Cyril dealt a blow in attempts to delay justice for apartheid-era crimes

THE families of victims and survivors of apartheid era crimes secured a major victory in their quest for justice when the Pretoria High Court dismissed President Cyril Ramaphosa and his government’ application to delay the R167 million constitutional damages.

- SIYABONGA SITHOLE

The group of survivors and families of victims of apartheid-era crimes together with the Foundation for Human Rights (FHR), had brought a case against Ramaphosa and the government’ bid to indefinitely postpone or stay the R167 million constitutional damages claim case.

The case was launched by the group in January this year, with the victory coming more than 20 years after the TRC recommended that hundreds of apartheid era atrocities required further investigations and prosecutions.

In her judgment, Judge Nicolene Janse Van Nieuwenhuizen said it was understandable that family members, some of whom are elderly, were eager to find closure and put the matter to rest.

“It is rather ironic that the Government, which is the sole cause for the delay, wants this court to sanction yet a further indefinite delay without being able to point to any tangible benefit that will be achieved by the delay,” she said.