The Department of Justice and Constitutional Development (DoJ) has revealed that it will be offering educational funding opportunities to identified victims of Apartheid, in recognition of the sacrifices such individuals made during the battle for democracy in South Africa. The department are hoping such funding will provide a better and brighter future for beneficiaries and their respective dependants.

Recipients will have to be recognised as a victim by the Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC). At present approximately 22 000 people are registered by the TRC as victims of Apartheid, all of whom, depending on annual household income, will now be eligible for educational support from the department.

“If your name is in the TRC report than you will qualify. Especially relating to the educational assistance, it’s not just the identified beneficiaries that will qualify but the parents, spouses, sibling, children and grandchildren,” explained Louraine Rossouw, acting chief of operations the department.

The criteria for basic educational funding is that the gross income of the household of a beneficiary should not exceed R132 000 per annum, and in relation to high education it should be no higher than R198 000 per annum.

The education assistance form is available on the department’s website at http://www.justice.gov.za/forms/form_trc.html.

Submissions close at the end of October, and original bank detail confirmation forms are to be submitted with the individual’s application. VOC (Mubeen Banderker)