Issued by: Truth and Reconciliation Commission
STATEMENT BY THE REPARATION AND REHABILITATION COMMITTEE OF THE TRUTH AND RECONCILIATION COMMISSION
4 FEBRUARY 1997
The R & R Committee of the TRC will be the guests of the Oudtshoorn community on 19 February for a programme focusing on reparations and reconciliation in this South Cape town - the first of its kind in the country.
All nine members of the R & R Committee, chaired by Commissioner Hlengiwe Mkhize, will listen to five submissions made by different sectors of the community - youth/education, women, families (of victims), media (including the Saamstaan story) and the churches. These submissions will highlight the effects of past policies and violations on the Oudtshoorn community and their needs in terms of reparation and reconciliation.
A steering committee has been set up by the community, which represents a broad cross section of the town's residents, amongst others civics, faith leaders, educationists, local authorities and welfare organisations. In addition business leaders, policemen, prosecutors and other role-players are being asked to give their valuable input.
Later on the same day the community will take part in group discussion where residents can make inputs into the R & R policies of the TRC currently being formulated. A full recommendation will be made to the government by the TRC.
A strong thread of reconciliation will run through the programme, with a run-up starting on Monday, 17 February, when an exhibition depicting the history of Outhshoorn during apartheid years will be opened. A church service will be held the following evening with reconciliation as theme. Various cultural activities will be included in the programme.
An office will be established in Oudtshoorn's Catholic Church buildings a week ahead of the programme to coordinate the various submissions and inquiries. In addition, statement takers will be available at the Museum on Monday 17 February and Tuesday 18 February, as well as at the programme on 19 February for people from the South Cape wishing to make statements about gross human rights violations between 1961 and 1994.
Members of the R & R Committee are: Ms Hlengiwe Mkhize (chair), Dr Wendy Orr (vice-chair), the Rev Khoza Mgojo, Ms Glenda Wildschut, Dr Mapule F. Ramashala, (commissioners) as well as committee members Prof S'Mangele Magwaza, Mr Tom Manthata, Prof Piet Meiring and the Rev Mcebisi Xundu. Ms Mary Burton will represent the Human Rights Violations Committee on the ten person panel.
Provision has been made for journalists to attend the full programme. These will be similar to the amenities provided at Human Rights Violations hearings and Amnesty hearings.
Media representatives are kindly requested to let us know about their intention to attend.
Please send a fax with name, organisation and contact numbers to Christelle Terreblanche at 021-245225, or phone her at 021-245161.