Decades of delays: TRC cases inquiry hears testimony on Nokuthula Simelane

Human Settlements Minister Thembi Simelane has told the TRC Cases Inquiry that her family has lost faith in the justice system, more than four decades after her sister disappeared.

Simelane is the first witness to appear before the inquiry, which is looking into allegations of political interference in apartheid-era investigations. Families accuse prosecutors and police of decades of delays and failing to deliver the truth promised after apartheid.

Nokuthula Simelane vanished in 1983, a month before her graduation from the University of Swaziland. Her case was referred by the Truth and Reconciliation Commission for prosecution, but to this day, her remains have never been found, and there has been no prosecution.

In her testimony before the inquiry, her sister, Thembi Simelane, said there has been no apology for the delays from any senior official in either the SAPS or the NPA.

“Not once, Chair, not once. And in some instances, I will ask them directly, do you realise the harm you have caused?”

At one point, her family was told the case docket had been lost.

It is believed Nokuthula disappeared while on a mission for the ANC to deliver a message from Eswatini. Simelane says all she wants are her sister’s remains. She lives in hope that someday someone, somewhere, who knows what happened, will come forward and lead them to Nokuthula’s remains.

READ MORE:

TRC cases inquiry: Thembi Simelane to take stand as first witness

Simelane: NPA failure to prosecute apartheid-era cases post-TRC ‘backdoor amnesty’

Families deserve truth,justice for loved ones killed during apartheid: Simelane