The Institute for Justice and Reconciliation hosted law students from the Erasmus University Rotterdam, The Netherlands, as part of an academic visit focused on justice, accountability, and international law in practice on 9 April, at the organisation’s offices in Cape Town.

The engagement offered students an in‑depth introduction to transitional justice in South Africa, highlighting both the achievements and the enduring shortcomings of the post‑apartheid transition.

IJR’s Senior Practitioner, Felicity Harrison and Prof Tim Murithi, Senior Advisor, engaged with the students, expounding on the work of the IJR in South Africa and across the continent, acknowledging that justice and reconciliation are ongoing processes.

“IJR was born out of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission, recognising that justice and reconciliation are ongoing processes,” Harrison explained, further expounding on the work of the organisation that has since expanded from South Africa across Africa, focusing on post-colonial transitions and conflicts, and the mutual exchange of lessons between South Africa and other countries.

Discussions explored some of the most pressing unresolved issues in South Africa today, including apartheid denial, the failure to fully implement reparations, and ongoing efforts to reopen apartheid‑era inquests into the deaths of political activists. Particular attention was given to the frustration of survivors and families who continue to face delayed justice due to missing evidence, legal obstruction, and a lack of political will.

The visit also addressed broader challenges of public trust, corruption, and institutional legitimacy, as well as the limits of legal frameworks without effective enforcement. From a global perspective, conversations extended to international law, reparations for historical injustice, and South Africa’s role in activating international legal mechanisms.

For the visiting Erasmus law students, the exchange underscored the reality that law operates within political and social constraints. The visit reinforced IJR’s belief that justice must be victim‑centred, participatory, and ongoing, grounded not only in legal processes but also in community engagement, historical truth‑telling, and institutional transformation.