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

â–  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.

â–  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.

â–  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.