THE TRUTH AND RECONCILIATION COMMISSION
Introduction to the TRC
How has South Africa chosen to remember the past?
Reasons for the TRC;
• Various forms of justice: retributive justice and the Nuremberg trials in post-War
Germany; restorative justice and the TRC hearings;
• The debates concerning the TRC:
• Positive aspects: TRC as an instrument of reconciliation;
• Amnesty provisions and problems with amnesty;
• Focus on human rights of 1980s and ignoring institutional violence and the human
rights abuses of Apartheid;
• Reparations;
• Responses of political parties and reasons for the responses to the TRC and the
final report of the TRC: National Party, Inkatha Freedom Party and African National
Congress
, Background to the Truth and Reconciliation Commission
South Africa was a deeply divided society due to apartheid. During the years of
apartheid thousands of activists and freedom fighters were killed, maimed and some
disappeared without a trace, the past could not simply be forgotten. Many thousands
of wounded South Africans of all backgrounds had to live and deal with their painful
histories, which often included the loss of loved ones. In many instances there was
never any closure for the families of lost loved ones, they also never had the
opportunity to come forward and tell their story or ask questions and receive
answers. The past could not simply be wished away. It had to be dealt with. The
country had to confront its past in order to be able to move on.
It was up to the new Government of National Unity to build the nation and try
to reconcile the differences between the various races in the country. Nelson
Mandela and his new government had to figure out how the truth could be told and
confronted and also to ensure that such horrendous actions ever happen again.
Key terms defined:
Reconcile: An attempt to fix and restore past differences in order to move forward
peacefully or amicably
Setting up the TRC
The TRC was set up in terms of the Promotion of National Unity and
Reconciliation Act, No. 34 of 1995.
It was set up to last for roughly 2 years and would deal with human
rights violations that occurred between 1 March 1960 and 10 May
1994.
The aims of the TRC were for reconciliation to take place. For the
victims and perpetrators to come face to face, apologise and seek
forgiveness. It was also a way for victims to have a chance to tell their
story.
A chance for the perpetrators to tell their story and actually let the
country know exactly what they did and why they did it so that the truth
of the past transgressions was fully exposed.
And then for the TRC to to make recommendations to the Government
of National Unity on how reparations should be given to victims and
how the country should remember the past.
The commission was based on restorative justice. And was split into
three committees
• Committee on Human Rights Violations
Introduction to the TRC
How has South Africa chosen to remember the past?
Reasons for the TRC;
• Various forms of justice: retributive justice and the Nuremberg trials in post-War
Germany; restorative justice and the TRC hearings;
• The debates concerning the TRC:
• Positive aspects: TRC as an instrument of reconciliation;
• Amnesty provisions and problems with amnesty;
• Focus on human rights of 1980s and ignoring institutional violence and the human
rights abuses of Apartheid;
• Reparations;
• Responses of political parties and reasons for the responses to the TRC and the
final report of the TRC: National Party, Inkatha Freedom Party and African National
Congress
, Background to the Truth and Reconciliation Commission
South Africa was a deeply divided society due to apartheid. During the years of
apartheid thousands of activists and freedom fighters were killed, maimed and some
disappeared without a trace, the past could not simply be forgotten. Many thousands
of wounded South Africans of all backgrounds had to live and deal with their painful
histories, which often included the loss of loved ones. In many instances there was
never any closure for the families of lost loved ones, they also never had the
opportunity to come forward and tell their story or ask questions and receive
answers. The past could not simply be wished away. It had to be dealt with. The
country had to confront its past in order to be able to move on.
It was up to the new Government of National Unity to build the nation and try
to reconcile the differences between the various races in the country. Nelson
Mandela and his new government had to figure out how the truth could be told and
confronted and also to ensure that such horrendous actions ever happen again.
Key terms defined:
Reconcile: An attempt to fix and restore past differences in order to move forward
peacefully or amicably
Setting up the TRC
The TRC was set up in terms of the Promotion of National Unity and
Reconciliation Act, No. 34 of 1995.
It was set up to last for roughly 2 years and would deal with human
rights violations that occurred between 1 March 1960 and 10 May
1994.
The aims of the TRC were for reconciliation to take place. For the
victims and perpetrators to come face to face, apologise and seek
forgiveness. It was also a way for victims to have a chance to tell their
story.
A chance for the perpetrators to tell their story and actually let the
country know exactly what they did and why they did it so that the truth
of the past transgressions was fully exposed.
And then for the TRC to to make recommendations to the Government
of National Unity on how reparations should be given to victims and
how the country should remember the past.
The commission was based on restorative justice. And was split into
three committees
• Committee on Human Rights Violations
