The South African government is yet to release what is suspected to be a highly controversial report, compiled by a group of retired army generals on the role Zimbabwe's security forces played in the post election violence last year.

South Africa's official opposition party, the Democratic Alliance (DA), has now called for the Presidency, under the new leadership of Jacob Zuma, to release the details of the report, which was conducted a year ago.

The army generals were appointed by former President Thabo Mbeki as part of South Africa's mediation team, sent to 'resolve' the political crisis in Zimbabwe. The army generals compiled the report, which was submitted to the Presidency, but the report was never released to the public despite numerous requests from civil society groups. At the time, Mbeki failed to provide any reason for the government's refusal to release the report

"This report could go a long way in shedding the much-needed light on the many human rights violations that characterised Zimbabwe's elections last year," said DA parliamentary leader Athol Trollip this week.

The Mbeki administration was harshly criticised for how it handled the Zimbabwe crisis, with Mbeki being castigated on many occasions for his policy of 'quiet diplomacy'. The new administration under Zuma is now hoped to take a different approach to the crisis across the border, but the DA has said such differences are yet to be seen.

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