TRC Faith Community Hearings: Submissions

NB: The submissions were scanned and edited. RICSA takes no responsibility for any incorrectness.

Traditional Religion

• African Traditional Religion
  • Testimony to the TRC (D. K. Koka), 18 November 1997.
  • Submission, dated February 1998, from Nokuzola Mndende.

Protestant Christianity

• Baptist Convention of South Africa
  • Submission, dated 19 November 1997, presented by Des Hoffmeister, General Secretary.
  • Press statement regarding the Assembly of the Baptist Convention of SA, meeting at Durban, 10 to 14 December 1997.
  • Sample programmes of "Discovering Truth Workshops".
  • "Kempton Park Thembisa Resolution II", dated 6-8 November 1997, from a joint BCSA & BUSA retreat.
  • Testimony to the TRC, 18 November 1997.
• Baptist Union of South Africa
  • Submission, forwarded on behalf of the Executive Committee of the Baptist Union of South Africa by Terry Rae, General Secretary, 26 June 1997.
  • Testimony to the TRC, 18 November 1997.
• Belydende Kring
  • Testimony to the TRC, 18 November 1997.
  • Submission, dated 11 Nov. 1997, signed by Rev. Drs. Z. E. Mokgoebo.
• Church of England in South Africa (2 documents)
  • Submission, dated 18 July 1997, signed by Joe Bell, Presiding Bishop.
  • Testimony to the TRC, 17 November 1997.
  • Submission dated 17 November 1997, presented by Bishop Frank Retief at the Hearings.
• Church of the Province of South Africa
  • Submission, dated 30 June 1997, signed by Archbishop Njongonkulu Ndungane.
  • Submission, dated 17 November 1997, presented to the hearings by Bishop Michael Nuttall.
  • Testimony to the TRC, 17 November 1997.
• Dutch Reformed Church
  • English Extract from the Afrikaans Document The Story of the Dutch Reformed Church's Journey with Apartheid, General Synodal Commission of the Dutch Reformed Church.
  • Testimony to the TRC, 19 November 1997.
  • "Ned Geref Kerk in Suid Afrika: Sinode van Wes- en Suid-Kaap Voorlegging aan die Waarheids-en-Versoeningskommissie/Dutch Reformed Church in South Africa: Synod of the Western and Southern Cape, Submission to the Truth and Reconciliation Commission" (with cover letter signed by Fritz Gaum, Synod Moderator). 16 pp. Undated but is a document that comes out of a decision taken at Synod on 7, 8 and 9 October 1997.
  • "What does Reconciliation Mean, and What Role Should the Church Play to Promote National Unity and Reconciliation?" Appended to the above document.
  • "Skuldbelydenis en Vergifnis - 'N Getuienis uit Zimbabwe", Die Kerkbode 6 Sept. 1996.
  • "Speech Given on Behalf of the Dutch Reformed Church in South Africa on Occasion of the Official Centenary Celebrations of the Reformed Church in Zimbabwe, 14 Sept. 1991", by C. M. Pauw.
  • "Witness of Dutch Reformed Church Delegates", undated document reflecting on the International Global Consultation on World Evangelism, 1997, signed by Drs Louis Louw & Danie Nel & Revs. Sampie Niemand & Leon Westhof.
  • "Voorlegging aan die Kommissie vir Waarheid en Versoening by sy sitting op 14 tot 16 Oktober in die Paarl", NGK Ring van Stellenbosch.
• Evangelical Lutheran Church in Southern Africa (Natal-Transvaal)
  • Letter to Commission from Bishop D. R. Lilje, dated 30 June 1997, notifying them that no submission would be forthcoming from the church.
  • Letter written to congregations, dated 18 March 1996, signed by Lilje, supporting the Commission and asking members to pray for the reconciliation process.
  • Submission to TRC, dated May 1998.
• Institute for Contextual Theology
  • Submission, undated and signed by Rev. Wesley Mabuza.
  • Further submission, dated 17 November 1997, signed by Rev. Wesley Mabuza & McGlory Speckman.
  • Testimony before the TRC, East London, 17 November 1997.
• Methodist Church of South Africa
  • Submission, dated August 1997, signed by H. Mvume Dandala, Presiding Bishop.
  • Presentation at the hearings, 17 November, by Bishop H. Mvume Dandala and Rev Vivian Harris.
• Moravian Church in South Africa
  • Submission, dated 20 November 1996 and signed by W. M. Majikijela, President.
• Presbyterian Church of Southern Africa
  • Submission, dated 18 August 1997, signed by the Moderator, the General Secretary and the Director of Justice and Social Responsibility Division.
  • Testimony to the TRC, 17 November 1999.
• Reformed Presbyterian Church of South Africa
  • Testimony to the TRC, 18 November 1997.
  • Submission, undated, presented by The Right Revd Dr G M Khabela (Moderator), The Revd D M Soga, The Revd J V Mdlalose (General Secretary).
• Religious Society of Friends (Quakers)
  • Submission, dated June 1997, coming from the central and southern district yearly meeting (2pp.). Cover letter dated 9 July states a further submission may be forthcoming from the full body.
• Rosebank Union Church
  • Statement of Repentance, date obscured, signed by Rev Ellis Andre.
• Salvation Army
  • Submission, dated 17 March 1997, signed by Paul A. du Plessis (Territorial Commander), with the executive officers of the Salvation Army in Southern Africa.
  • "The Salvation Army and the Truth and Reconciliation Process in South Africa--a policy statement", approved by the Territorial Executive Council, 21 January 1997.
  • "Army makes submission to the Truth Commission", Supplement to The War Cry 7 June 1997.
• Scripture Union
  • Submission, dated 15 August 1997, signed by Dr Christian S. Abels, National Chairperson.
• Seventh Day Adventist Church
  • "Statement of Confession", undated & unsigned. Note that a signed version was submitted to the Commission which was not made available to the writers of the RICSA report.
• South African Council of Churches
  • Submission, dated August 1997, submitted by B. H. Bam, General Secretary.
  • Testimony to the TRC, 17 November 1997.
• United Congregational Church of Southern Africa.
  • Submission, dated 8 August 1997, signed by B. T. Maluleka, administrative secretary.
  • Submission, dated October 1997, submitted by Des van der Water & Steve de Gruchy.
  • Testimony to the TRC, 17 November 1997.
• Uniting Reformed Church of South Africa
  • Submission, dated 16 September 1997, signed by J. D. Buys, Moderator of General Synod.
  • Submission by URCCSA Messina Congregation, no date, signed by the Church Council.
  • Testimony to the TRC, 19 November 1997.

