Twenty-five families of victims and survivors of apartheid-era political crimes have filed a lawsuit against South African President Cyril Ramaphosa and his administration. The lawsuit alleges a failure to investigate these crimes adequately and deliver justice.
The families are seeking damages amounting to 167 million rand (approximately $9 million). The case, submitted to the High Court in Pretoria, was publicized by the Foundation for Human Rights, an NGO supporting the applicants.
In addition to monetary compensation, the group has requested a court order compelling Ramaphosa to establish a commission of inquiry into “political interference that led to the suppression of numerous serious crimes stemming from South Africa’s history,” according to a statement from the applicants.
A representative for Ramaphosa responded that his legal team would address the court documents appropriately. The representative also emphasized that the president has never interfered with law enforcement operations or obstructed the prosecution of apartheid-era crimes.
The apartheid era, which lasted from 1948 to 1994, was characterized by systemic racial segregation and widespread human rights violations under a white minority regime. While South Africa transitioned to a multi-racial democracy in 1994, justice for many political crimes committed during apartheid remains elusive.
The lead applicant in the case, Lukhanyo Calata, is the son of Fort Calata, one of the “Cradock Four” — a group of anti-apartheid activists murdered in 1985. Despite multiple inquiries, no one has been held accountable for these killings.
A third inquest is scheduled to begin this year, but many key individuals connected to the case have passed away. “The prolonged delay in achieving justice has effectively ensured that our families are denied justice forever,” Calata stated.
Other applicants include survivors of the 1993 Highgate Massacre, where masked attackers killed five patrons at a hotel bar and relatives of other anti-apartheid activists who were murdered or disappeared.
A Legacy of Oppression
Apartheid’s political crimes were designed to maintain white minority rule over the non-white majority, enforcing racial segregation and oppression. Laws classified citizens into racial groups — white, Indian, colored, and black — dictating where they could live, work, and socialize. Public facilities, education, and healthcare were segregated, systematically stripping the majority of their rights and freedoms.
The apartheid government employed brutal methods to suppress dissent, including arbitrary arrests, torture, and extrajudicial killings. The Security Branch of the South African Police played a central role in targeting anti-apartheid activists.
In recent years, there have been efforts to hold perpetrators accountable. In 2021, two former police officers were indicted for their roles in the kidnapping and murder of the “COSAS Four” in 1982. This marked a rare step toward addressing apartheid-era crimes.
Post-apartheid, the Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) was established to uncover the truth about political crimes and promote healing. While the TRC provided a platform for victims to share their stories, many felt disillusioned by its limited reparations and the lack of comprehensive accountability for perpetrators.
For the families now suing the government, these unresolved issues represent a failure to uphold the promises of justice and reconciliation made during South Africa’s democratic transition.
The lawsuit against Ramaphosa comes at a time when the African National Congress (ANC), which has governed South Africa since 1994, faces mounting challenges. Last year, the party lost its parliamentary majority and was forced to share power with smaller parties.
The families’ legal action highlights the enduring scars of apartheid and the unfulfilled need for justice. As Calata and others push for accountability, their fight underscores a broader struggle to confront South Africa’s painful history and its lingering impacts on society.
Whether the court will compel Ramaphosa to act remains uncertain, but the case has reignited calls for transparency and justice in addressing the crimes of apartheid.
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