President Cyril Ramaphosa launched a R40-million housing support programme in Ndwedwe on Tuesday to support victims of political violence dating back to the late 1980s.

Ramaphosa addressed a large crowd at Sonkombo Sports Field, officiating the launch of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) Housing Assistance Reparations programme.

Beneficiaries receive a lump sum to help them build a new home or extend their existing one.

The turnout reflected the significance of the moment for a community deeply affected by political violence in the late 1980s and early 1990s.

He described the initiative as a significant step in South Africa’s journey of justice and reconciliation, nearly 30 years after the TRC began its work.

When the TRC was established in 1995 to uncover apartheid-era atrocities, survivors from Ndwedwe testified at the hearings.

Many were elderly victims, now in their eighties and nineties. The commission documented hundreds of cases of arson, assaults, killings and forced removals, formally recognising a number of residents as victims of gross human rights violations.

“This reflects our commitment to healing the divisions of our past and honouring those who suffered for freedom,” said Ramaphosa.

He noted that Ndwedwe was among the hardest-hit areas in KwaZulu-Natal.

“People were forced to flee their homes, properties were destroyed and families were left broken. The effects are still felt today,” he said.

A total of 220 beneficiaries have been approved for housing support, with R21-million already paid to 114 recipients through the President’s Fund.

Ramaphosa said housing support is key to restoring dignity and forms part of broader TRC recommendations, including financial support, healthcare and community rehabilitation.

“As we mark 30 years of our Constitution, we must continue building a just and equal society,” he said.

Justice and Constitutional Development Minister Mmamoloko Kubayi stressed that the list of beneficiaries cannot be changed.

“It is important that we state all beneficiaries were identified by the commission. Not even the President can change it,” she said.

Traditional leader Induna Magagu Ngcobo welcomed the programme, saying the community is grateful that victims are finally receiving assistance.

What is The President’s Fund?

The President’s Fund is a government-established fund created under the Promotion of National Unity and Reconciliation Act of 1995. Its purpose is to provide financial reparations to people who suffered human rights abuses during apartheid, as identified by the Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC).