/ 15 May 2011

Apartheid victims to receive TRC pay-outs

Government will pay out millions of rands to compensate victims of apartheid-era atrocities, the Sunday Times reported.

Those who qualify for financial assistance include victims and their children, even if they were born in or out of wedlock or were adopted.

People with parental responsibilities over victims and their children will also be eligible for compensation.

The regulations have come about from the work of a joint committee, established to consider the recommendations of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC), on reparation for victims.

The committee’s decisions were approved by Parliament and now have to be implemented by President Jacob Zuma, the report said.

The Justice and Constitutional Affairs Department has gazetted proposed regulations paving the way for assistance to victims and their children, at the start of their schooling careers to the completion of their tertiary studies.

The gazette indicates that compensation to victims must be paid from the President’s Fund, established to provide reparations to those who suffered gross human rights violations during apartheid.

The TRC is said to have collected statements from about 21 000 people. – Sapa