In brief
Decades after the fall of apartheid, the struggle for justice and reparations remains a poignant issue in South Africa, with many victims still grappling with their painful pasts.
In the quiet of his modest home, Mzolisi Dyasi recalls the haunting memories of that fateful night in December 1987 when he identified the bodies of his pregnant girlfriend, cousin, and fellow anti-apartheid combatant. Now in his 60s, the scars of his time as an underground warrior for the African National Congress (ANC), which fought against apartheid, remain deep. Despite the ANC's rise to power in 1994, and the establishment of a Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) aimed at addressing past atrocities, many victims like Dyasi feel abandoned by the state.In a one-off payment of 30,000 rand, approximately $3,900 at the time, Dyasi and about 17,000 others received what the government termed reparations. For Dyasi, this sum has done little to aid his future. Chronic health issues and unpaid university fees weigh heavily on him, further exacerbating feelings of betrayal. “There were children orphaned by the struggle. Some wanted to attend school but still can't,” he laments.Professor Tshepo Madlingozi, of South Africa’s Human Rights Commission, highlights the ongoing legacy of apartheid, noting it locked many into cycles of poverty, a plight felt by countless youth born after 1994. Despite significant sums - $110 million remaining untouched in the reparations fund - questions abound regarding the allocation and usage of these funds. The South African government has yet to adequately address these concerns.Lawyer Howard Varney, representing families affected by historical political crimes, states that reparations have been marred by “deep betrayal.” Victims like Brian Mphahlele, who suffered years of torture, echoed Dyasi’s frustrations with the inadequate compensation they received. Feeling slighted by the pittance of 30,000 rand, Mphahlele struggled throughout his life, highlighting the inadequacies of governmental support after years of suffering.Madlingozi calls for a reckoning with the past, stating that South Africa must not only celebrate its progress but also acknowledge and rectify the mistakes made. Many, including Dyasi, hold a flicker of hope that their sacrifices may eventually lead to tangible improvements in healthcare, housing, and education for victims and their families.“We don’t want to be millionaires,” Dyasi insists, expressing a profound desire for the government to simply acknowledge and support those who stood against apartheid. As memories linger and the fight for reparations continues, the scars of the past serve as a constant reminder of what still must be accomplished in pursuit of justice and equality.
