South Africa’s Truth and Reconciliation Commission: Ethical and Theological Perspectives Lyn S. Graybill* H ow do governments deal with human rights violations committed by former regimes? South Africa’s solution has been to setup the Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC), which offers amnesty to perpetra- tors who tell the truth about the past and disclose their deeds to the victims; the goal is the reconciliation of former enemies. While the TRC has a clear political focus, it is at its heart a deeply theological and ethical initiative. At times, how- ever, it appears that ethics and theology are at cross-purposes, that justice is less important than Christian mere y; this viewpoint springs from a narrow under- standing of what constitutes justice. Does offering amnesty to perpetrators and forgiving enemies deny the victims justice? Or does the TRC embody a “differ- ent kind of justice,” as one commentator recently suggested? In this overview of the TRC—its establishment, procedures, and principles-special attention is given to the ethical and theological arguments for this unique approach. THE MOVE TOWARD RECONCILIATION Nelson Mandela: The Great Reconciler The Truth and Reconciliation Commission is one manifestation of the impulse that has motivated South Africa since Nelson Mandela’s election in 1994. Indeed, Mandela set the example of reconciliation by displaying no rancor or bitterness toward his former oppressors, despite his 27-year imprisonment. In a postelection celebration on May 2, 1994, in Johannesburg, he set the tone for the incoming government: “Let us stretch out our hands to those who have beaten us and say to them that we are all South Africans. ... Now is the time to heal the old wounds and to build a new South Africa.” 1 Later, as host of a luncheon for the wives of former South African prime ministers, presidents, and liberation movement leaders, Mandela again acted as *Support for this research was provided by the National Endowment for the Humanities, the Virginia Foundation for the Humanities, and the Carter G, Woodson Institute. ‘John Battersby. “South Africa Takes Final Steps Toward Long-Sought Democracy,” C1-rr-hiunScience kfonito~ May 4, 1994, p. 1.