STATEMENT BY ARCHBISHOP DESMOND TUTU, CHAIRPERSON, TRUTH AND RECONCILIATION COMMISSION
January 22, 1997
Newspaper reports on the alleged marginalisation of black members of the TRC have forced me into doing something which I should not be doing, which is issuing a statement from my sick bed.
Firstly, all major decisions are taken by the full Commission. Most Commissioners are black. Most members of each of the three constituent committees of the TRC are black. The chairpersons of each of the Committees, as well as the Chief Executive Officer, are black.
Secondly, the suggestion from anonymous sources in the Commission that it is run by a clique of liberals is insulting to me and I take very strong umbrage.
The implication is that I am almost a token chairperson who is not in control. Anyone who knows me is aware that I am not a person to be manipulated by cliques. Dr Alex Boraine consults closely with me on what he is doing. He does not take decisions other than those delegated to him without discussing them with me.
What is more, when we were appointing a Chief Executive Officer last year, Dr Boraine was quite insistent that a suitably qualified black person should be appointed.
It is sad that anonymous individuals are not using the existing channels laid down in the TRC to resolve grievances because it undermines the tremendously committed and conscientious work being done by staff, Committee members and Commissioners.
ends statement
ADVISORY NOTE: Archbishop Tutu dictated this statement from his bed and asks me to advise you he will not be available for the flood of follow-up interviews he is expecting, not even from radio stations needing sound-bites. He regrets this but asks for your understanding.