President Cyril Ramaphosa’s government is facing sharp criticism for allocating millions of rands to reopen investigations into Apartheid-era killings while thousands of recent murders remain unsolved across the country.
The National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) recently announced plans to pursue fresh inquests into decades-old cases, reigniting debate over the government’s misplaced priorities. Critics argue that South Africa’s current crime crisis—with over 27,400 murders recorded in 2023 alone—demands urgent attention, rather than revisiting historical cases that have already been scrutinized by the Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC).
“A Witch Hunt While Criminals Roam Free”
Opposition parties and civil society groups have slammed the move as a political distraction. The move is fruitless that does nothing to address the rampant violent crime devastating communities today.
Every day, South Africans are being slaughtered in their homes, hijacked on the roads, and butchered in gang wars. Yet the ANC would rather spend millions digging up the past than solving the murders happening right now.
Police Resources Stretched Thin
With the South African Police Service (SAPS) understaffed and underfunded, many murder cases go cold due to a lack of forensic capacity and detective work. Victims’ families often wait years for justice, if they get any at all…
Opinion piece
