Mbeki denies any political interference with NPA’s work on TRC cases

Former President Thabo Mbeki has denied that his administration interfered in the prosecution of apartheid-era crimes, insisting that decisions to prosecute rest with the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA).

Testifying before the Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) cases inquiry probing delays in prosecuting apartheid-era crimes, Mbeki said neither he as the president nor his cabinet had the authority to direct prosecutors to act in a specific manner.

The investigations and prosecutions did not require any interventions on the part of the national executive.

Mbeki also disputed suggestions that his April 2003 address to Parliament was intended to influence cases referred by the TRC for prosecution. He maintained that the government accepted the TRC decision and that the NPA was responsible for the subsequent handling of those cases.