Summary Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) Matric History Notes
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Course
History
Institution
12th Grade
Book
Oxford in Search of History
The notes above provide an in depth summary of the TRC section of the History Syllabus required by the IEB.
These notes have been used in the completion of the Final Matric Exams with confidence and ease.
How South Africa remembers the past
1995: The TRC was founded
➔ NP and ANC agreed on a commision in order to investigate political crimes under
apartheid.
➔ Was created as under the “Promotion of National unity and reconciliation act of
1995.
➔ Chairman: Desmond Tutu.
Vice chairman: Alex Borraine.
Reasons for the TRC
Aims
➔ Overall aim: To investigate politically-motivated crimes during the apartheid era.
➔ Specific aims:
◆ Investigate the causes and extent of the human rights abuse under
Apartheid Government from 1960-1994.
◆ Recommend compensation to victims and families.
● Provide dignity for the victims.
◆ Grant amnesty to perpetrators in return for full discloser if they could
prove political motivation.
● Accountability
◆ Deter future human rights violations.
Purpose
➔ Uncovering truth for victims and families of victims.
➔ Making EVERYONE aware of the past. (played on TV and Radio)
➔ Starting the reconciliation process.
Different ideas when dealing with Crimes against
humanity
Retributive justice - Punishment
➔ Focuses on justice and punishment on perpetrator.
➔ This system was used during the Nuremberg Trials in Germany
◆ Trials of Nazi political and milliatary leaders.
◆ Reasons this was not used in SA:
● Such trials would have had a negative effect on reconciliation.
Restorative Justice- Forgiveness
, ➔ Focuses on forgiveness and reconciliation.
➔ No prosecutions took place (Not a court of law).
➔ TRC aimed to promote restorative justice.
◆ Uncover truth and promote national reconciliation.
How did the TRC function
➔ Held hearings around the country and was broadcasted on TV and on the Radio.
➔ Hearings went on for 2 years
◆ 22 000 made statements to the TRC. (Not a broad spectrum)
➔ Commissioners (chose by Mandela):
◆ Racially diverse and from different political parties and backgrounds.
◆ Were known for promoting human rights and social justice.
➔ There were 3 different committees in the TRC:
◆ Committee on Human Rights violations.
● Aimed to allow victims to testify in order to understand and
identify possible prosecutors.
◆ Committee on Reparation and rehabilitation.
● Investigated further into stories by victims and gave support and
some people were given reparations for their loss.
◆ Committee on Amnesty.
● Could grant amnesty to perpetrators in return for full disclosure if
a political motivation was proved.
● Conditions:
○ Political motive.
○ Whole truth.
○ Full acknowledgement.
The TRC investigated
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