TRC Final Report

Volume 1

Chapter 10

Subsection 11

Volume ONE Chapter TEN

ADMINISTRATIVE REPORTS OF THE COMMISSION’S STATUTORY COMMITTEES

Reparation and Rehabilitation Committee

■ FUNCTIONS OF THE REPARATION AND REHABILITATION COMMITTEE

The Promotion of National Unity and Reconciliation Act (the Act) gave the Reparation and Rehabilitation Committee the following responsibilities:

a to consider matters referred to it by the Commission, the Human Rights Violations Committee and the Amnesty Committee;

b to gather evidence relating to the identity, fate and whereabouts of victims, and the nature and extent of the harm suffered by them;

c to make recommendations to the President on appropriate measures for reparation and rehabilitation of victims and on measures to be taken to restore the human and civil dignity of victims;

d to make recommendations which might include urgent interim measures on reparation to victims;

e to make recommendations on the creation of institutions conducive to a stable and fair society, and on the measures to be taken in order to prevent the commission of human rights violations.

■ COMMITTEE MEMBERSHIP AND STAFF

2 In each regional office, the Reparation and Rehabilitation Committee was represented by commissioners and/or committee members.

3 The commissioners allocated to the Reparation and Rehabilitation Committee were:

Ms Hlengiwe Mkhize (Chairperson, Johannesburg)

Dr Wendy Orr (Vice-Chairperson, Cape Town)

The Revd Dr Khoza Mgojo (Durban)

Dr Mapule F Ramashala (Cape Town)

Ms Glenda Wildschut (Cape Town)

4 The committee members were:

Dr S’Mangele Magwaza (Durban)

Mr Tom Manthata (Johannesburg)

Professor Piet Meiring (Johannesburg)

Archdeacon Mcebisi Xundu (East London)¹

Ms Mandisa Olifant (East London)²

5 A regional co-ordinator was appointed in each region. Each regional office appointed briefers, who were managed by the Reparation and Rehabilitation Committee regional co-ordinator. The Committee office in Johannesburg employed three additional staff members: an executive secretary, a Reparation and Rehabilitation Committee administrator and a mental health specialist. All members of the Committee met on a regular basis to co-ordinate activities at a national level.

■ METHOD OF WORK

6 The minutes of the Committee’s meetings reflected its decisions. These minutes and a monthly activity report were included in the monthly agenda of the Commission. In order to fulfil its obligations and duties, the Committee developed an operational strategy to provide:

a networking activities

b psycho-social support programmes and follow-up workshops for witnesses

c information management

d policy development

e Commission-related business activities.

<CITE>1 Resigned end January 1998. 2 Replaced Archdeacon Xundu on his resignation. CITE>