlement talks in a high court case involving 25 families and survivors. These families are seeking $9 million in damages, claiming that the governments that succeeded apartheid failed to properly investigate the crimes committed during that time.
One of the plaintiffs is the son of Fort Calata, a member of the Cradock Four, a group of anti-apartheid activists who were killed by security forces in 1985. Their brutal murder caused widespread outrage in South Africa. Six former police officers later admitted their involvement to the Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC), but they were not prosecuted and have since passed away.
Critics have long suggested that the African National Congress (ANC), which has been in power since the end of apartheid, may have made a secret deal with the former white-minority government to avoid prosecutions. The ANC has denied these claims. Recently, the presidency acknowledged that there have been ongoing allegations of improper influence that have delayed or hindered the investigation and prosecution of these crimes.
The head of the new inquiry and its timeline will be announced soon, signaling a renewed effort to address the injustices of the past. The move is seen as a crucial step toward achieving justice for the victims and their families.