Apartheid lawsuits in New York

According to news reports, such as this by Business Report, lawyers from South Africa and the US, pursuing a case on behalf of rural Blacks (who declined to take part in South Africa's Truth and Reconciliation Commission) against US companies who 'profited' from Aparthied, have threatened legal sanctions against South Africa's Justice Minister Penuell Maduna and the South African government. The move comes after Maduna wrote to Judge John E Sprizzo in July to say that the government was opposed to the lawsuits which would have a negative effect on the country's economy. Maduna's statement reiterating the general stance taken by President Thabo Mbeki who had previously said that "[t]he south African government is not and will not be party to such litigation."