The Harms Commission officially restricts investigations into South African security force

Date: 2 Feb 1990
Updated: 1 Feb 2020

Scales of justice and judges gavel, Source: Shutterstock

The terms of reference of the Harms Commission, which was to inquire into alleged murders and unlawful acts of the security forces, were laid out in a Government Gazette. The commission's terms of reference restricted serious investigation into certain areas as it was not allowed to go beyond the borders of the country. This applied for instance to the investigation into the murder of anti-apartheid activist David Webster, which could therefore not be linked to the murder of Anton Lubowski, murdered in Namibia.

Though the findings of the commission accused the criminal justice system, it was perceived as a classic example of a controlled cover-up, particularly by powerless victims who had had bad experience at the hands of the security forces. Even the South African government realised that the commission was a failure and President F.W. de Klerk appointed the Goldstone Commission, with more extensive powers, in 1991.

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01South African Institute of Race Relations. (1990). Race Relations Survey 1989/ 90, Johannesburg: South African Institute of Race Relations, p. 200.
02South African History Online Frederik Willem de Klerk Available at: www.sahistory.org.za [Accessed on 7 February 2013]

Last updated · 1 Feb 2020

Cite this entry

South African History Online. (2011, March 16). The Harms Commission officially restricts investigations into South African security force. South African History Online. https://sahistory.org.za/ref/E-0012855

South African History Online (2011) 'The Harms Commission officially restricts investigations into South African security force', South African History Online, 16 March. Available at: https://sahistory.org.za/ref/E-0012855 (Accessed: 22 July 2026).

South African History Online, The Harms Commission officially restricts investigations into South African security force [website], https://sahistory.org.za/ref/E-0012855, (accessed 22 July 2026).

"The Harms Commission officially restricts investigations into South African security force." South African History Online, 16 Mar. 2011, https://sahistory.org.za/ref/E-0012855. Accessed 22 July 2026.

South African History Online. "The Harms Commission officially restricts investigations into South African security force." South African History Online. March 16, 2011. https://sahistory.org.za/ref/E-0012855.