26 May 2000
The Human Rights Commission of the TRC has received more than 21 000 statements describing the pain and suffering experienced by our people as a result of our past.
Our founding Act defines what constitute a 'gross human rights violation' and who qualifies as a 'Victim' of such a gross human rights violation.
We have completed the process of making of making 'Victim findings' and have regrettably had to make negative decisions, which affect approximately 4 500 people. These negative decisions relate to those incidents which fall outside our mandate period or do not constitute a gross human rights violation in terms of our Act.
In addition, many deponents have not furnished the Commission with sufficient information. The negative findings have been classified into the following categories:-
M- Out of mandate
V- Not being a gross human rights violations
P- Not having emanated from the political conflict of our past and/or having been planned, directed, commanded by a person acting with political motive.
U- Unable to make a finding because of insufficient information.
The Commission has informed recipients of negative findings and that they have the right to have the findings revisited on terms of the provisions of the TRC Act, provided they are able to furnish the Commission with information which may have the potential to alter the negative finding.
The Commission is conscious of the fact that those who receive such letters may be deeply disappointed and further traumatized and has therefore arranged for counselling and support services to be made available to those who require it.
People who have received negative findings are also informed that when the commission comes to write the codicil, reference will be made to those statements, which covered the fields of different violations of human rights but which did not fall within our mandate.
For further inquiries on the release call Mbulelo Sompetha at 082 452 7870.
Issued by: Truth and Reconciliation Commission