Former acting National Director of Public Prosecutions Advocate Mokotedi Mpshe has denied allegations that he acted on political instruction when he removed Advocate Anton Ackermann from directly handling Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) cases.
Mpshe, who served as acting NDPP between September 2007 and November 2009, was responding to claims by Ackermann, the former head of the NPA’s Priority Crimes Litigation Unit, that his authority was curtailed shortly after Mpshe’s appointment.
Mpshe says tensions between Ackermann and government officials affected cooperation on TRC-related matters.
He also cited a complaint by Reverend Frank Chikane regarding the handling of his 1981 poisoning case as a contributing factor to limiting Ackermann’s role.
“Instead of just consulting me as the victim, he entered into an acrimonious argument with me about the approach of the government on post-TRC and the guidelines…it was clear that he was radically opposed to the guidelines as agreed upon by parliament and the cabinet of South Africa… he seemed to be more interested in prosecution for the sake of it rather than the management of this difficult post TRC process… yes this is one of them,” said Mpshe.
He further denied claims that no work was done on TRC cases during his tenure.
Meanwhile, families affected by apartheid-era violence in Ndwedwe, north of Durban, have welcomed the launch of a housing assistance project.
The initiative, led by President Cyril Ramaphosa, aims to support victims identified by the TRC whose homes were destroyed in the 1980s and early 1990s.
More than 200 beneficiaries are expected to benefit.
One of the beneficiaries, 82-year-old Bilephi Manzi, says, “At the time I lost my five goats, they took all of them and left the house. I left and went to stay in KwaMashu. I am happy today even though I have been struggling for a very long time. It was hard knowing that I was never going to get my goats back, and I made peace in my heart that I was never going to get them back.”
The government says the project aims to address past injustices and support affected communities.
Video | President Cyril Ramaphosa officiates the launch of the TRC Housing Assistance Reparations
The TRC Cases Inquiry will resume public hearings today, Tuesday 07 April at 10h00.
The Inquiry will hear evidence of Adv Mokotedi Mpshe SC.
Adv Mpshe served as Deputy NDPP before he was appointed the Acting NDPP in 2007 until 2010. pic.twitter.com/79kYTrK4Mo
— TRC_inquiry (@TRC_inquiry) April 7, 2026
