"Giving back to go forward" » Restitution Foundation

Worcester remembers…and builds hope!

On the National Day of Reconciliation the people of Worcester joined a process of Hope and Reconciliation to remember those who died and those who were injured in the 1996 Christmas Eve Shoprite Centre bombing. They gathered not only to mourn a difficult past, but to build a hope-filled future. Recognising that this horrific event …

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Real restitution is about real dignity for everyone – Mzonke Poni, Abahlali baseMjondolo Western Cape

The modern economy of South Africa was founded on conquest. It was born in blood. From the moment of conquest on the same historical and economic processes that made some people rich made others poor. The exploitation and exclusion of the oppressed did not end in 1994. It continues to this day. People are still …

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Restitution is not possible before equality – Braam Hanekom coordinator of PASSOP (People Against Suffering, Oppression and Poverty)

If we want justice, we need restitution. However, without equality or the victims obtaining influence, we cannot achieve restitution. In the case of immigrants who have been displaced by xenophobic violence the sad reality is that victims are often forced to forgive or forget as a prerequisite to reintegration. In their cases restitution could make …

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Sacrificing Justice for Cheap Reconciliation – Prof Nico A Botha, Department of Missiology, UNISA

It is perhaps more appropriate to start with a lament on the manner in which the poor of South Africa have been betrayed. Neither the Peace Accord of the early nineteen nineties, nor the negotiated political settlement or the Truth and Reconciliation Commission had delivered to the poor of the country. In fact, it would …

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The theological basis for restitution within the South African context – Prof Hans Engdahl, Department of Theology and Religion, University of the Western Cape

There are two pitfalls. To think that you can redeem yourself by paying back for damages, to think that you are able to make good what was destroyed or lost To think that God’s forgiveness which is a free gift allows you to walk off as a free man/woman without obligations leading to restitution Reconciliation, …

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Restitution is essential as a basis for the restoration of justice and peace in South Africa – The Most Rev Stephen Brislin, Catholic Archbishop of Cape Town

Where a wrong has been committed and relationships have broken down, there can be no healing without some restitution. This is basic to forgiveness, reconciliation and normalization of relationships. If there is to be peace and justice, restitution is a basic essential element both for the perpetrator and the victim. In South Africa so many …

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Tutu, the wealth tax, and the humanist imperative * (John de Gruchy, Emeritus Professor, University of Cape Town)

Archbishop Desmond Tutu’s recent statement about a white wealth tax has evoked much discussion in the media. His comments were part of a speech he gave at the launching of a book entitled The Humanist Imperative in South Africa, the culmination of a two year long research project based at the Stellenbosch Institute for Advanced …

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Different understandings of the meaning of reconciliation (Prof Julian Müller, Deputy Dean, Faculty of Theology, University of Pretoria)

I have been invited to respond to the reaction of the majority at a conference in Gauteng, who struggled to link the idea of forgiveness with restitution. As a practical theologian, I am firstly interested in the experiences of people and therefore would like to understand the reasoning behind such a position. This reminds me …

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Restitution as a way of communicating “true sorryness” (Canon Rowan Smith, Dean Emeritus, St George’s Cathedral)

The basis for our understanding of restitution arises out of both our responsibilty to God and to our neighbour. To acknowledge that all is gift from God and that “I am my brother’s keeper” is to accept responsibilty for my actions. Thus I would ask of God forgiveness for my sin where I have erred …

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Floris Brown na sy optrede in Zuid-Afrikahuis Amsterdam NL 09 Junie 2007

The Scars of Apartheid – The Silent Killer (Floris Brown, Worcester Poet, Member of Worcester Hope and Reconciliation Process)

So much selfishness. So much hatred. So much revenge. How can we bring Restitution & Reconciliation to South Africans if some hearts don’t even knows or understand what this is all about? Some minds still wandering off and stick to their “Heil Hitler!” ideas and ideologies. Archbishop Desmond Tutu’s Welfare Taxes could not have come …

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Restitution vital to avoid an internalised xenophobic outburst – Derrick Naidoo, Coordinator Cape Town Community Healing Network

Firstly, my contribution looks at the level of reconciliation within the single human race. In this context the myth of “races” needs to be challenged vehemently. My understanding is that the past 500 years has been one of intense pain for the all South Africans. The people who traditionally lived in South Africa invited others …

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Apartheid denied human dignity – Dr Fanie Du Toit, Executive Director – Institute for Justice and Reconciliation

Apartheid denied the human dignity of black South Africans in the way it failed, as a system, to recognise political, economic and social rights for all. For this reason the United Nations declared apartheid a crime against humanity. Restitution ought therefore to consist, first and foremost, in efforts to affirm and restore the human …

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Worcester remembers…and builds hope! Real restitution is about real dignity for everyone – Mzonke Poni, Abahlali baseMjondolo Western Cape Restitution is not possible before equality – Braam Hanekom coordinator of PASSOP (People Against Suffering, Oppression and Poverty) Sacrificing Justice for Cheap Reconciliation – Prof Nico A Botha, Department of Missiology, UNISA The theological basis for restitution within the South African context – Prof Hans Engdahl, Department of Theology and Religion, University of the Western Cape Restitution is essential as a basis for the restoration of justice and peace in South Africa – The Most Rev Stephen Brislin, Catholic Archbishop of Cape Town Tutu, the wealth tax, and the humanist imperative * (John de Gruchy, Emeritus Professor, University of Cape Town) Different understandings of the meaning of reconciliation (Prof Julian Müller, Deputy Dean, Faculty of Theology, University of Pretoria) Restitution as a way of communicating “true sorryness” (Canon Rowan Smith, Dean Emeritus, St George’s Cathedral) The Scars of Apartheid – The Silent Killer (Floris Brown, Worcester Poet, Member of Worcester Hope and Reconciliation Process) Restitution vital to avoid an internalised xenophobic outburst – Derrick Naidoo, Coordinator Cape Town Community Healing Network Apartheid denied human dignity – Dr Fanie Du Toit, Executive Director – Institute for Justice and Reconciliation

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Why Restitution? South Africa’s painful past and subsequent transition process contributed to huge inequalities within communities. The Restitution Foundation believes a peaceful future and healing within the society is only possible by addressing these inequalities through acts of restitution.

What is the Restitution Foundation? The Restitution Foundation is a Cape Town based organisation that promotes social justice, healing and reconciliation by acting as a catalyst for restitution and transformation in South Africa.

Mission: To be a catalyst for restitution within the South African society

Vision: To model restitution that will bring justice and healing to the nation

What does the Restitution Foundation do? The Restitution Foundation promotes restitution in order to:

Help South Africans acknowledge and take responsibility for unjust actions that have occurred in society

Communicate sincere apology in word and action in partnership with those affected

Work towards a restoration of dignity and alleviation of socio-economic inequalities amongst those dishonoured by Apartheid

In this way restitution becomes a means of “doing” reconciliation.

How does the Restitution Foundation operate? The Restitution Foundation has developed four programmes to support restitution in South Africa.