Education funds for apartheid victims

Victims of apartheid, including their dependants and relatives, will receive compensation in the form of funding for education.

This comes as regulations to provide further education to those who were unable to complete their education during apartheid came into effect last Friday.

But not everyone who suffered under apartheid will benefit.

The regulations, through the Promotion of National Unity and Reconciliation Act, define victims of apartheid as people who suffered harm or were in distress, and extends the definition to their relatives or dependants.

The harm suffered by victims includes physical or mental injury, emotional suffering, pecuniary loss or a "substantial" impairment of human rights.

Over 16000 people were recognised as victims of apartheid by the Truth and Reconciliation Commission in 2003.

To qualify the applicant's household must not earn more than R198000 gross income per year.

Those wishing to benefit have until February 7 to submit their applications .

Funding ranges from R5000 to R39000 for tuition, depending on the course and institution, and extra funds will be allocated for travel, accommodation and textbooks.

A budget of R250-million has been set aside for the next five years. It will be administrated by the departments of justice and constitutional development, and higher education and training.

But Khulumani Support Group national director Dr Marjorie Jobson said "a whole lot more" people who could benefit from the fund were being "sidelined".

While the TRC recognises 16800 people as victims of apartheid, Jobson said her body had identified over 104000 people who qualified as victims of apartheid.

"The numbers don't represent victims of apartheid, and we have tried to make the government understand this for the last nine years," said Jobson.