Apartheid-era cases see limited justice as many families still await answers

As South Africa continues to celebrate years of freedom from its painful past, some families who lost loved ones have finally seen a measure of justice this year, while others are left with more questions than answers.

Decades after the Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC), a few cases have finally made their way to court.

However, many remain untouched, with no inquests or prosecutions in sight.

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The year 2025 was meant to be one in which families of apartheid-era victims would finally receive answers on why prosecutions of perpetrators had stalled.

It has been 30 years since the commission was first established and 23 years since the final volume was handed over to then-president Thabo Mbeki.

Yet, virtually none of the more than 3,000 cases have made their way to courtfor prosecution.

One case that came close to finality is that of Caiphus Nyoka, a student leader and anti-apartheid activist who was murdered in his Daveyton home in 1987. Three apartheid-era police officers were prosecuted for his murder and convicted by the Gauteng High Court.

Johan Marais pleaded guilty and was sentenced to 15 years in prison in July, while Abraham Engelbrecht and Pieter Stander were found guilty in December and are yet to be sentenced.

Nyoka’s sister, Alegria, said the family considers this partial justice.

“Although we did not get the full truth we were looking for, because all the accused maintained their right to silence, except for the little that was given by Marais.”

Another case that moved towards closure was the Highgate Massacre inquest. The Eastern Cape High Court ruled that apartheid security forces were probably behind the attack on patrons, and not the PAC’s military wing, APLA.

While this was a significant step, the courtwas unable to identify the specific officers responsible to allow for prosecutions.