The Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) was set up by the Government of National Unity to investigate crimes committed during the apartheid era. It was created through the promotion of National Unity and Reconciliation Act, No.34, 1995.

This Act, among other things, states that the commission's aims are to investigate and provide 'as complete a picture as possible of the nature, causes and extent of gross violations of human rights'.

The commission began its work on 16 December 1995 with a mandate to investigate, establish facts and compile reports, and if suitable grant amnesties in relation to human rights violations which had occurred in South Africa during the period of 1 January 1960 to 10 May 1994.

The TRC effected its mandate through three committees; the Amnesty Committee, Reparation and Rehabilitation (R&R) Committee and Human Rights Violations (HRV) Committee.

Human Rights Violations (HRV) Committee

The task of the HRV Committee was to investigate human rights abuses that took place between 1960, based on statement made to the TRC. The Committee established the identity of the victims, their fate or present whereabouts, and the nature and extent of the harm they suffered; and whether the violations were the result of deliberate planning by the state or any other organization, group or individual.

Reparation and Rehabilitation (R&R)

The R&R Committee's main task was to recommend a policy to the government regarding the measures that the government should take to provide reparation to victims of gross human rights violations. The Act empowered the R&R Committee to provide victim support to ensure that the Truth Commission process restored victims' dignity, and to formulate policy proposals and recommendations on rehabilitation and healing of survivors, their families and communities at large.

Amnesty Committee (AC)

The primary function of the AC was to ensure that applications for amnesty were considered in accordance with the provisions of the Act. Applicants could apply for amnesty for any act, whether of omission or offence, associated with a political objective committed between 1 March 1960 to December 1993. The cut off date was later extended to 10 May 1994.

The objectives of the Commission were to promote national unity and reconciliation in a spirit of understanding, which transcends the conflicts and divisions of the past by:

Establishing as complete a picture as possible of the causes, nature and extent of the gross violations of human rights which did occur during the period from 1st March 1960 to the cut-off date including antecedents, circumstances, factors and contexts of such violations, as well as the perspectives of the victims and the motives and perspectives of the persons responsible for the commission of the violations, by conducting investigations and holding hearings;

Facilitating the granting of amnesty to persons who make full disclosure of all relevant facts relating to acts associated with a political objective;

Establishing and making known the fate of victims and by restoring the human and civil dignity of such victims by granting them an opportunity to relate in their own words the nature of the violations which they suffered, and by recommending the measures in respect of reparations;

Compiling a comprehensive report;

Analyzing and describing causes, nature and extent of gross violations of human rights that occurred between March 1960 and 10 May 1994, including identification of the individuals and organizations responsible for such violations;

Making recommendations to the president on measures to prevent future violations of human rights.

The Johannesburg Regional Office

The Johannesburg regional office was located in the heart of downtown Johannesburg and served four provinces: Gauteng, Mpumalanga, North West Province and North province.

The Johannesburg Investigation Unit was a small unit, comprising only 12 members.

The unit was rather amorphous, without clear strategies on how and what to investigate, unclear regional leadership with members lacking basic investigative skills among other shortfalls.

In a sentence, it was not a well-controlled or coordinated process, at least as it refers to the Johannesburg Regional Office.

Nevertheless a total of 6200 statements were made to the office; twenty-five Human Rights Violations hearings were organized at which witnesses gave oral testimonies of gross human rights violations, and six post-hearing follow-up meetings were held in the different areas.