The South African government bodies tasked with investigating and prosecuting apartheid-era political crimes must face closer public scrutiny and take stronger action to fast-track long-overdue justice for victims’ families and survivors, writes Katarzyna Zdunczyk.
The Parties to the Sirte Agreement affirmed the security and integrity of the political borders of all states and agreed to cease hostilities to pave the way for dialogue and peaceful resolution. The Parties further agreed to deployment of neutral African peacekeeping forces in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), and reaffirmed the need to...
The Parties to the Groote Schuur Minute expressed their commitment to stability and to a peaceful process of negotiations. The Parties agreed to the establishment of a working group to make recommendations on a definition of political offences in the South African situation, and to advise on norms and mechanisms for dealing with the release...
The Parties committed to bring about an undivided South Africa with one nation sharing a common citizenship, patriotism and loyalty, pursuing, amidst the country’s diversity, freedom, equality and security for all. The Parties further committed to work to heal the divisions of the past, to secure the advancement of all and to establish a free...
The Interim Constitution set out provisions related to citizenship and state symbols, fundamental rights, the functioning of the Government, including Parliament, and the adoption of the new Constitution, the Executive, Judicial authority and administration of justice, Provincial and local government and traditional authorities. The Interim Constitution also provided for the institutions of the Public Protector,...
The Parties to the National Peace Accord agreed to address the worst effects of political violence at a local level and to achieve a measure of stability based on common effort, thereby facilitating a base for broader socio-economic development and reconstruction. The Parties agreed that in order to effectively eradicate intimidation and violence, mechanisms need...
The just transition to a low-carbon Africa, which we need to address the climate crisis, must be rights-based and participatory to avoid exacerbating existing inequalities and driving conflict, writes Gugu Nonjinge.
The South African Truth and Reconciliation Commission (1995-2002) was mandated to investigate gross human rights violations committed during apartheid from 1960 to 1994. According to its founding legislation, the commission’s objectives included establishing as complete a picture as possible of the causes, nature and extent of the violations; facilitating the granting of amnesty to persons...
South Africa’s history has long been marred by racism and discrimination. In 1652, the Dutch East India Company established a settlement in the Cape. Once there, the settlers brutalized and dispossessed the indigenous San and Khoikhoi populations, forcing them into indentured servitude. Control over the Cape passed to the British in 1806. European domination was...
Following a political stalemate in the 1980s and 1990s, which had seen growing unrest and ungovernability in South Africa, the National Party government, the African National Congress (ANC), the Inkatha Freedom Party and other political groups entered into negotiations to end apartheid and establish a democracy.