The Truth and Reconciliation Commission
The South African Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) was set up by the Government of National Unity to work on the events that occurred as a result of apartheid. During this time, there were countless human rights abuses. The TRC uses its mandate through three committees: the Amnesty Committee, the Reparation and Rehabilitation (R&R) Committee, and the Human Rights Violations (HRV) Committee. The Commission is currently in suspension while the work of the Amnesty Committee is completed. The work of the R&R and HRV Committees has been designated to the former chairs of those Committees, and now forms part of the Amnesty Committee. This commission has posted manuscripts from trials of victims, defendants, and witnesses of the unlawful occurrences of the apartheid movement.
One particular testimony to a trial was by Thami Betwelo Hlobo, was accused of murder and assault. He was the defendant in the case.
Negotiations to End Apartheid in South Africa
“For use by white persons” – sign from the a...
The original architects of apartheid gathered arou...Mr. Thami Betwelo Hlobo admitted to assaulting four whites by hitting them with an iron rod. Also, he being a marshal of the ANC, ordered the four whites killed, fearing that they were in the area to attack his comrades, who were protecting the area from white gangs. Mr. Hlobo claimed that these killings were necessary to send a message to the government and to take a stand against many years of white oppression of his people. Mr. Hlobo claimed full responsibility for the deaths of the four whites in his area.
In another trial, involving a young boy name Clive Cupido, was shot and killed near his home in Cape Town, South Africa in 1985. Clive Cupido was with his mother while many people were publicly protesting the apartheid. His mother, Maureen Cupido, claims that her son Clive was shot by a police officer trying to detain...