NPA assures Parliament no further delays in reopening inquests into deaths of Cradock Four
This despite earlier delays in confirming legal representation for the family of the victims, and for a military person of interest which has still been unresolved.
The Cradock Four memorial in Cradock, in the Eastern Cape. Picture: Fort Calata Foundation/Facebook
JOHANNESBURG - The National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) has assured parliament there will be no further delays in re-opening the inquest into the deaths of the Cradock Four, which is due to start in two weeks' time.
This despite earlier delays in confirming legal representation for the family of the victims and for a military person of interest, which has still been unresolved.
NPA head, Shamila Batohi, told Parliament's Justice Committee that while she accepts there have been years of unexplained delays in prosecuting Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) cases, the authority is now working at full tilt to get matters to court.
The government is staring down a multi-million-rand lawsuit from victims’ families for years of delays in prosecutions in TRC cases, including the Cradock Four.
The NPA's Eastern Cape director, Barry Madolo, indicated a commitment to get that case off the ground in June.
But a dispute over whether the defence force should provide legal support to one of its members involved in the inquest could present a snag in the smooth hearing of the case.
"There's been a general agreement that we are going to proceed, although there’s no direction yet regarding the funding from the SANDF (South African National Defence Force). But we have contingency plans. We'll proceed for at least ten days during June."
The defence force was absent from Tuesday's meeting and is expected to receive a written rebuke from the committee chairperson.
READ: Legal costs stall TRC cases: NPA says disputes over funding delaying justice
Former prosecutor turned Democratic Alliance (DA) Member of Parliament (MP), Glynnis Breytenbach, has slammed the police and defence force for being slow to decide on whether to pay for lawyers for apartheid era police and military officers.
"The people in those departments who make those decisions should please make them. And do the right thing, and get these matters on the roll, and get them done."
In response to concerns from MPs about the calibre of lawyers provided for these cases, Legal Aid CEO Ntumbedzeni Nemasisi revealed top Advocate Tembeka Ngcukaitobi has been enlisted in the case of the Cradock Four.