President Cyril Ramaphosa launched the TRC Housing Assistance Reparations programme in Ndwedwe, KwaZulu-Natal, on Monday. The programme allocates R40 million to 220 verified victims of political violence during apartheid.
Why it matters: These reparations come 30 years after the Truth and Reconciliation Commission hearings that documented the suffering of Ndwedwe residents. The delay has drawn criticism from opposition parties and survivors alike.
The programme
Each qualifying household is eligible for a once-off housing grant capped at R183,257. The grant covers the cost of building a new home or repairing an existing one. Of the 220 approved beneficiaries, 114 have already received approximately R21 million through the President’s Fund.
The programme follows housing assistance regulations published in January 2026. According to the Department of Justice, the estimated total payout to all positively verified Ndwedwe beneficiaries is R40.3 million.
The history
During the late 1980s and early 1990s, Ndwedwe was one of the areas in KwaZulu-Natal most devastated by political violence. Families were forced to flee. Homes were burned and property destroyed. Many of the victims testified before the TRC but waited decades for material assistance.
Ramaphosa described the reparations as a “moral obligation” to restore dignity to those who suffered under apartheid. He acknowledged the government had been slow to act but said the programme marked a turning point.
Political reaction
The uMkhonto weSizwe party criticised the timing, accusing the ANC of using government housing to court voters in KwaZulu-Natal ahead of future elections. The MK party’s statement did not dispute the need for reparations but questioned why the programme was launched now, 30 years after the TRC process.
Justice Minister Thembi Simelane said the programme would be expanded to other areas where TRC beneficiaries have been identified. No timeline was given for the expansion.