Mbeki accused of unconstitutional conduct aimed at protecting human rights abusers

Former President Thabo Mbeki has been accused of unconstitutional conduct aimed at protecting individuals who committed human rights abuses.

On Wednesday, Advocate Anton Ackerman, who led a task team to prosecute apartheid era crimes, said Mbeki attempted to create a mechanism to shield individuals that were not granted amnesty during the Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC).

Ackerman is testifying before the TRC cases inquiry, which is investigating delays in prosecuting apartheid-era crimes

ALSO READ:

Sooka testifies Mbeki and Zuma impugned TRC work through pardons process

Families of apartheid victims slam Zuma, Mbeki for obstructionist legal battles

Ackerman described Mbeki’s actions back then as morally questionable.

“President Mbeki knew that general amnesty was out of the question. He could not set up another amnesty process. He would have been unconstitutional. The means that he used to achieve this end was unconstitutional. It was also morally questionable.”

He further stated that the former president claimed that those who didn’t apply for amnesty were misled by their superiors.

“The amended policy, prosecuting policy to deal with TRC cases that the president used to achieve his goals, infringed upon the rights of the victims of human rights abuses. President Mbeki was so desperately seeking some accommodation of many of those who did not take part in the TRC process.”