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The Government's allocation of R100 million for reparations in the next financial year is a significant first step towards the payment of reparations to victims of human rights violations.

The allocation is substantially more than the R50 million which we believe will be needed for interim reparations, and we are grateful that an allocation for final reparations has effectively been made even before the presentation of our final report to the President.

We hope very much that the allocation will be substantially increased in future years.

Mr Manuel has announced that the allocation for reparations will rise to R200 million in 1999/2000 and to R300 million in 2000/01. We have proposed that victims should be paid a total of R500 million a year for a period of six years.

While we recognise the pressure on resources in our country, the right of victims of gross violations of human rights to claim substantial damages has been expunged by amnesty and the country owes them reasonable amounts for reparations. We shall, therefore, press for the allocations to be increased in future budgets.

Note: The TRC's plan for final reparations includes a proposal that victims receive Individual Reparation Grants (IRG) of between R17,000 and R23,000 a year - the median household income in SA for a period of six years.

Inquiries: John Allen, 082- 452-7859

Issued by: Truth and Reconciliation Commission
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