Radebe denies responsibility for delays in apartheid-era prosecutions

By Simon Nare

Former cabinet minister Jeff Radebe has denied responsibility for delays in the prosecution and investigation of apartheid-era crimes during his tenure as justice minister, arguing that those entrusted with prosecutions in the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) should have carried out their duties independently.

Testifying before the Khampepe Commission on Tuesday, Radebe said he had no power to prosecute as justice minister and that responsibility for investigating and prosecuting crimes rested with the police and the NPA.

The commission, chaired by retired Constitutional Court Justice Sisi Khampepe, is probing the handling of cases arising from the Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC).

Radebe said delays in prosecuting apartheid-era crimes were regrettable because they had denied victims’ families closure, but said he could not tell the commission what had caused the delays because he did not know the underlying reasons.

Advocate Howard Varney, representing families of victims, questioned Radebe about