Truth and Reconciliation Commission: Meaning (information, definition, explanation, facts)

The Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) was a court-like body assembled in South Africa after the end of Apartheid. Anybody who felt they had been a victim of violence could come forward and be heard at the TRC. Perpatrators of violence could also give testimony and request amnesty from prosecution. The hearings were national and international news and many sessions were televised on national TV. The TRC was a crucial component of the transition to full and free democracy in South Africa and, despite some flaws, is generally regarded as very successful.

Creation and Mandate

The TRC was set up in terms of the Promotion of National Unity and Reconciliation Act, No 34 of 1995, and was based in Cape Town, South Africa. The mandate of the commission was to bear witness to, record and in some cases grant amnesty to the perpetrators of crimes relating to human rights violations, reparation and rehabilitation. There were a number of high profile members of the TRC.

Committees

The work of the TRC was accomplished through three committees:

• Human Rights Violations (HRV) Committee investigated human rights abuses that took place between 1960 and 1994.
• Reparation and Rehabilitation (R&R) Committee was charged with restoring victims dignity and formulating proposals to assist with rehabilitation.
• Amnesty Committee (AC) considered applications for amnesty that were requested in accordance with the provisions of the Act.

In theory the commission was empowered to grant amnesty to those charged with atrocities during Apartheid as long as two conditions were met: The crimes were politically motivated and the entire and whole truth was told by the person seeking amnesty.

No one was exempt from being charged. As well as ordinary citizens, the South African police could be charged and, most notably, members of the African National Congress, the ruling party at the time of the trial, could also be charged.

5392 people were refused amnesty and 849 were granted amnesty, out of 7112 petitioners (there were a number of additional categories, such as withdrawn).

Findings

The commission brought forth many witnesses giving testimony about the secret and immoral acts committed by the ANC, the Apartheid Government and other forces for violence that many say would not have come out into the open otherwise.

On October 29, 1998 the Commission presented its report, which condemned both sides for committing atrocities.

Impact

In progress.

Due to the perceived success of this approach to dealing with human-rights violations after extensive political change, other countries have instituted similar commissions, though not always with the same scope or the allowance for charging of those currently in power.

A film, Long Night's Journey Into Day, was made about the commission.