Issued by: Truth and Reconciliation Commission
May 6, 1997
STATEMENT FROM THE TRUTH AND RECONCILIATION COMMISSION
The Truth and Reconciliation has opened special amnesty "hotlines" in its offices to handle calls from people wanting to apply for amnesty.
People wanting to make inquiries about amnesty applications can call the following numbers during working hours this week:
Cape Town: 021- 26-2028, or 24-5161 (switchboard) Durban: 031- 3052678, or 031- 307-6767 (switchboard) East London: 0431- 432746, or 0431- 43-5223 (switchboard) Johannesburg: 011- 333-1425, or 333-6330 (switchboard).
The final deadline for the receipt of amnesty applications is Saturday May 10.
The law establishing the Truth and Reconciliation Commission gives those responsible for acts, omissions or offences which might lead to criminal prosecutions or civil actions for damages the opportunity to apply for amnesty if their actions were associated with political objectives.
Archbishop Desmond Tutu has issued a national appeal to people right across the political spectrum to "take this golden opportunity to apply for amnesty on the most generous terms possible."
At the moment we have about 5500 amnesty applications registered in our database, but more have been received. Nearly 60 applications which involve gross human rights violations have been heard in public, while about 787 have been dealt with in chambers. Altogether 39 people have been granted amnesty and 797 denied. Many of these were from people who applied for actions which does not fall in the TRC's mandate.
Inquiries: Christelle Terreblanche, 082-458-8461