Promotion of National Unity and Reconciliation Act 34 of 1995

The Promotion of National Unity and Reconciliation Act 34 of 1995 intends:

• to provide for the investigation and the establishment of as complete a picture as possible of the nature, causes and extent of gross violations of human rights committed during the period from 1 March 1960 to the cut-off date contemplated in the Constitution, within or outside the Republic, emanating from the conflicts of the past, and the fate or whereabouts of the victims of such violations;
• the granting of amnesty to persons who make full disclosure of all the relevant facts relating to acts associated with a politcal objective committed in the course of the conflicts of the past during the said period;
• affording victims an opportunity to relate the violations they suffered;
• the taking of measures aimed at the granting of reparation to; and
• the rehabilitation and the restoration of the human and civil dignity of, victims of violations of human rights; reporting to the Nation about such violations and victims;
• the making of recommendations aimed at the prevention of the commission of gross violations of human rights; and
• for the said purposes to provide for the establishment of a Truth and Reconciliation Commission, a Committee on Human Rights Violations, a Committee on Amnesty and a Committee on Reparation and Rehabilitation; and
• to confer certain powers on, assign certain functions to and impose certain duties upon that Commission and those Committees; and
• to provide for matters connected therewith.

Commencement

• 1 December 1995, excluding Sections 3, 4 (a) to (f), 4 (h), 5 (e) to (g), 5 (i), 5 (k), 5 (m), 11, 14, 15, 18 to 22, 25 to 27, 29 to 34, 37, 43, 44, 47 and 48 (Gazette 16850 of 30 November 1995 )
• 10 April 1996, Sections 3, 4 (a) to (f) , 4 (h), 5 (e) to (g) , 5 (i), 5 (k), 5 (m), 11, 14, 15, 18 to 22, 25 to 27, 29 to 34, 37, 43, 44 and 47  (Gazette 16850 of 30 November 1995 )
• 1 June 1996, Section 48 (Gazette 17098 of 10 April 1996)

Amendments

• Amended by Promotion of National Unity and Reconciliation Amendment Act 23 of 2003
• Amended by Judicial Matters Amendment Act 34 of 1998
• Amended by Promotion of National Unity and Reconciliation Amendment Act 33 of 1998
• Amended by Promotion of National Unity and Reconciliation Amendment Act 84 of 1997
• Amended by Public Service Laws Amendment Act 47 of 1997
• Amended by Promotion of National Unity and Reconciliation Amendment Act 18 of 1997
• Amended by Judicial Matters Amendment Act 104 of 1996
• Amended by Promotion of National Unity and Reconciliation Amendment Act 87 of 1995