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

The long-delayed Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) cases inquiry is set to the have the first witness testify on Thursday.

The commission kicked off on Wednesday with opening addresses.

It has been nine months since President Cyril Ramaphosa established the commission, but it has been riddled with administrative delays and several recusal applications.

The TRC cases inquiry is investigating allegations of political interference and deliberate attempts to impede the prosecution of apartheid era crimes.

The first witness to take the stand at the TRC cases inquiry is Human Settlements Minister Thembi Simelane.

Simelane’s sister, Nokuthula, disappeared in 1983 while on a mission for the African National Congress (ANC) in Eswatini.

While two of the suspects that were charged for Simelane’s murder have since died, two security branch police Willem Coetzee and Anton Pretorius still stand accused.

But the case been significantly delayed by Coetzee’s application regarding his fitness to stand trial.

Over the years, Simelane has taken on several legal battles to force the state to prosecute the alleged perpetrators behind her sister’s murder.

This was during the tenure of former president Thabo Mbeki and while Bridget Mabandla was the Justice Minister.