Former NPA head Shaun Abrahams denies interference in TRC prosecutions

Former National Prosecuting Authority head Shaun Abrahams told the Khampepe Commission that TRC-related prosecutions started during his tenure and denied any political interference or personal failure in handling apartheid-era cases.

Advocate Shaun Abrahams appeared before the commission on 14 May 2026. He rejected accusations from victims' families that he had neglected his duties or acted only under external pressure.

Abrahams said he authorised the prosecution of four former security branch officers in the Nokuthula Simelane murder case in March 2016 after a review of evidence and consultation with the family. He also submitted memoranda to reopen inquests into the deaths of Ahmed Timol and Neil Aggett.

The former NDPP, who led the authority from June 2015 to August 2018, argued that delays stemmed from long-standing institutional problems such as missing records and lack of investigative capacity. He pointed to the earlier prosecution of Eugene Terre'Blanche for bombings in North West as evidence of his commitment to post-TRC matters.

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Brigadier Abraham Nkhwashu testifying at Madlanga Commission, denying interference in Swart murder investigation.
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Sedibeng police commissioner denies interfering in Swart murder probe

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Brigadier Abraham Nkhwashu, Sedibeng District Commissioner, testified at the Madlanga Commission on April 22, 2026, denying allegations of aiding his brother-in-law Katiso “KT” Molefe in the investigation into engineer Armand Swart’s murder. Nkhwashu admitted visiting Molefe in prison but described it as a humanitarian act to deliver clothing. He apologised to Swart’s family and called for justice if Molefe is guilty.

Anton Ackermann, a former top prosecutor, testified at the Khampepe inquiry about how former president Thabo Mbeki's actions led to delays in Truth and Reconciliation Commission prosecutions. He described a systematic effort to protect apartheid-era perpetrators through policy changes and political interference. Ackermann highlighted the distinction between reconciliation and justice for victims.

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Former acting National Director of Public Prosecutions Mokotedi Mpshe has denied receiving political instructions to remove prosecutor Anton Ackermann from Truth and Reconciliation Commission cases. Testifying at the Khampepe Commission on 7 April 2026, he described a rift over plans to arrest officials linked to the 1981 attempted poisoning of Frank Chikane. Mpshe noted that Ackermann was correct in hindsight, given the political context.

Former President Jacob Zuma has applied to the Constitutional Court for leave to appeal a Johannesburg High Court decision dismissing his bid to remove Justice Sisi Khampepe as chairperson of the TRC Cases Inquiry. The ruling, delivered this week, also rejected a similar application by former President Thabo Mbeki, who supported Zuma's claims of bias.

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At the Madlanga Commission on 19 February 2026, suspended Deputy National Police Commissioner General Shadrack Sibiya faced intense cross-examination over the disbandment of the Political Killings Task Team (PKTT) and related corruption allegations. Commissioners and evidence leader Advocate Adila Hassim challenged Sibiya's explanations, highlighting contradictions in his testimony. Sibiya denied involvement in wrongdoing, attributing decisions to pressure from higher authorities.

Member of Parliament Fadiel Adams has accused KwaZulu-Natal Police Commissioner Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi of disregarding the law during testimony before a parliamentary committee. Adams claims Mkhwanazi wants him to cover up access to classified information. He also supported the disbandment of a task team investigating political killings.

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South Africa's National Police Commissioner Fannie Masemola made his first court appearance in Pretoria on April 21, 2026, facing four charges of contravening the Public Finance Management Act. The charges relate to a R360-million police tender allegedly irregularly awarded to Vusimuzi 'Cat' Matlala's company. The case was postponed to May 13.

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