President Cyril Ramaphosa has announced the formation of a judicial commission of inquiry to investigate why apartheid-era crimes identified by the Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) have still not been fully investigated or prosecuted.

The commission will be led by retired Constitutional Court Judge Sisi Khampepe, with assistance from retired Northern Cape Judge President Frans Diale Kgomo and Senior Counsel Andrea Gabriel.

This move follows a legal settlement discussion with families of victims of apartheid crimes, who brought a court case demanding answers after decades of inaction.

“For many years, there have been allegations of interference in these cases,” Ramaphosa said in a media statement. “This alleged interference is seen as the cause of an unacceptable delay in the investigation and prosecution of brutal crimes committed under apartheid.”

He added: “All affected families – and indeed all South Africans – deserve closure and justice.”

The commission will examine whether there were efforts to stop the South African Police Service (SAPS) or the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) from pursuing TRC cases, and if any officials cooperated with such attempts. It will also consider whether anyone should face further investigation or prosecution, and whether constitutional damages should be paid to victims’ families.

The inquiry will cover the period from 2003 to the present and is expected to complete its work within six months. A final report must be submitted within two months after that.

Ramaphosa acknowledged that while both government and families agreed to the commission, there are still unresolved issues in the court case. The government wants the court to pause these matters while the inquiry runs its course, but the families want them decided in court.

“The President respects the decision of the families to seek a court order,” said presidential spokesperson Vincent Magwenya.

Ramaphosa also welcomed recent efforts by the NPA to revive some TRC cases, saying, “We are determined that those individuals responsible for apartheid crimes and who were not granted amnesty by the TRC be held to account.”

He ended by thanking the commissioners for agreeing to take on what he called an “important task” and expressed hope that the inquiry will “draw a line under a painful period in our country’s history.”