Survivors and families of victims of apartheid-era crimes have filed a lawsuit against the South African government in the Pretoria High Court, accusing it of “gross failure” to investigate and prosecute perpetrators.
The lawsuit, filed on January 20th, includes individuals directly impacted by the Highgate Hotel Massacre and the disappearance of the Cradock Four, a group of anti-apartheid activists abducted and murdered by South African security police in 1985.
Lukhanyo Calata, son of Fort Calata, one of the Cradock Four, criticized successive South African governments, including the African National Congress (ANC) government led by President Cyril Ramaphosa, for failing to act on the recommendations of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) regarding the prosecution of apartheid-era crimes.
The lawsuit highlights the ongoing struggle for justice and accountability for the victims of apartheid, a system of racial segregation that oppressed the majority Black population for decades.
This legal action seeks to hold the South African government accountable for its failure to address the legacy of apartheid and ensure justice for victims and their families.