Issued by: Truth and Reconciliation Commission
7 June 2000
The Truth and Reconciliation Commission is saddened by the uninformed attack launched at it by the Chair of the Justice Committee, Mr. Johnny De Lange during the Justice budget vote yesterday. The Truth and Reconciliation Commission was accused of shirking its responsibility towards victims and of not having set up structures to channel the funds to victims who qualify for reparations. The Truth and Reconciliation Commission was also accused of not spending the funds available to it for reparations, in the Presidents Fund.
Commissioner Hlengiwe Mkhize, Chairperson of the Rehabilitation and Reparation Committee said, "such comments are indicative of a lack of sensitivity to the pain and suffering of those who have been waiting for reparation since the commencement of the Commission."
The claims by the Chair of the Justice Committee that the commission has failed to set up a structure to channel funds to victims is grossly inaccurate: given the fact that the Truth and Reconciliation Commission set up a process already in 1998, via the President's Fund to pay out interim reparation to victims of gross human rights violations. The President's Fund has paid out a total of R30million rand to date, to more than 10 000 victims. In addition, the Commission has assessed the reparation claims of a further 1 500 victims who have already been referred to the President's Fund. A remaining 2 686 forms are still in the hands of victims and will be dealt with as soon as they are returned to the Truth and Reconciliation Commission.
If the claims of all those found to be victims is processed, the fund will utilise the sum of R100 million rand, allocated for interim reparations.
The balance of the funds allocated to reparation cannot be spent until there are further regulations put in place by the Government. These regulations are a matter for government and are outside the jurisdiction of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission as they concern the acceptance of the final reparation policy.
The Commission is saddened by the comments of Mr. De Lange, given that the Commission addressed the Justice Parliamentary Committee only two weeks ago, precisely on this issue. Mr. De Lange is the Chair of that Committee. The Commission was at pains to point out that a Final Reparation Policy had been part of its report handed to government and that the Commission had completed its obligations in terms of the interim reparation policy. Whilst acknowledging that reparations is a complex issue, the Commission also pointed out that it was not a prerequisite of the law, that Amnesty had to be completed in order for the final reparation policy to be dealt with.
In this regard, the Commission wished to point out that the Chair of the Reparation Committee has been in ongoing discussions with the Ministry of Justice on the subject of the unallocated funds and the services component of the reparation policy.
The Truth and Reconciliation Commission is not in the business of attacking government. Nevertheless, we are firmly of the view that it has a legitimate and moral obligation to Victims' to raise the question of reparations and keep it on the national agenda. This is not political posturing or opportunistic as it is claimed. The Commission wishes again to pledge its support to working with government on finding a solution to deal with those people who have suffered during our past. =
The Commission is of the view that the suffering of victims should not become a political football. The casualties are those human beings who need their dignity acknowledged and restored by government and the South African Nation.
Inquiries: Phila Ngqumba - (021) 4238701
Hlengiwe Mkhize - 082 9904 691