South African government disburses R498 million in reparations to apartheid victims

Extensive work has been done by the government to implement the TRC recommendations, Justice and Constitutional Development Minister said.

Justice and Constitutional Development Minister Mmamoloko Kubayi has announced that R498 million in reparations have been paid to 21 000 victims of apartheid in an effort to implement recommendations by the Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC).

This comes after regulations for the payment of the one-off reparation grants to 30,000 victims of apartheid were published in 2003 and 21,676 people were identified as victims.

“As at 20 August 2026, 17,560 of the 21,676 victims applied for the once-off grant and were paid the R30,000 grant and this amounts to R490 million that has been paid,” she said.

Kubayi made the statement during a question-and-answer session in the National Council of Provinces when she was responding to ANC MP Jane Mananiso, who asked about progress made to implement the recommendations of the TRC.

Kubayi said they have published the names of the 4216 people who have not applied for the R30,000 once-off payment in newspapers, government gazette, department website and social media.

“We did this this year so that the next-of-kin can come through if they have not been able to.”

The minister stated that contrary to what was said in the public domain that the government has not done anything to implement the TRC recommendations, extensive work has been done to date.

“We want to commend the teams and my predecessors who have actually lit the candle on this work that is being done. Ours is to continue and conclude and ensure that South Africans actually find peace and can be able to find closure in this most difficult period that we experience as a country,” she said.

Regarding the educational assistance to victims of apartheid, Kubayi said the government has supported 21,676 beneficiaries from Grade R up to Grade 12 and 2,010 beneficiaries were funded in higher education.

The minister also said the government has also provided a once-off grant to about 17,000 families for the reburial of the remains of their loved ones.

“We can confirm that in terms of the Gallows Project, we have been able to conclude all the remains have been handed over to their families. What we are currently working on in this work, together with the Minister of Sports and Arts and Culture, is those that are buried outside the country that NPA is assisting in identifying, tracking of their remains, but also assisting those families.”

Kubayi said what remained outstanding was the medical benefit reparation.

Regarding the community rehabilitation project to be launched in December, Kubayi said they have identified 16 projects.