For others, the TRC's finest achievement was held to be the role it played in the establishment of a collective memory (Minow, 1998). For many, however, the TRC was an important milestone, demonstrating South Africa's commitment to dealing with past injustices, and commendable for its contribution towards national reconciliation (Tutu, 1999). After completion of its work, the commission also drew much criticism, including in relation to its imposition of a Christian morality of forgiveness (Schoon as cited in Asch, 1997), its focus on restorative rather than retributive justice (Hamber, 2000), and its failure to deliver on promises made to the victims of gross human rights violations (Hamber & Kibble, 1998). Many objections had initially been raised against the establishment of a TRC (Chapman & van der Merwe, 2008). Thus, in the aftermath of Apartheid, a Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) was established in order to help the country deal with its painful past. Although democracy was finally achieved in 1994, colonialism and Apartheid had severely damaged the social fabric of South African society. South Africa's long history of race-based oppression preceded the introduction in 1948 of formal Apartheid (an Afrikaans term meaning "separateness"), having started with the onset of colonialism in 1652 (Gibson, 2004). These themes - secondary traumatisation, socioeconomic and material impact, and sense of powerlessness and helplessness - are discussed along with their possible implications, and foci for further research pointed to. The interview data was subjected to an interpretative analytical process that yielded a number of themes which provide support for the salience of intergenerational trauma amongst descendants of victims of Apartheid-era gross human rights violations. Qualitative interviews were conducted with 20 children and grandchildren (females = 10, males = 10) of victims of Apartheid-era gross human rights violations. Methodologically, a hermeneutic phenomenological approach was utilised. At a conceptual level, it is framed by the life course perspective and historical trauma theory. This paper explores the salience of intergenerational trauma in South Africa. In addition to this, we are reminded that traumatic memories affect not only those who have personally experienced conflict and violence, but also future generations through what is known as intergenerational transmission of trauma. ![]() ![]() Many feel that this collective trauma has not been sufficiently addressed and that this has rendered the peace achieved after Apartheid's demise increasingly fragile. Research Specialist Human Sciences Research Council (HSRC) Pretoria, South Africa E-mail address: as a systemised and institutionalised process of race-based discrimination, exploitation and oppression, left in its wake a deeply traumatised society. Exploring the salience of intergenerational trauma among children and grandchildren of victims of apartheid-era gross human rights violations
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