TRC Final Report

Volume 1

Chapter 9

Subsection 4

■ THE COMMISSION’S ADOPTED STRATEGIES

36 The chief executive officer took ultimate managerial responsibility for the execution of the work of the Commission’s statutory committees. This included:

a Statement taking.

b Amnesty applications.

c Section 29 investigative enquiries.

d Submissions to the Commission.

e Research reports.

f Hearings.

g Meetings (of the Commission, its executives, its standing management and functional committees).

h Think-tanks.

i Seminars, workshops and conferences.

j Designated statement takers.

37 The chief executive officer designated responsibility for the following areas of work, while taking overall responsibility for its execution:

a Research (the Research Department).

b Investigations (the Investigation Unit).

c Audits (both operational and financial).

38 The Commission also procured and trained data processors, information analysts, researchers, investigators and corroborators in data coding, capturing and analysis with a view to translating its collected data into usable information.

39 This information was used to refine its policies and procedures and to make appropriate decisions and findings.

■ AN OVERVIEW OF THE COMMISSION’S MANAGEMENT ACTIVITIES

40 The Commission’s activities were guided by commissioners who were allocated to statutory standing and management functional committees.

41 At the tactical and administrative level, the Commission’s activities were driven by the executive secretaries of the statutory standing committees and the portfolio heads, including four regional commissioners, convenors and managers, who accounted and reported directly and/or indirectly to the chief executive officer.

Operations and support services

42 Some critical aspects of the Commission’s operations and support services included: a Research activities, including a coding framework, background and political context, special projects and a summary of themes.

b Investigative work, including corroboration, human rights violations-related work, amnesty applications-related work, special investigations, disappearances and exhumations.

c Deponent statements received by the Commission. d Amnesty applications received and dealt with to date. e The number of witnesses in the Commission’s witness protection programme. f Hearings, think-tanks and workshops held by the Commission. g Records of the Commission’s transcription services. h Data and information analysis, including coding framework, capturing, processing, analysis, cleaning. i Findings on gross human rights violations. j Victim status and enquiries. k Human resources-related activities, including staff profiles, staff complement, challenges by staff. Financial activities, including forecasts, budget negotiations and allocations, audited financial statements.

m Policies and operational procedures, including urgent interim reparation, reparation and rehabilitation policies and procedures, other operational policies and procedures.

n Legal activities, including amendments and challenges.

o Media liaison and communications.

p Safety and security, including assets, information/intellectual assets register, processes, activities, and members of the Commission.

q Psychosocial support services.

r Audits, evaluations and appraisals, including programme activities, quality of work, staff performance, financial books and statements, progress to date.

s Contracted services.

t Support to the Commission, including Vodacom, NGOs and international donors.

u Handing over of assets, including physical assets register, intellectual assets register, files, special reports and records.

v Staff roll out and Commission close down plans.