Issued by: Truth and Reconciliation Commission
STATEMENT BY DR ALEX BORAINE Vice Chairperson Truth and Reconciliation Commission
Cape Town
Tuesday 21 January 1997
It would be surprising if there were no tensions in the TRC. Firstly, the Commission is a microcosm of South Africa, which itself is experiencing enormous tensions as it recovers from a period of desperate conflict. Secondly, the Commission's work is extra- ordinarily demanding, both in terms of time and emotions. To work at the rate at which the Commission is working can only serve to intensify any tensions which may be there.
Obviously the Commission will have to discuss the allegations at the highest level and this whole matter will be on the agenda for the Commission meeting on 30 January.
There are a number of factual discrepancies in the press report and in particular it is nonsense to suggest that top positions are held by whites. For the record, the chairperson of the Commission, the chairperson of the Amnesty Committee and the chairperson of the Reparation and Rehabilitation Committee are all black. The head of the Investigative Unit is black. One of the vice chairpersons of the Human Rights Violations Committee is black. In other words, some of the most powerful and responsible positions are held by black persons within the Commission.
Notwithstanding this, if there are genuine concerns they have to be addressed, but it is my hope that nothing will inhibit the Commission from getting on with its job.