Cyril Ramaphosa
With less than two weeks before the Truth and Reconciliation Commission begins its work, the Commission has once against accused some government departments of refusing to cooperate.
The Judicial Commission of Inquiry into the Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) has accused three former presidents, the Presidency, the South African Police Service (SAPS), Parliament and the Department of Justice of failing to cooperate with its efforts to probe alleged interference with cases from the apartheid era. This claim was reiterated on Tuesday, as the Commission prepares to commence its vital work next month.
This Commission was recently established by President Cyril Ramaphosa to investigate alleged interference with the TRC cases, with the spokesperson for the Commission, Lionel Adendorf, slamming some of these government entities for refusing to furnish the Commission with important information.
In May this year, President Cyril Ramaphosa who signed a proclamation for the establishment of a judicial commission of inquiry to determine whether attempts were made to interfere with or prevent the investigation and prosecution of apartheid-era crimes, retired Constitutional Court Judge Sisi Khampepe as its chairperson.
Khampepe is being assisted by retired Northern Cape Judge President Frans Diale Kgomo and Adv Andrea Gabriel SC.
On the need to establish the Commission, Ramaphosa stated: “For many years, there have been allegations of interference in these cases. This alleged interference is seen as the cause of an unacceptable delay in the investigation and prosecution of brutal crimes committed under apartheid. This has caused the families of victims' great anguish and frustration.
“All affected families – and indeed all South Africans – deserve closure and justice. A commission of inquiry with broad and comprehensive terms of reference is an opportunity to establish the truth and provide guidance on any further action that needs to be taken," Ramaphosa stated at the time.
Adendorf revealed that the Commission has done everything it could to get witnesses and interested and affected parties to cooperate but continues to struggle to get full cooperation.
“On 14 October, following the lack of responses, the TRC cases inquiry issued directive no.1, instructing all persons who are to furnish responses to rule 3.3 notices, requests for information, and responses to correspondence sent to respond by Friday, 24 October 2025," he said.
Adendorf said this week, evidence leaders continued to struggle with getting information central to the Commission's mandate.
“Yesterday, during the second and last pre-hearing engagement, the Inquiry’s evidence leaders reported that the SAPS, the Department of Justice, the Presidency, and the Parliamentary Committee on Justice and Constitutional Development are non-compliant, while almost all others, including three former presidents and the current minister of Justice and Constitutional Development, have applied for further extensions,” he said.
In May this year, the Commission was given six months to complete its work from the date of this proclamation and submit its report within 60 days after the completion of its work.
It is still not clear whether it will start on the expected time of Monday, 10 November 2025, for the Commission's much expected first hearing.
