The South African Council of Churches (SACC) today announced its intention to work with other popular organisations and interest groups to convene a National Reparations Conference to build broad-based popular consensus on apartheid reparations.

"Apartheid reparation is a matter of national importance on which the integrity of our transition from apartheid to a new society depends," said SACC Secretary General Dr Molefe Tsele.

"The process of post-apartheid healing and development must be owned by the South African people at large, especially by those masses who were on the receiving end of apartheid abuses."

"The SACC will work to convene a National Reparations Conference bringing together representatives of mass-based organisations and other interest groups to build consensus towards a coherent understanding and agenda for apartheid reparation by South African and foreign-based multinational banks and businesses. Because of its importance to South Africa, this matter cannot be left in the hands of lawyers and campaigners alone."

For more information and comment please contact Rev Teboho Klaas at 072 584 9009.