Erasure

As South Africa emerged from the Apartheid system, civilians demanded accountability for the harm done by apartheid governments. Additionally, the government recognized its inability to move forward as a unified nation without addressing the past. President Nelson Mandela and Archbishop Desmond Tutu established what would be known as the international model for truth commissions. In their commission, all members of society, including activists, religious leaders, victims, and perpetrators participated in the truth telling. While the majority view the South African model for truth commission as highly successful, others feel that many of the harm doers (government authorities) were not held accountable.