Former minister of safety and security, Sydney Mufamadi, testified before the Khampepe Commission of Inquiry on Monday.
The call for reparations for victims of apartheid gained significant traction as former Justice Minister Penuell Maduna addressed the ongoing TRC Cases Inquiry in Newtown, Johannesburg this week. His testimony highlighted the obligation of the South African government to acknowledge and compensate the families who have suffered under the dark legacy of apartheid-era human rights violations.
On the 83rd day of the public hearings, Maduna, who had previously testified before the commission in July, stated that the State must reckon with its history and ensure those affected receive the support they desperately need. "State succession means we have assumed even the responsibilities of the Gideon Niewoods and all such evil people," Maduna said.
He shared personal accounts of comrades who are now unable to find jobs or live normal lives due to their past experiences during the struggle, many of whom are confined to wheelchairs.
His sentiments were echoed by Dennis Bloem, spokesperson for the Activists and Citizens Forum, who critiqued the ANC-led government for its past 30 years of inaction regarding apartheid victims. "All former Presidents under a Democratic Government do not want to take responsibility for neglecting apartheid victims and their families. Instead, they have made empty promises," Bloem emphasised, expressing the frustration that countless victims who waited for justice have now passed away without receiving their rightful compensation.
