Dullah Omar on the TRC and the Generosity of South Africans
The late Dullah Omar was the minister of
transport for the African National Congress (ANC) since 1999. He was a
member of the ANC's National Executive and Working Committees, and in
1994 was elected to Parliament, serving as the minister of justice from
1994 to 1999. Omar's work with the ANC and his assistance in
constructing South Africa's Truth and Reconciliation Commission led
directly to the country's ability to begin to reconstruct its justice
system, beginning with the 1994 elections in South Africa. Before
joining the ANC, Omar was director of the Community Law Centre at the
University of the Western Cape.
Dullah Omar participated in Facing History and Ourselves' 1997 Human Rights and Justice Conference, Collective Violence and Memory: Judgment, Reconciliation, Education. Omar joined other panelists to deliberate on the usefulness of truth commissions as countries seek to redress instances of collective violence and attempt to heal as a community. In this excerpt from the panel, Omar talks about the generosity of South Africans and the link between the TRC and transformation in his country.
Dullah Omar participated in Facing History and Ourselves' 1997 Human Rights and Justice Conference, Collective Violence and Memory: Judgment, Reconciliation, Education. Omar joined other panelists to deliberate on the usefulness of truth commissions as countries seek to redress instances of collective violence and attempt to heal as a community. In this excerpt from the panel, Omar talks about the generosity of South Africans and the link between the TRC and transformation in his country.
Transcript:
Mrs. Mtimkulu is one
example of a woman who appeared before the commission and did not ask
for monetary compensation. All she asked for was that there should be a
tombstone for her son. Some place where she can place some flowers and
pray for her son. And I think that reflects the basic generosity of the
African people in our country. And that has been one of the most
significant features of the work of the commission. It does not mean
that we must exploit that generosity as a government, and it does not
mean that South Africa must take that generosity for granted.
There has to be justice. But justice in the context of South Africa, because of governmental participation in crime during the Apartheid years means much more than simply justice for individuals. It means justice for communities. It also means justice for the nation as a whole. And that is why we link our TRC process--that is a process of reconciliation--with transformation in our country."
Omar prepared a speech for the 1997 conference which provides an in-depth look at the TRC at that point in time. Click here to view a pdf of that speech.
There has to be justice. But justice in the context of South Africa, because of governmental participation in crime during the Apartheid years means much more than simply justice for individuals. It means justice for communities. It also means justice for the nation as a whole. And that is why we link our TRC process--that is a process of reconciliation--with transformation in our country."
Omar prepared a speech for the 1997 conference which provides an in-depth look at the TRC at that point in time. Click here to view a pdf of that speech.
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Video length:
01 min 20 sec
Date filmed:
Apr 10 1997 
