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The Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) was established by national legislation in 1995, after a period of public debate. Its mandate was to collect information about gross human rights violations committed by state bodies or the armed opposition during apartheid. The goals were reconciliation through public airing of the wrongs and healing for all involved. The Commission was expected to offer suggestions for policy reforms and police-training initiatives to prevent future abuses. Special hearings focused on the role of churches, the medical establishment, the legal sector, the business community and other institutions that passively or actively contributed to rights violations in the past. Hearings were held all around the country and the broadcast media carried clips and live coverage.Twenty thousand victims provided testimony. The TRC used the concept of “briefers” to install a victim-friendly process whereby victims would be supported before, during and after the process. The TRC selected briefers—chosen from the caring professions, such as ministers, social workers and nurses—from the community to provide this support. The briefers acted as volunteers and were trained to perform various tasks with regard to the entire structural process of the Commission.
Perhaps the most controversial tactic of the Commission was its decision to offer amnesty to perpetrators willing to publicly admit to the details of their actions, a policy not attempted in previous truth commisions of this magnitude. The amnesty policy resulted in public confessions detailing many of the most notorious crimes of the apartheid era, including the 1977 murder of activist Steven Biko.
The Truth and Reconciliation Commission Report was published on October 28, 1998. Though its long-term impact remains to be seen, some of the report’s immediate achievements include: collection of indisputable documentation of human rights abuses during the apartheid era; moving beyond prosecution of individuals to investigate sectoral responsibility; and recommendations on how to prevent future violations that have influenced the new government. By performing this work, the TRC continues to play a vital role in building a human rights culture in South Africa.
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