Accountability, victims and reconciliation in South Africa's Truth and Reconciliation Commission

Truth commissions and trials are geared towards the achievement of different outcomes, and ideally they should not be mutually exclusive alternatives. However, within the South African context a choice was made, and there are sound reasons for concluding that, while imperfect, the Truth and Reconciliation Commission was nevertheless the more realistic and far-reaching proposition. It delivered elements of accountability and prevention; offered inclusion and answers to victims; and made a contribution to reconciliation. Admittedly, it also skimped on justice, fumbled reparation and completed its work without reconciliation being realised.Through a discussion organised around three broad topics — ‘Accountability, impunity, amnesty, justice’, ‘Victims’ and ‘Reconciliation’ — this article makes a case that is critical of some aspects of the commission's work, while maintaining that some important positive outcomes were achieved in limiting circumstances. Moreover, many of the criticisms relate to the South African government's handling of matters pertaining to the commission and are not indicative of deficiencies in the commission itself

Accountability · Amnesty · Commission · Context (archaeology · Economic Justice · Epistemology · Government (linguistics · Human rights · Impunity · Inclusion (mineral · Political science · Proposition · Social science · Sociology · Transitional justice · Interpreting and Communication in Healthcare · Law · Public Administration

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