Truth and Reconciliation Commission

TRC

Reverend Desmond Mpoli Tutu is the man who has worn and still wears many hats, but all with same purpose creating and nurturing peace. Tutu has been awarded numerous times for his works against apartheid. He is also the strong proponent of AIDs awareness. Tutu began life as the teacher and eventually became the clergyman when he could no longer bring himself to teach. As the clergyman, specifically, the priest, Tutu actively worked on improving lives of black South Africans by working against apartheid and demanding that government changes their policies. When Tutu's goal was accomplished and South Africa had removed its discriminatory laws, Tutu continued to work as Archbishop of Cape Town and served as chair of the council that reviewed thirty-four years of injustice that black South Africans had suffered. (Tutu p.12)

In 1960, Tutu was ordained as the priest in Anglican Church. After he was ordained, he studied in England and earned his master's degree in theology. With this degree, he educated theology in South Africa for roughly five years. In 1975, Tutu returned to England in order to serve as an assistant director of World Council of Churches in London. In same year, Tutu served as Dean of St. Mary's Cathedral in Johannesburg. He was first black to do so. In 1986, Tutu became first black Archbishop of Cape Town. He continued to work as the member of clergy 1994 when President Nelson Mandela appointed Tutu to chair Truth and Reconciliation Commission whose purpose was to investigate past injustices and lack of human rights that had been occurring for past thirty-four years. Today, Tutu can be found at Emory University in Atlanta Georgia where he has worked since he retired as Archbishop of Cape Town in 1996. (Wilson p.23)

Reverend Desmond Mpoli Tutu desired to improve lives of those around him as is apparent in his career choices. Tutu originally wanted to be the doctor, but was unable to and so he decided to go into education, but South African laws regulating the lesser education to black South African children made Tutu unable to continue his job. Therefore, after persuasion from his bishop, Tutu entered priesthood, where he moved up ranks of Anglican Church and eventually earned title of Archbishop Emeritus. (Joseph p.352)

The reality and Reconciliation Commission

The South African Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) was set up by Government of National Unity to work on events that occurred as the result of apartheid. During this time, there were countless human rights abuses. The TRC uses its mandate through three committees: Amnesty Committee, Reparation and Rehabilitation (R&R) Committee, and Human Rights Violations (HRV) Committee. The Commission is currently in suspension while work of Amnesty Committee is completed. The work of R&R and HRV Committees has been designated to former chairs of those Committees, and now forms part of Amnesty Committee. This commission has posted manuscripts from trials of victims, defendants, and witnesses of unlawful occurrences of apartheid movement. (Tutu p.12)

One particular testimony to the trial was by ...