Thousands of apartheid-era victims still waiting for compensation
In 2003, the President’s Fund was set up to finance the TRC’s recommended reparations, but the government concedes it has not fully complied with the requirements
Thousands of victims of apartheid-era atrocities are still waiting for compensation, despite there being a government fund to assist them with reparation, housing, health services and education. In 2003, the government set up the President’s Fund to finance the recommended reparations; this fund has now grown to about R1.6bn. It has been more than two decades since October 1998, when the Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) tabled its report and recommendations, which included that victims who suffered apartheid-era atrocities should be given a R30,000 once-off payment and provided with housing, health and educational assistance. Despite this, thousands of victims have not been compensated. Marjorie Jobson, the national director of Khulumani Support Group, said that although about 16,800 people have been given the initial reparation by the government, this is inadequate and there are thousands of other victims who have not yet been compensated. She accused the department of jus...
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