Mashudu Sadike and Ntombi Nkosi
Pretoria - Survivors of apartheid crimes, victims and families – mostly elderly women and activists – braved the rain and staged a sleep-in outside the historic Constitutional Court this week.
The group said the reason for the protest was that they want reparation for victims of apartheid, and because of the unfinished business of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC).
It has been nearly three decades since the President’s Fund for apartheid victims was established, but none of them have been benefiting.
The Khulumani Support Group’s national organiser Nomarussia Bonase said for 27 years they had been trying to speak to the government regarding the failed implementation of the TRC’s recommendations.
Bonase said there was a need for a commission of inquiry to correct the wrongs of the past. The group has been protesting since October 18 and vowed to continue until their issues were addressed by the government.
The protesters sleep on the concrete floor and use boxes covered in plastic and light blankets.
Bonase added that most were sick and taking chronic medication, but were adamant that they would not leave the area until the government did what they called the “right thing”.
“We are risking our lives sleeping at the Concourt; it is not nice, but we have to sleep here. We want the government to come to the table and correct their wrongs. Raining or not, we will stay here although we are hungry and cold. We are a group of those who went to the TRC and some of us did not. We want our dignity restored,” Bonase said.
She added that they wanted the government to first pay interim relief compensation of not less than R250 000 to victims holding protests at various government buildings such as the Constitutional Court and the Union Buildings, as a penalty.
“The amount of no less than R250 000 must be paid, and for every victim, the government must pay R1.5 million,” Bonase said.
“Our government is not caring at all. We are not going anywhere; we are going to die here.”
Speaking to Independent Media, 63-year old Phumzile Khumalo of Ivory Park in Ekurhuleni said since her husband died almost 30 years ago and her family have had the most difficult times of their lives, having to live on handouts because of false promises from the government.
“They said they were going to help. I have been living in a shack with my four children since my husband died. We went to the TRC, they promised us all sorts of things.
“There have been various presidents in office from Mandela to Ramaphosa but we have had nothing to show for it. We are hungry and I’m tired of fighting. I’m just waiting to die,” Khumalo said in a telephone interview with Independent Media.
Justice Minister Ronald Lamola’s spokesperson Chrispin Phiri confirmed to Independent Media that the ministry met representatives of the group.
“We met with the leaders of the protesters on October 19, 2022.
“And we resolved on a framework to address these issues.
“They unilaterally decided to persist at the Constitutional Court,” said Phiri.
In a reply to a parliamentary question posed by GOOD MP Brett Herron, Lamola denied that the government had de-prioritised the process of reconciliation and nation-building.
He said the state remained committed to spending the President’s Fund as intended.
Pretoria News