TRC inquiry resumes as Loyiso Jafta rejects claims of interference

Hearings in the Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) cases inquiry resumed on Wednesday with testimony from State Security Agency Deputy Director-General Loyiso Jafta, who denied that the Mbeki administration interfered with investigations into TRC-related matters.

Resumption after month-long break

According to IOL, the inquiry restarted after a month-long adjournment that the report tied to scheduling issues. Jafta gave an hour-long evidence-in-chief in which he rejected allegations that the Presidency sought to frustrate TRC-related investigations during his time there.

Jafta denies interference

According to IOL, Jafta said the robust discussions among government clusters reflected differing priorities and responsibilities rather than any attempt to obstruct investigations. “In accordance with fierce debate, I’m not aware of any department trying to persuade another from performing its duties or anybody trying to persuade the prosecuting authority not to proceed with prosecutions, and as far as I’m aware, I’m certain that there was never an instruction from the police or the investigators not to investigate matters arising from TRC,” he told the commission.

Recounting the Chikane poisoning

According to IOL, Jafta also recounted the 1989 attempted poisoning of Reverend Frank Chikane and described Chikane’s distress over how the matter was handled. Jafta said Chikane had been contacted by former NPA head Vusi Pikoli for a meeting, but on the day Pikoli sent Advocate Anton Ackerman instead. Jafta told the commission that Ackerman “reportedly berated Reverend Chikane regarding his private efforts to engage directly with the specific junior officials who had administered the poison onto his clothing in Namibia.”

On prosecutions and nation-building

According to IOL, Jafta argued that prosecuting TRC-linked cases would not have undermined nation-building. He said prosecutions would have exposed hidden networks and undercover operations within the liberation movement, but added that penetrating those compartmentalised structures would be difficult.

Next steps

According to IOL, Jafta completed his evidence-in-chief just after the morning recess and is scheduled to return for cross-examination on July 13.