29 October 1999
Today marks the first anniversary of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission's Report. It represents a significant moment in the development of our democracy. It is also a clear testimony to the determination and commitment of all South Africans to build a united and strong nation on the ashes of apartheid. It is an occasion to celebrate the triumph of our democracy and an opportunity to rededicate ourselves to the values enshrined in our constitution. It is also a reaffirmation of our belief that we can only face our future with confidence if as a nation we accept and deal with our past.
Many things have been said about the TRC, its objectives, process and results. All three phases have been characterised by controversy, skepticism and sometimes outright cynicism bordering on ridicule. There were those who said reconciliation was just a p ipe dream and therefore unattainable especially given the nature and extent of suspicion engendered by the system of apartheid. Some even predicted massive retaliation and indiscriminate revenge on the perpetrators of apartheid and other human rights viola tions in the aftermath of the TRC report. In the last one year we have seen neither of these predictions come to fruition. Instead we have experienced exemplary generosity on the part of all South Africans as well as their unconditional willingness to emb race and find one another in pursuit for a common purpose and destiny.
As government, we have always been cognisant of the fact that true reconciliation can only take place if the concerns and plight of victims are taken seriously. We believe that not only do victims have the right to know what happened to their loved ones but also that to the extent allowed by our scarce resources we have to address both their social, psychological and economic deprivations caused by the past human rights violations.
To this end in the last 1998/99 financial year, government allocated R100m towards reparation. That amount has been doubled in the 1999/2000 financial year. During the year government has already paid out R16m to four thousand six hundred victims. We a re currently processing payments to seventeen thousand victims which will cost in the region of R85 million rand. Although this represents a modest beginning considering the number of victims whose reparations still have to be processed, government is co nfident that the payments will increase considerably in then course of next year. While the major constraint remains the availability of adequate financial resources to implement all the recommendations
in respect of reparations, we have also experienced logistical constraints. There is concern that some of the victims especially those located in rural areas are experiencing problems in communicating with the national office currently handling repara tions. Government is currently giving consideration to the possibility of establishing corresponding provincial structures to act as focal points for Urgent Interim Reparations claims. Similarly, consideration is also being given to the establishment of a national coordinating mechanism to coordinate reparations at a national level. Such a body shall give not only oversight to the implementation of the reparations but will also be mandated to identify specific interventions for collective memory as we ll as appropriate schemes community rehabilitation.
While the government is committed to the implementation of Urgent Interim Reparations, one should not lose sight of the fact that we have to operate within the resources available in each financial year. At the moment the bulk of reparations are paid o ut of the President's Fund although we have received substantial donations to the President's Fund from a number of international donors. We believe that the duty of promoting reconciliation in our country falls on all South Africans. In its findings th e TRC observed that various institutions and sectors of our society contributed to the continuity and sustenance of apartheid, either through active support or tacit acquiescence to the policies of apartheid. To this end government is also giving conside ration to the establishment of a Reparations Trust Fund to which all segments of society including the private sector and organs of civil society would be able to contribute.
Government is also mindful of the urgent needs of victims and is committed to ensure that the recommendations in respect of urgent interim reparations are implemented as soon as possible. As for the final reparations their implementation is partly constr ained by the fact the TRC process in the form of Amnesty Committee is still ongoing. It would be preferable to present to Parliament a report which relates to the entire work of the Commission. However, we are confident that even within the context of final reparations there may be areas which could be implemented immediately especially those which may not involve major financial costs. Despite the relatively slow start in the implementation I am confident that the process is now on a sound course.
Issued by Paul Setsetse on behalf of Dr Maduna
Pretoria
29 October 1999
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