SAPS & NPA no cooperating with TRC cases inquiry

The TRC cases inquiry, which is investigating allegations of political interference into apartheid-era prosecutions, is facing an uphill battle with South African Police Service (SAPS) and the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) refusing to cooperate.

The two bodies have yet to submit documents as required by the inquiry and have so far declined to cross-examine the commission’s first witness.

Evidence leaders have bemoaned the lack of cooperation.

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The inquiry, chaired by retired Constitutional Court Judge Sisi Khampepe, is now considering issuing subpoenas to compel compliance.

During her testimony on Thursday, Minister of Human Settlements Thembi Simelane described the NPA’s failure to prosecute apartheid-era cases post the TRC Commission as “backdoor amnesty” for perpetrators who have yet to be held accountable.

“I found it very, I don't know what will be the best way, very uncaring for the NPA not to even look for one or two people to say what do you think? I refuse. Now that you have gone through the TRC, I view it as a backdoor amnesty; we kept on being dragged and pulled as if no one cares about how we feel.”

On Friday, the inquiry is expected to hear testimony from its second witness, Lukhanyo Calata, the son of one of the Cradock Four.