THE Truth and Reconciliation Commission yesterday faced the mammoth task of assessing nearly 8,000 applications for amnesty after the deadline for submissions expired at midnight on Saturday writes Patrick Laurence in Johannesburg.
The date seemed doubly significant because it was exactly three years after Nelson Mandela was inaugurated as the nation's first democratically elected president.
As the deadline approached, commissioners throughout the country had to cope with close to 2,000 last minute applications, delivered by fax, post and even by applicants personally.
One of those who delivered his application in person was Dr Piet Koornhof, who headed the ministry which dealt with black affairs under the presidency of Mr P.W. Botha but who had the political equivalent of a road to Damascus experience after falling in love with a young coloured woman on his return to South Africa from the United States in the early 1990s, where he had served briefly as South Africa's ambassador.
As Minister of Co operation and Development - as he renamed what used to be known as the Ministry of Native Affairs - Dr Koornhof was responsible for implementing policies designed to promote grand or territorial apartheid.
"Applying for amnesty is a gesture which black people appreciate," Dr Koornhof said. "It is a sign of feeling intensely sorry."
Conspicuous absentees in the final list were Mr F. W. de Klerk - former president who has adamantly denied being involved in any unlawful action against political foes - Mr Botha and Mr Magnus Malan, who served under both men as Minister of Defence. The last spate of applications included 370 from the ruling African National Congress, delivered in a cardbox to the TRC's Cape Town offices.
President Mandela was not among the applicants because, as an ANC spokesman explained, he was in prison for most of the military struggle and had already served a long prison sentence for his role in launching "armed resistance" after the ANC was banned in 1960.
Another prominent politician who declined to apply was the Inkatha Freedom Party leader, Chief Mangosuthu Buthelezi; he had earlier declared that he had no need to apply because he had never killed anyone, ordered anyone killed or, unlike Mr Mandela - who was the nominal commander of the ANC's guerrilla forces been the commander of an army.
Reuter adds: The man who helped the former newspaper editor Donald Woods to flee persecution by apartheid police for his friendship with the black activist Steve Biko was granted amnesty by the truth commission.
Mr Donald Card (68) was given amnesty by the commission for breaking past laws by helping Mr Woods to violate his banning order and to escape across the borders of South Africa.
Mr Biko and Mr Woods were celebrated in the film Cry Freedom, based on Mr Woods's book about their friendship.