South African High Court Bars Mbeki, Mabandla Intervention in Apartheid Crimes Lawsuit

Former South African President Thabo Mbeki and ex-Justice Minister Brigitte Mabandla were barred by the Pretoria High Court from intervening in a lawsuit brought by victims of apartheid-era crimes, which alleges political suppression of prosecutions recommended by the Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC). The court ruled that Mbeki and Mabandla lacked a direct legal interest in the case's outcome, which seeks constitutional damages and declaratory orders against the state, not them personally. Despite allegations from former prosecutions officials that the Mbeki administration interfered in pursuing more than 300 apartheid-era cases referred by the TRC, Mbeki and Mabandla denied such interference and sought to clear their reputations. The judge noted that existing rulings have already established political interference in these prosecutions and that the appropriate venue for Mbeki and Mabandla to address these issues is the commission of inquiry established by President Cyril Ramaphosa. Mbeki had argued for the right to intervene due to accusations against him, but the court found no necessity for a separate finding against him and dismissed their application. The case highlights ongoing tensions around accountability for apartheid-era crimes and the mechanisms chosen to address alleged historical political obstruction.