Issued by: Truth and Reconciliation Commission
January 21, 1998
The Human Rights Violations Committee of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission has to corroborate and make findings on nearly 20,000 statements about gross violations of human rights before the Commission closes down later this year.
The table below reflects the TRC's progress in making findings on statements it has received in the past two years. It indicates that the TRC received more than 20,000 statements from people reporting gross violations of human rights before the cut-off date for statements last December 15. About 5,000 of these were made in a last-minute rush in KwaZulu/Natal in December.
The table indicates that nearly half the statements have gone through the process of being corroborated. After corroboration, Commissioners and Committee members of the TRC make pre-findings' in regional offices on whether a gross violation has occurred. The decision is made on the basis of weighing the balance of probabilities.
The pre-findings are then channelled through to the national HRV Committee for final findings to be made.
The TRC is on the verge of finalising the first 2,300 findings at a national level, and of sending letters out telling those who have made statements of the Commission's finding. Only those declared victims in terms of the act governing the TRC will be eligible for the reparations which have been suggested to the Government by the Reparation and Rehabilitation Committee of the TRC.
Table: Human Rights Violations Committee of the TRC - Statistics on the handling of statements.
Week ending 9 January 1998
Regional office Durban Jhb East London Cape Town NATIONAL TOTAL
Statements received 9717 6050 2738 1780 20285
Corroboration completed 3006 3774 1376 1516 9672
Regional pre-findings made 2400 2302 1018 1515 7235
NATIONAL findings pending 700 500 300 800 2300
Inquiries: Commissioner Mary Burton, 021-24-5161; John Allen, 082-452-7859