APARTHEID VICTIMS TO GET R30K - Late struggle heroes’ families in line for reparations

LATE Struggle stalwarts such as Winnie Madikizela-Mandela, Bram Fischer, Job Tabane, Dulcie September, Ruth First, and Joe Slovo are among thousands of victims of apartheid-era atrocities whose relatives are in line to receive R30 000 reparations.

The Department of Justice and Constitutional Development has invited Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC)-identified victims whose names appear on the list containing thousands to come forward and claim their final once-off individual reparation of R30 000.

According to the department, in the unfortunate event that a person’s name appears on the list but they have since passed away, their rightful next-of-kin are advised to come forward.

Other prominent anti-apartheid activists who are still alive, such as Rev. Frank Chikane, Tokyo Sexwale, retired Constitutional Court Justice Albie Sachs, and suspended Gauteng High Court, Pretoria Judge Tshifhiwa Maumela, also feature on the list.

Lawyer Yunus Shaik and uMkhonto weSizwe Party Second Deputy President Tony Yengeni are on the list, alongside late IFP founder Mangosuthu Buthelezi, late former deputy minister Ebrahim Ismail Ebrahim, uMkhonto weSizwe operative Zahrah Nakerdien, also known as Greta Apelgren, who the TRC found had been involved in the Magoo’s Bar Bombing in June 1986 with Robert McBride, and veteran academic Professor Peter Vale.

More than two decades ago, after the tabling of the last of the TRC recommendations, Parliament identified four key categories of reparations, including individual, once-off reparations..

The 2024/25 annual report of the President’s Fund, which was set up to administer the funds for individuals or survivors designated by the TRC, states that some beneficiaries could not be traced, and funds for the outstanding beneficiaries have been reserved in the fund, should the beneficiaries come forward to claim their reparation grants.

By the end of March last year, there were two categories of reparations that had been approved by the TRC – in the form of a once-off individual reparation and reparation for exhumations and reburials.

In total, the President’s Fund had a total surplus of almost R140m for the 2024/25 financial year.