The weight of injustice and violence remains rooted in human society, leaving us to question whether healing is possible without restorative justice…
Restorative justice is more than a mechanism to address crime. It represents an approach centred on reconciliation rather than punishment and is founded on the principle that a functional society balances rights with responsibilities, prioritising accountability, truth, healing, and the restoration of relationships. This may take the form of victim–offender dialogue, diversion programmes or support for victims. In particular, the victim–offender dialogue is entirely voluntary in nature; it brings together victims, offenders, their families, community members, and criminal justice officials into a space of dialogue guided by constitutional rights.
In South Africa, crime remains a critical concern, exposing individuals to adverse circumstances and undermining their sense of security. Recidivism rates, which range between 86% and 94%, undoubtedly challenge the correctional system and may contribute to an environment that does not adequately facilitate rehabilitation. To address these challenges, restorative justice programmes can serve as a method to divert cases away from the justice system with the aim of reducing the burden and providing the system with a set of constructive interventions that promote accountability and rehabilitation.
The legacy of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC), authorised by Nelson Mandela and guided by Archbishop Desmond Tutu, highlights the promise of restorative justice. By providing victims with an opportunity to express the violations they endured while holding offenders accountable to the truth of their actions, the TRC gained considerable results. Although, decades later, the scars of injustice remain, particularly for those whose stories were never entirely heard.
Restorative justice does not excuse or diminish the severity of crime. Rather, it allows offenders to take responsibility, empowers victims to reclaim their voices, and enables communities to move forward. In this process dignity is restored, the trauma is acknowledged and both primary and secondary victims are afforded the opportunity to regain agency.
Furthermore, I hold that restorative justice is particularly suitable for first-time offenders and juveniles who commit less severe offences. In cases of serious crimes such as rape or murder, restorative justice alone is insufficient to protect society or reflect the gravity of the offence and must be accompanied by punishment. Nonetheless, the principles of restorative justice can inform responses to all forms of crime. In my view, healing without restorative justice is possible, yet remains incomplete unless therapy or other structured coping mechanisms are actively employed.
