By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
International Relations Minister Ronald Lamola appeared before the TRC cases Judicial Commission of Inquiry at the Sci-Bono Discovery Centre in Newtown, Johannesburg on Tuesday, 11 August 2026.
The TRC Cases Inquiry is investigating whether political interference contributed to delays in prosecuting unresolved apartheid-era crimes and whether government failed victims who have waited decades for justice.
Lamola testified in his former role as a minister in the Department of Justice and Constitutional Development.
Lamola served as Justice Minister from May 2019 to June 2024.
He said he inherited a justice system in 2019 that was struggling with limited resources and capacity, including a TRC unit making slow progress on outstanding cases.
He said government approached National Treasury for additional resources and worked to strengthen both the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) and police investigations.
Lamola maintained that prosecutors remained independent in deciding whether cases should proceed, despite growing allegations of political interference.
He highlighted the João Rodrigues Judgment in 2022, labelling it a “Watershed moment” in government’s response to alleged interference in TRC matters.
He said that the judgment triggered further consideration of whether a commission of inquiry was needed to investigate alleged interference and delays in TRC prosecutions.
The Rodrigues case centred on former Apartheid security policeman, who faced prosecution over Ahmed Timol’s 1971 death.
He died before his trial could proceed after it was found that Timol was murdered.
In 1971 the Security Police claimed that Timol had committed suicide by throwing himself out of the window of room 1026 of John Vorster Square, the notorious police headquarters in central Johannesburg.
In 2017, more than 40 years after his death, the case was re-opened. The court established that Timol had been tortured and murdered.
Former security branch sergeant Rodrigues, allegedly the last person to have seen Timol before his death, sought a permanent stay of prosecution for his part in the murder.
The judgment states that:
The interests of justice and the societal need to ensure accountability for the commission of serious offences and the nature of the crime located in its historical context all militate against the granting of a permanent stay of prosecution.
The verdict was a hard-won victory for the Timol family. They have been pursuing justice for over four decades, including at the Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s (TRC) hearings in 1996.
The TRC was set up in 1995 and made it possible for victims to publicly recount their experiences.
Lamola said that following this judgment, the deputy chief state law adviser recommended that an investigating panel be appointed to examine the allegations.
But Lamola said that legal authority to establish such a panel only lies with the president. And he did not have the power to do so.
Lamola told the inquiry that government sought legal advice on how to respond, but establishing a Commission of Inquiry was ultimately beyond his constitutional powers as Justice Minister.
He said he also authorised the reopening of inquests into the killings of several anti-apartheid activists by the apartheid government including Chief Albert Luthuli, Griffiths Mxenge, Neil Aggett, Hoosen Haffejee and the Cradock Four amongst others.
“Thirteen additional prosecutors were appointed, bringing the total to 23 dedicated prosecutors, working on these cases in collaboration with 34 dedicated DPCI investigators, who were appointed to strengthen the investigative capacity as a result of these measures.”
Lamola is set to return to the inquiry at a future date for cross-examination. The inquiry will hear evidence of former Swedish Policeman Jan Ake Kjellberg and the then Deputy Director of Public Prosecutions Adv Paul Fick.