The Goldstone Commission, formally known as the Commission of Inquiry Regarding the Prevention of Public Violence and Intimidation, was appointed on 24 October 1991 to investigate political violence and intimidation in South Africa. Over its three-year lifespan, it investigated incidents occurring between July 1991 and April 1994, when democratic elections were held. The relevant incidents thus occurred during the negotiations to end apartheid. The Commission's mandate was both to investigate the causes of the violence and to recommend measures to contain or prevent it.
The Commission played a critical role in defusing the political violence that erupted when apartheid in South Africa began eroding in the late 1980s as the country moved toward its first democratic elections, and concluded that political violence was fuelled by a 'third force'.
The Commission was established in terms of the Prevention of Public Violence and Intimidation Act of 1991, as a condition of the National Peace Accord of September 1991. President F. W. de Klerk appointed Justice Richard Goldstone to chair it. It operated from 24 October 1991 to 27 October 1994 and, over that period, submitted 47 reports to the President. The Commission was fairly large: its investigation team, set up in 1992, comprised five units, staffed by 13 police officers, ten attorneys, and five international observers. It had offices in Johannesburg, Durban, Port Elizabeth, Cape Town, and East London.
Some of the Commission's reports focused on broad thematic concerns, such as taxi violence (to which seven separate reports were dedicated) or the effects of political violence on children. Others investigated specific allegations or events, among them some of the most prominent incidents of political violence of the period, including the Boipatong massacre, the Bisho massacre, the storming of the Kempton Park World Trade Centre, and the Shell House massacre. Several reports investigated the role of the South African Police and South African Defence Force in political violence, and particular public attention was given to the May 1993 report on allegations of a third force, as well as to related reports such the report of the Malcolm Wallis-led subcommittee on the causes of the violence between the African National Congress and Inkatha.
Commissioners The Commissioners were:
Richard Goldstone Danie Rossouw Solly Sithole Lillian Baqwa Gert Steyn
Other individuals served on multi-national panels, acted as observers, or participated in committees under the Commission.
Investigations +List of investigations and reports by the CommissionTopicDate of reportGeneral24 January 199229 April 199221 December 19926 December 199330 May 199427 October 1994Violence at Mooi River on 3–4 December 199119 February 199219 February 199221 December 1992Violence at President Steyn Goldmine in Welkom in November 199128 February 1992Taxi violence27 May 19922 July 19924 December 199223 January 199326 July 199326 July 199424 August 1994Conduct of the 32 Battalion at Phola Park on 8 April 199210 June 1992 Train violence 8 July 19926 May 1993Waddington Committee: Police response to the Boipatong massacre20 July 1992Violence in hostels21 September 1992Bisho massacre29 September 1992Role of the South African Police in violence in the Vaal area27 October 1992Violence in Tokoza17 November 1992Allegations about Renamo soldiers in KwaZulu15 December 1992Regulation of gatherings15 January 199328 April 1993Activities of the Azanian People's Liberation Army15 March 1993Allegations of a third force27 May 1993 South African Defence Force, including 1986 Caprivi training of Inkatha supporters1 June 1993Events after the assassination of Chris Hani29 June 1993Storming of the World Trade Centre13 July 1993Curbing of violence and intimidation during the forthcoming election11 August 1993Illegal importation, distribution, and use of firearms, ammunition and explosives5 October 1993Violence in Mossel Bay in July 199312 October 1993Violence in Crossroads in March to June 199311 November 1993Shooting in Katlehong on 9 January 199418 January 1994Criminal political violence by the South African Police, the Kwazulu Police, and Inkatha 18 March 1994Wallis Committee: Inkatha-African National Congress conflict, and special matters18 March 199418 March 1994Attack on Power Park squatter camp on 27 July 199311 May 1994Shell House massacre21 April 1994Attacks on members of the South African Police21 April 1994Attempted purchase of firearms by the KwaZulu government from Eskom22 April 1994Effects of public violence and intimidation on children10 August 199427 October 1994
References
External links
Records of the Commission's inquiry into the conduct of 32 Battalion in Phola Park Records of the Commission's inquiry into the Boipatong massacre