France, May 2 -- South African President Cyril Ramaphosa this week announced a judicial inquiry to establish whether previous governments led by his ANC party deliberately blocked investigations and prosecutions ofcrimes committed during the apartheid era. Families of victims, who sued the government over its inaction, say they're satisfied but will continue their bid for compensation.

The Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC), set up in 1996 by then president Nelson Mandela, uncovered apartheid-era atrocities including murder and torture. But while some suspects were denied amnesty, few were ever held accountable.

In January, a group of survivors and relatives of victims sued Ramaphosa's government over what they see as a failure t...