De Zuid-Afrikaanse Waarheids- en Verzoeningscommissie als model voor conflictverzoening

• Main Author: A. Verdoolaege
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Gents Afrika Platform, Afrika Brug 2005-01-01
• Series: Afrika Focus
• Subjects: South Africa; Truth and Reconciliation Commission; History and Proceedings; Possible Alternatives; Conflict Resolution
• Online Access: http://www.gap.ugent.be/africafocus/pdf/05-18-12-Verdoolaege.pdf

After the fall of apartheid in 1994, the new South African government got confronted with the necessity to deal with the crimes committed in the past. Apartheid had been a system of institutionalized discrimination by the white minority and this apartheid past could not be ignored when trying to build a unified and peaceful society. The question was how the apartheid atrocities could be dealt with in order for the majority of South Africans to be satisfied. A couple of possibilities were put forward, but the nation eventually opted for the establishment of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC). This paper will try to provide some background to this phenomenon. Possible alternatives and the coming into existence of the Commission will be highlighted. The concrete proceedings of the TRC will be described and finally the positive and the negative aspects of the Commission will be reflected upon. The final aim is to find out whether the TRC could be seen as a successful and praiseworthy institution and whether it could be regarded as a model for other countries confronted with traumatic conflicts.