PRETORIA, Apr. 20 (AGCNewsNet) – In a historic move, South Africa has opened its first criminal trial targeting individuals for crimes committed under the apartheid regime — marking a crucial step in confronting decades-old injustices.

This week, a judge gave the green light for two former apartheid-era police officers to stand trial for their alleged role in the 1982 assassination of three student activists who were part of the anti-apartheid resistance.

The young freedom fighters were reportedly killed in an explosion — a targeted attack aimed at silencing dissent against the regime that enforced brutal racial segregation and white minority rule.

This trial is the first of its kind, as no individual has previously been held legally accountable for apartheid-related crimes in South Africa, despite years of testimonies and findings from the Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC).

Legal experts believe this trial could pave the way for additional cases, potentially re-opening investigations into unresolved atrocities from the apartheid era.

In a related development, authorities have also reopened the investigation into the 1967 death of Albert Luthuli — a former president of the African National Congress (ANC) and Nobel Peace Prize laureate. Luthuli’s death was long ruled an accident, but renewed scrutiny may challenge those conclusions.

These developments come more than three decades since South Africa transitioned to democracy. While the TRC laid bare the horrors of apartheid, many victims and their families have long awaited formal justice.

The trial represents a turning point — not just in the legal system, but in South Africa’s ongoing journey of reckoning with its past.

Stay connected with AGC NewsNet for the latest news from Africa.