Beyond the TRC
Workshop 8

Convenors: Charles Villa-Vicencio (RSA)
& Philippe Denis (Belgium/RSA)
Facilitator: Glenda Wildschut (RSA)
Tracker: Kelly Hicks (USA)

Problems, issues and challenges

The stated focus was primarily on issues raised for the post-TRC period, or ‘Where do we go from here?’ Broadly speaking the challenges identified  were the ongoing need for accountability, healing and reconciliation and reparation. More importantly the need for a range of institutions to actively respond to the recommendations suggested to them by the TRC was identified.

Specifically, the question of how faith communities should deal with the past was posed. The concept of ‘faith communities’ included both a body active within society, and also a body with internal dynamics.

Role within society

The silence of faith communities within society was identified as problematic. It was recognised that finding a new post-Apartheid role and identity was still an issue and that there is a need to find ways to continue healing work within the ‘public sphere’. Issues identified here were:

• Do faith communities share a common moral vision?
• Do faith communities have a mediating role to play?
• How are faith communities responding to communities plagued by guilt and shame?

Internal dynamics

Institutionally, faith communities have been perpetrator and victim. This is particularly so with reference to Christian communities. This issue of the ambivalent history raises the need for faith communities to deal with the incomplete and selective acknowledgement of guilt. /end p. 134/

Other issues raised:

• The unintended consequences of the TRC
• How to define reconciliation
• The long term effects of Apartheid, i.e., crime and violence
• The lack of leadership today.

Solutions and ways forward

The ‘solutions’ focussed upon ways for individuals/organisations to compliment the work of the TRC. Thus, solutions were envisaged within the context of plurality and process. This raises the on-going problematic and challenge of the relationship between faith communities and government and the need to constantly explore this dialogue between the two.

This process includes:

• Peaceful coexistence, reconciliation and forgiveness with political and structural implementation
• Openness to ‘the other’
• Storytelling in the healing process at all levels (remembering)
• Active involvement in political transformation
• Skills and empowerment programmes which look less to the legacy of Apartheid, but to the future of building a nation (envisioning). /end p. 135/