UDM Hails Landmark Ruling Allowing Prosecution of Apartheid Crimes

The United Democratic Movement (UDM) has welcomed a historic ruling by the Johannesburg High Court, which confirmed that apartheid-era crimes can still be prosecuted, regardless of the time elapsed. The court ruled that apartheid constitutes a crime against humanity and that justice for such atrocities has no expiry date under international law.

The ruling was delivered in the case involving the COSAS 4—Eustice “Bimbo” Madikela, Peter “Ntshingo” Matabane, Fanyana Nhlapo, and Zandisile Musi—young anti-apartheid activists who were kidnapped and murdered in 1982 by apartheid security forces.

According to the court, crimes of this magnitude fall under international legal standards that do not permit statutory limitations. It also rejected the defence arguments that the accused could not be tried because the crimes were not punishable at the time or because too many years had passed since the incident.

“Justice delayed does not mean justice denied, especially in matters this serious,” said the ruling.

UDM Deputy President and Parliamentary Leader Nqabayomzi Kwankwa praised the judgement, calling it a step forward for truth, healing, and reconciliation in South Africa.

“This ruling honours the memory of victims like the COSAS 4 and gives hope to many families still seeking justice,” said Kwankwa. “Without justice and accountability, the trauma of apartheid remains unresolved and continues to cast a long shadow over our democracy.”

The UDM emphasized that this ruling opens the door for other unresolved apartheid-era cases, especially those referred by the Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) but never prosecuted.

Kwankwa added that true national reconciliation is not possible without confronting the past, affirming that justice, no matter how delayed, affirms the dignity of victims and strengthens South Africa’s democratic foundations.