South Africa's TRC begins its formal hearings into Human Rights Violations

Updated: 22 Aug 2019

On 15 April 1996, the Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC), under Chairman Archbishop Desmond Tutu, began its first formal hearings in East London City Hall. The South African TRC was set up by the Government of National Unity (the democratic government since 1994) to help deal with violations of human rights during the apartheid era. The Commission heard testimonies from all members of South African society about political crimes, violence and human rights abuses that had not been disclosed. The Commission was charged with the responsibility to prosecute alleged perpetrators or grant amnesty. The TRC consisted of different committees, namely the Human Rights Violations (HRV), Reparation and Rehabilitation (R&R) and Amnesty Committees (AC).

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South African History Online. (2019, August 22). South Africa's TRC begins its formal hearings into Human Rights Violations. South African History Online. https://sahistory.org.za/ref/E-0149052

South African History Online (2019) 'South Africa's TRC begins its formal hearings into Human Rights Violations', South African History Online, 22 August. Available at: https://sahistory.org.za/ref/E-0149052 (Accessed: 19 September 2026).

South African History Online, South Africa's TRC begins its formal hearings into Human Rights Violations [website], https://sahistory.org.za/ref/E-0149052, (accessed 19 September 2026).

"South Africa's TRC begins its formal hearings into Human Rights Violations." South African History Online, 22 Aug. 2019, https://sahistory.org.za/ref/E-0149052. Accessed 19 Sept. 2026.

South African History Online. "South Africa's TRC begins its formal hearings into Human Rights Violations." South African History Online. August 22, 2019. https://sahistory.org.za/ref/E-0149052.