The Truth and Reconciliation Commission reparations program is gaining momentum in South Africa, with the government reporting significant progress in implementing the recommendations approved by Parliament.
Attending the launch of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission Housing Assistance Program in Ndwedwe, KwaZulu-Natal on Tuesday, President Cyril Ramaphosa explained that the provision of compensation is not just an act of goodwill, but a moral obligation and an important part of restoring people's dignity.
Authorities have completed the rollout of a one-time R30,000 compensation grant for all processed applications, leaving room for outstanding claims. Education assistance has reached 11,783 basic school learners (over R134 million) and 1,896 higher education students (over R129 million), along with free access to public health care for victims and their dependents. The Gallows Exhumation Project, which seeks to recover the remains of hanged political prisoners, has also been finalized.
In a further step towards restoring dignity, the new Housing Assistance Regulations – published on 16 January 2026 – provide a one-time grant of up to R183,257 per beneficiary, or the option of newly constructed homes. The initiative is funded with R650 million ringfenced through the Presidential Fund under the TRC Act.
So far 941 housing applications have been received. In Ndiwedwe, 220 verified beneficiaries have opted for cash grants amounting to more than R40.3 million. Once all 476 approved beneficiaries are verified, total disbursements to the sector are expected to reach more than R87.2 million.
The program targets TRC-declared victims affected by displacement, property destruction and other apartheid-era human rights violations.