TRC Final Report

Volume 5

Chapter 8

Subsection 11

Banking

42 The Commission recommends that:

THE INDEPENDENCE OF THE RESERVE BANK BE PROTECTED. THE BANK NEEDS TO BECOME MORE TRANSPARENT AND ACCOUNTABLE TO THE SOUTH AFRICAN PUBLIC BY REPORTING DIRECTLY TO PARLIAMENT ON AN ANNUAL BASIS.

THE BANKING INDUSTRY DEVELOP A SUBSIDISED LOAN SCHEME FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF SMALL BUSINESSES AND LABOUR INTENSIVE INDUSTRIES.

THE DEVELOPMENT BANK OF SOUTH AFRICA GIVE SPECIAL ATTENTION TO FUNDING PROGRAMMES OF RECONSTRUCTION AND DEVELOPMENT, WITH A VIEW TO CORRECTING THE IMBALANCES OF THE PAST.

THE LAND BANK PRIORITISE LAND DEVELOPMENT WHICH FAVOURS THE DISTRIBUTION AND REDISTRIBUTION OF LAND TO LANDLESS PEOPLE.

Affirmative action and skills training

43 The Commission recommends that:

BUSINESS GIVE PRIORITY TO THE DEVELOPMENT AND IMPLEMENTATION OF SKILLS TRAINING AND MENTORING PROGRAMMES, TO ENSURE WELL-PLANNED CORRECTIVE ACTION WITH REGARD TO EMPLOYMENT PRACTICES. THE COMMISSION SUPPORTS THE PRINCIPLES ENCAPSULATED IN THE EMPLOYMENT EQUITY ACT.

Other socio-economic legacies of apartheid

44 Limitations imposed by the Act forced the Commission to take the view that the loss of business and/or income as a result of a politically motivated act did not constitute a gross violation of human rights. However, in the course of our work, we became aware that such losses were significant. The Commission therefore recommends that:

THE STATE CONSIDER SOME FORM OF COMPENSATION FOR PERSONS WHO LOST THEIR BUSINESSES OR OTHER MEANS OF INCOME DURING THE UNREST PERIOD OF THE 1980S AND 1990S, PARTICULARLY THOSE WHO WERE NOT INSURED AGAINST SUCH LOSS. SPECIAL ATTENTION SHOULD BE GIVEN TO THE PLIGHT OF BLACK BUSINESS PEOPLE WHO LOST THEIR ENTIRE MEANS OF INCOME AS A RESULT OF THE UNREST.

WHERE THE COURTS OR OTHER STRUCTURES RULE IN FAVOUR OF STRIKING WORKERS, THOSE CONCERNED BE ADEQUATELY COMPENSATED. THE BUSINESS SECTOR SHOULD GIVE CONSIDERATION TO THE ESTABLISHMENT OF A TRUST FUND FOR THESE PURPOSES.

RECOGNISING THAT SO-CALLED “SINGLE-SEX” HOSTELS FOR WORKERS ARE LIKELY TO REMAIN A PART OF THE SOCIAL FABRIC OF SOUTH AFRICA FOR THE FORESEEABLE FUTURE, A REPRESENTATIVE COMMISSION BE APPOINTED TO:

UNDERTAKE AN AUDIT OF ALL HOSTELS IN THE COUNTRY TO ESTABLISH THE STATE OF THE BUILDINGS CONCERNED, THE NUMBER OF PERSONS BEING ACCOMMODATED AND THE NATURE OF THE FACILITIES BEING OFFERED;

MAKE RECOMMENDATIONS WITH REGARD TO IMPROVING HOSTEL FACILITIES AND INVESTIGATING THEIR LONG TERM DESIRABILITY.