TRC Final Report

Volume 1

Chapter 10

Subsection 7

Volume ONE Chapter TEN

ADMINISTRATIVE REPORTS OF THE COMMISSION’S STATUTORY COMMITTEES

Human Rights Violations Committee

■ INTRODUCTION

1 The duties and functions of the Human Rights Violations Committee were clearly stipulated in section 14 of the Promotion of National Unity and Reconciliation Act (the Act). With reference to gross violations of human rights, the Committee was mandated, amongst other things, to enquire into systematic patterns of abuse, to attempt to identify motives and perspectives, to establish the identity of individual and institutional perpetrators, to find whether violations were the result of deliberate planning on the part of the state or liberation movements and to designate accountability, political or otherwise, for gross human rights violations.

■ MEMBERSHIP

2 The Human Rights Violations Committee was made up of commissioners and committee members. In accordance with section 13(a) and (b) of the Act, the following commissioners were appointed to serve on the Human Rights Violations Committee. The regional offices in which they were located are indicated.

Archbishop Desmond Tutu (Chairperson, Cape Town)

Ms Yasmin Sooka (Vice-Chairperson, Johannesburg)

Mr Wynand Malan (Vice-Chairperson, Johannesburg).¹

Dr Alex Boraine (Cape Town)

Ms Mary Burton (Cape Town)

The Revd Bongani Finca (East London)

Mr Richard Lyster (Durban)

Mr Dumisa Ntsebeza (Cape Town)

Adv Denzil Potgieter (Cape Town).²

Dr Fazel Randera (Johannesburg)

3 In accordance with section 13(c), a further ten persons were appointed as Human Rights Violations Committee members.³ These were:

Dr Russell Ally (Johannesburg)

Ms June Crichton (East London

) Mr Mdu Dlamini (Durban)

Ms Virginia Gcabashe (Durban)

Ms Pumla Gobodo-Madikezela (Cape Town)

Mr Ilan Lax (Durban).⁴

Mr Hugh Lewin (Johannesburg)

Ms Judith ‘Tiny’ Maya (East London).⁵

Ms Motho Mosuhli (East London).⁶

Adv Ntsikilelo Sandi (East London).⁷

Ms Joyce Seroke (Johannesburg)

4 An executive secretary was appointed to the Human Rights Violations Committee.