Issued by: The Department of Justice
20 November 1995
PRESS STATEMENT ON SHORTLIST OF PERSONS RECOMMENDED TO THE PRESIDENT FOR APPOINTMENT TO THE TRUTH AND RECONCILIATION COMMISSION
On 15th September 1995, the President appointed a panel consist- ing of myself as Chairperson, Ms Hlope Bam (South African Council of Churches), Bishop Peter Storey (Methodist Church), Mr Jody Kollapen (Lawyers for Human Rights), Mr Jayendra Naidoo (NEDLAC), Ms Baleka Kgositsile (ANC MP), Senator JR de Ville (Freedom Front) and Senator Ray Radue (National Party). Our task was to shortlist candidates for appointment to the Truth and Reconciliation Commission. The panel is now in a position to report on its investigation and to furnish a list of 25 recommended candidates.
Following a public invitation to submit nominees for the post of Commissioner, the panel received a total of 299 nominations which, together with the nominees' curriculum vitae, were scrutinised by the panel. Out of this total, the panel shortlisted 49 persons for interviews, of which one person withdrew. Interviews were conducted in Cape Town (13th and 14th November 1995), Durban (15th November 1995) and Johannesburg (16th and 17th November 1995).
The panel is of the view that there were many candidates who are not on the shortlist who would have graced the Truth and Reconcilia- tion Commission. The panel believes that the candidates now short- listed and submitted to you exhibited the necessary commitment to the three ideals embodied in the National Unity and Reconciliation Act - a commitment to national reconciliation, a commitment to truth, and a commitment to human rights. The panel is further of the view that the candidates shortlisted exhibited the capacity to discharge the functions of a Commissioner impartially.
In finalising the shortlist, the panel gave consideration to the talents and expertise that the individual candidates could bring to the Commission. It also considered the ability of the panellists to bring to the Commission their life experiences and understanding of different communities and sections of the South African population. The list of 25 candidates is as follows:
Dr Alex Boraine Mrs Mary Burton Revd Murray Coetzee Advocate Chris de Jager Professor Andre du Toit Revd Bongani Finca Ms Sisi Kamphephe Father Michael Lapsley Mr Richard Lyster Revd Dr Stanley Magoba Professor Bongani Majola Mr Wynand Malan Mr Thomas Manthatha Ms Hlengiwe Mkhize Professor Dan Morkel Mr Peter Mothle Mr Dumisa Ntsebeza Imam Rashid Omar Dr Wendy Orr Mr Tumba Pillay Dr Mapule Ramashala Dr Faizel Randera Dr Yasmin Sooka Archbishop Desmond Tutu Ms Glenda Wildschut
The following matters were brought to the attention of the President:
1 The panel was concerned that the KwaZulu/Natal Province, in which violence is still endemic, may not be adequately and effectively represented on the shortlist. The panel has therefore asked the President to give consideration to a further candidate or candidates from the KwaZulu/Natal province who would enjoy the confidence of the people of that province.
2 The panel gave serious consideration to the nomination of Mr Justice Edwin King. In view of the applicants stated preference to serve on the Amnesty Committee, the panel decided not to shortlist Judge King as a Commissioner but to recommend his participation should be considered when the composition of the Amnesty Committee is considered in due course and as envisaged by the Act.
3 Although the panel had originally included Reverend Frank Chikane on the shortlist but as we were not able to receive an unequivocal assurance of his availability at the time of finalising the list, his name has not been included. The panel did, however, recommend that, should the Reverend Chikane subsequently communicate his availability to the Chairperson, the President should be advised of this. Reverend Chikane has, in fact, subsequently advised me that he would like his name to go forward.
4. A number of persons considered and interviewed would, the panel believed, have a contribution to make to the workings of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission in capacities other than as Commissioners. In particular, the panel has not recommended any non-South African citizens for appointment to the Commission, although it was most impressed with Mr Juan Mendez and Professor Medard Rwelamira. The panel was of the view that such persons could make a very important contribution to the Commission as advisers and has requested that this recommendation be communicated to the Commission once it is appointed.
Issued by Professor NRL Haysom Chairperson, Panel to Shortlist Candidates for the Truth and Reconciliation Commission For more information, contact Susan de Villiers 021 457506 or 0832524770