Fund for apartheid victims ‘unspent’

At least R1.8 billion meant for victims of human rights violations during apartheid remains unspent.

This was revealed in a written reply to GOOD secretary-general and MP Brett Herron from President Cyril Ramaphosa.

Herron had written to Ramaphosa in September seeking answers to why the fund set up to provide reparations to victims had not been adequately spent.

Herron also wanted to know why the regulations for the president’s fund had not been updated since 2003.

The fund was established in terms of the Promotion of National Unity and Reconciliation Act of 1995. The act also created the Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC).

Herron said the fund’s 2020/2021 annual report revealed that it had accumulated a net surplus of R1.8 billion.

“Annual reports published over the past 15 years show that, instead of the fund being used for its intended purposes, it demonstrates steady incremental growth.

“Considering the present state of the economy, the unemployment rate, and radical inequality closely mirroring apartheid inequality – besides the immorality of not spending money purposefully set aside to compensate apartheid victims – the state’s inability to spend the money is a total disgrace,” Herron said.

Herron accused the state of being unwilling to follow through with the national reconciliation project initiated by former president Nelson Mandela and the TRC, calling it a slap in the face for all who participated in the process.

“Besides the TRC recommendations on the quantum of reparations being ignored, so too were its recommendations on prosecuting perpetrators of human rights violations who did not receive amnesty, and on narrowing societal inequality through the implementation of a wealth tax,” Herron said.

In his response, Ramaphosa said the fund was established to provide a one-off individual grant and medical, educational, and other social benefits to individuals designated by the TRC.

“The fund continues to provide support for the educational needs of designated victims and assists families with the exhumation and reburial of deceased victims. The president’s fund is also intended to support the rehabilitation of communities that have suffered and are still in distress,” Ramaphosa said.

Ramaphosa said the Community Rehabilitation Project Team was established in 2017 to co-ordinate and fast track the implementation of revised community rehabilitation measures in identified communities.

“Engagements with some of the affected communities and relevant civil society organisations have been initiated to identify and conceptualise projects that can contribute to community rehabilitation.

“Through this work, the president’s fund will be able to use available funds to continue to fulfil its mandate of attending to the needs of victims designated by the TRC and assisting with the rehabilitation of communities that have suffered and are still in distress,” Ramaphosa said.