Issued by: Office of the President
CABINET MEETING: 29 NOVEMBER 1995
The President this morning formally consulted with the Cabinet on the appointment of members to the Truth and Reconciliation Commission. The Cabinet agreed to the following list of appointments as submitted by the President; these appointments will be formalised by way of proclamation in the Government Gazette within the next few days:
Archbishop Desmond Tutu (Chairperson) Dr Alex Boraine (Deputy Chairperson) Mrs Mary Burton Advocate Chris De Jager Rev Bongani FiSisi Kamphephe Mr Richas Hlengiwe Mkhize Rev Kojo Mr Dumisa Ntsebeza Dr Wendy Orr Adv Denzel Potgieter Dr Mapule Ramshala Dr Faizel Randera Dr Yasmin Sooka Ms Glenda Wildschut
The appointment of the Commissioners marks an important stage in this historic process of coming to an understanding of our past, of reconciliation and of reconstruction of this once deeply divided and conflict-ridden society now in pursuit of a future founded on the recognition of human rights, democracy and peaceful co-existence of all its citizens.
The appointment of the Commissioners was preceded by the establishment of a selection panel representing various political parties, non-governmental organisations and interested persons. Nominations were invited from the public, 46 persons were interviewed in public hearings and a short-list of 25 names was submitted to the President by the selection panel. The final appointments were made from this short-list except for Rev Mqojo and Advocate Potgieter who were appointed from outside the list in order to enhance, in the opinion of the President and the Cabinet, the resonance of the Commission across the various divides of South African society.
The Cabinet acknowledged that in the appointment of people to a body with a task as sensitive as that of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission, there would always be different preferences with regards to individuals to be included or excluded, but agreed that in the interest of the national reconciliation and healing envisaged with the establishment of the Commission, the commencement of its work be facilitated by the expeditious appointment of Commissioners and not delayed by further negotiations about appointments.
The Cabinet echoed the often expressed sentiments of the President and the invocation contained in the post-amble to the Constitution and the pre-amble to the Act, viz. that the work of the Commission is informed and directed by the need for understanding but not for vengeance, the need for reparation but not for retaliation, the need for ubuntu but not for victimisation. The Cabinet is confident that the spirit of consensus-seeking and co-operation in which it all along approached its work with regard to the establishment of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission, will have laid a solid foundation for the successful completion of the Commission's work in pursuit of the ideals and values embodied in our Constitution.
The President will make a statement to coincide with the formal proclamation of the appointments.
Issuedby the Secretary of the Cabinet
29 November 1995