9 November 2000
The Truth and Reconciliation Commission's Reparation and Rehabilitation Committee would like to clarify (in the interests of concerned parties, especially victims) reports flowing on from discussions on SAFM on the 26th October, and related radio bulletins, that gave the impression that the Reparation Committee was allocated funds to distribute directly to victims of gross human rights violations, and that these will be disbursed from them imminently.
Whilst the Committee welcomes the developing awareness concerning the reparations process, it would like to re-emphasise that the Committee does not have, and cannot distribute funds directly to victims.
With regard to interim reparations, The Committee's mandate is to assess applications submitted, and made individual recommendations for grants and referral's. The Financial recommendations that the Committee makes are governed by regulations that limit expenditure to between R2000 and R5000 per interim reparation award.
The allocation of outstanding funds in the President's Fund is a matter for Government to decide, and is being currently considered through a process of costing and analysis of the recommended interventions by the Inter Ministerial Committee. The Reparation and Rehabilitation Committee has no mandate, beyond it's recommendations, to involve itself in matters related to disbursement of funds supplementary to those needed for the current interim process.
The impression that the Truth and Reconciliation Commission, specifically the Reparation and Rehabilitation Committee is able to access the President's Fund's resources and make direct reparation interventions, including financial aid to victims at regional offices is inaccurate and leads to raised expectations that cannot be met by the Commission.
Issued by: THE TRUTH AND RECONCILIATION COMMISSION
Phila Ngqumba - (021) 4245161 / 4238741