National unity and reconciliation in South Africa; an analysis of the truth and reconciliation commission’s impact on race relations in post-apartheid South Africa.

Abstract

How South Africa would manage to bridge social and political divides brought about by a periodof violence, oppression, and human rights abuses was one of the biggest issues that the Government of National Unity had to deal with in the aftermath of apartheid. The Promotion of National Unity and Reconciliation Act mandated the Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) to investigate and document events and violations that had occurred under apartheid and to form a complete and clear picture of these atrocities. The TRC undoubtedly garnered international admiration as a successful model for addressing past atrocities, avoiding a potential civil war, and ushering in reconciliation, not revenge. It did, however, experience some limitations due to its mandate, which excluded in-depth focus on the role of the impact and extent of apartheid racial policies in socio-economic detail, such as land, education, etc., which were used to entrench racial oppression and subjugation. The aim of this dissertation is, therefore, to assess the TRC's impact on race relations in post-apartheid South Africa and further seeks to comprehend the process, content, and value of the TRC. The focus is thus on critically reviewing the TRC mechanisms' effectiveness and impact post-apartheid, by addressing limitations, exploring complexities, and evaluating societal impacts. This research posits that is highly impossible to achieve the aims of reconciliation and better race relations when the majority (Black), which was disadvantaged under apartheid, is still disadvantaged under the new dispensation. This study therefore recommends adequate development and advancement, i.e., redress, and distinct truth regarding the role and challenges posed by the intersection of race, class, and gender inequalities inherited from oppressive regimes like apartheid. This is a qualitative study which was undertaken using desktop research or secondary research. Data collection from this study comprises of primary sources, archive research, articles, etc. sourced from government reports, online resources, non-governmental organisations, databases, documents from the South African Justice Department, the TRC database, prior research, and recent academic studies. Intersectionality analyses combined with an anti-racism approach is used to gain understanding as to how race, gender, etc., as grounds of discrimination, are linked to the social, economic, political, and stringent structure of the TRC process.