/ 28 April 2000

TRC SITS ON MILLIONS

THE Truth and Reconciliation Commission has about R290-million sitting in its coffers, but cannot distribute it to apartheid victims because it does not have the necessary clearance from the government. To date about R31-million in urgent interim relief has been distributed to victims, Hlengiwe Mkhize, head of the TRC’s reparations committee, said on Monday. The TRC’s stash comes mainly from its budget and foreign donors. Current regulations allow victims to receive a maximum of R5000 in urgent interim relief from the State President’s Fund. The TRC does not distribute funds itself, but identifies who is eligible to receive them.