The National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) says it has contacted most of the families of the victims of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission cases. The NPA, which briefed the parliamentary portfolio committee on justice, said 129 cases were under investigation and 64 had been reopened.
These cases include the Cradock Four case, which investigates the deaths of Fort Kalat, Matthew Goniwe, Sisela Mlauli and Sparrow Mkhonto. Committee members asked why media reports indicated that Kalat’s family had said that the NPA had not contacted them.
Eastern Cape Director of Public Prosecutions Barry Modola explained that they held a meeting with the family earlier this month.
“The team, including myself, met with the C4 families on November 4, so if there are allegations that we didn’t meet, it must have been before we met. The family was fully informed, many questions were raised, the reasons for the delays and how we would overcome them, and they mentioned the meeting next week.’
NPA Acting Deputy Director Rodney de Kock says the NPA will use the services of an independent senior legal adviser to advise on these matters.
“We have appointed an external consultant who will act independently of the NPA and NDPP and review the work. The lawyer we contacted is someone who worked closely with TRC matters, can’t disclose who, not sure if the person is appointed or not.
De Kock says TRC matters are a top priority: “I want to assure the committee that we consider this a top priority. Now I am personally responsible for this block. We meet with the NDPP monthly. There we discuss various issues, all the country’s priorities, including the checkpoint. This is our approach.”
Shamil Batohi’s lawyer speaks before the Parliamentary Committee on Justice:
