Memory, Justice, and Reconciliation

75 minutes
Source: Facing History and Ourselves

Pumla Gobodo-Madikizela’s presentation focuses on her work in South Africa around the need of families of victims to forgive apartheid violence. For many victims and their families, forgiving a perpetrator once he has confessed to his crimes is a step toward recovery. In order to regain their mental health, she believes many families of victims need or want to forgive. In that forgiveness, they acknowledge that apartheid (the system) corrupted people so much that it influenced many perpetrators to cause harm to others and even to kill. Her work helps victims and their families recognize the human in the perpetrators of apartheid violence.