Historically African Churches

• United Methodist Church of South Africa
  • Statement, dated 17 Nov. 1997, signed by Mr Nkosinathi Madikezela, Ecumenical Affairs Officer.
• Zion Christian Church
  • Statement, dated 18 Nov. 1997, signed by Bishop B. E. Legkanyane.
  • Testimony to TRC, 19 November 1997.
• lbandla LamaNazaretha
  • Submission, 18 November 1997, presented by Mthembeni P. Mpanza.
  • Testimony to the TRC, 18 November 1997.
• Council of African Instituted Churches
  • Testimony to the TRC, 18 November 1997.

Catholicism

• Catholic Church of South Africa
  • Submission, dated 15 August 1997, unsigned.
  • Testimony to the TRC, 17 November 1997.

Pentecostal and Charismatic Christianity

• Apostolic Faith Mission
  • Submission, dated 4 August 1997, signed by I. S. Burger, President.
  • Testimony to TRC, 19 November 1997.
• Rhema Bible Church/IFCC
  • Submission, undated, presented by Rev. Ray McCauley at hearings.
  • Testimony to TRC, 19 November 1997
• Hatfield Christian Church
  • Submission, with cover letter signed by Dr Graham Catto on behalf of the steering committee and dated 16 September 1997.
• The Evangelical Alliance of South Africa (TEASA)
  • Submission, with cover letter dated 15 September 1997, signed by Moss Nthla.
  • Presentation at hearings by Dr Derek Morphew of Vineyard Ministries.
  • Testimony to the TRC, 19 November 1997

Islam

• Jamiatul Ulama Transvaal
  • Submission, dated 18 November 1997, signed by E. I. Bham, Assistant Secretary (5 pp.)
• Muslim Judicial Council
  • Submission, undated presented by Imam Gassan Solomon at hearings.
  • Testimony to TRC, 19 November 1997.
• Muslim Youth Movement
  • Submission, dated 18 November 1997, signed by Nissar Dawood, General Secretary.
• Call of Islam
  • Testimony to the TRC by Moulana Farid Esak, 18 November 1997.

Judaism

• Chief Rabbi of South Africa
  • Presentation by Rabbi Cyril Harris, 18 November 1997.
  • Submission, dated 1 July 1997, signed by Rabbi Cyril K. Harris.
• Gesher Movement
  • "Reconciliation: a Jewish View", dated January 1997 with cover letter signed by Geoff Sifrin, Chairperson.

Hinduism

• South African Hindu Maha Sabha
  • Submission, dated 18 November 1997, signed by Ashwin Trikamjee, President.
• Ramakrishna Institute of Spirituality and Hinduism
  • Submission, dated 25 June 1997, signed by Prof. P. Joshi, President, "the Rishis".

Buddhism

• Dharma Centre
  • Submission by Ron Schiff, Rodney Downey and Heila Downey, dated 25 June 1997.

The Bahai Faith

• The Bahai Faith
  • Testimony to the TRC, 18 November 1997.
  • Submission from National Spiritual Assembly of the Baha'is in South Africa (3 pp.) along with a cover letter signed by Brett Hone, Secretary, and dated 15 September 1997.

Other submissions

• World Conference on Religion and Peace
  • Submission presented by Franz Auerbach, 18 Nov. 1997.
  • Testimony to TRC, 18 November 1997.
  • "Justice, Retribution and the Truth and Reconciliation Commission" by Imam Rashid Omar, Vice President, 7 November 1997.
  • "Proposal for Action by People of Faith on December 16".
• Nico Smith
  • Open letter to South African Christian Pastors. Undated.
  • Testimony to the TRC, 19 November 1997.
• Gereformeerde Kerk (unofficial representation)
  • "'n Openbare Belydenis (Uit Potchefstroom)/An Open Confession from Potchefstroom", dated 6 August 1997 and signed by Alwyn du Plessis, Bennie van der Walt, Amie van Wyk & Ponti Venter.
  • Testimony to the TRC, 19 November 1997.
• Women in Religion
  • "Submission to the Truth and Reconciliation Commission, Faith Communities Hearings", Ms Cathy P. Makhenye.
  • Presentation by Ms Cathy P. Makhenya and Dr Brigalia Bam, 17 November 1997
• Rev. Douglas Torr, dated 8 July 1997.
• Ms Lesley Morgan, dated 27 June 1997.
• Daryl D. Bredenkamp, "Comment on the Present Hearings within Church Groups", dated 19 Nov. 1997.
• Statement (with cover letter) from Karoo Mobile Law Clinic on behalf of the Old Apostolic Church, 17 November 1997, signed by Mxolisi Tshaliti.