Lamola still weighing options on inquiry into alleged political interference in prosecution of TRC cases
In June 2022, Lamola told Parliament he would insist on an inquiry into alleged political interference between 2003 and 2017 in the prosecution of some 300 TRC cases referred to the NPA.
FILE: Justice Minister Ronald Lamola. Picture: @RonaldLamola/X
CAPE TOWN - Justice Minister Ronald Lamola says he's not yet decided whether to request the president to establish a commission of inquiry into alleged political interference in the prosecution of Truth and Reconciliation Commission cases.
While the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) has been ramping up its investigation and enrollment of cases after years of inaction, an NPA-commissioned review by former TRC commissioner, Dumisa Ntsebeza, recommended in February that an inquiry was necessary to get to the bottom of allegations of political interference.
But in reply to a parliamentary question, Lamola said that he's still weighing up his options.
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In June 2022, Lamola told Parliament he would insist on an inquiry into alleged political interference between 2003 and 2017 in the prosecution of some 300 TRC cases referred to the NPA.
His announcement followed a year after the Supreme Court of Appeal (SCA) directed the state to initiate an inquiry in a judgment related to the prosecution of former policeman, the late Joao Rodriguez, for the killing of anti-apartheid activist, Ahmed Timol.
Last month, former President Thabo Mbeki, however, vehemently denied suggestions that political interference had frustrated potential prosecutions during his administration.
In response to questions from the Good Party’s Brett Herron, Lamola said that without a police investigation or an inquiry, it's not possible to determine whether there had been obstruction or interference in the prosecution of TRC cases.
While Ntsebeza has recommended an inquiry to test the allegations through public testimony by implicated parties, in his latest response to Parliament, Lamola said he's still considering all the options linked to these recommendations.