Ramaphosa urges the high court to delay apartheid damages case for inquiry findings

PRESIDENT Cyril Ramaphosa has urged the Gauteng High Court, Pretoria, to stay the R167 million constitutional damages case brought by families of victims and survivors of apartheid-era atrocities until the conclusion of the judicial commission of inquiry, so that all the facts are on the table.

- ZELDA VENTER

Ramaphosa earlier signed a proclamation for the establishment of the judicial commission of inquiry to determine whether attempts were made to prevent the investigation and prosecution of apartheid-era crimes.

Advocate Tim Bruinders SC, arguing on behalf of Ramaphosa and the government, said the commission will shed more light on why, and to what extent and by whom, efforts or attempts were made to influence or pressure the SAPS or the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) to stop investigating or prosecuting TRC cases.