Definitions and abbreviations

ANC	African National Congress
APLA	Azanian People’s Liberation Army, military wing of the PAC [1]
AWB	Afrikaner Weerstands Beweging (Afrikaner Resistance Movement)
CCB	Civil Cooperation Bureau, covert security branch unit which also acted as a hit squad
CODESA	Convention for a Democratic South Africa, first convened in December 1991 to discuss power sharing between the National Party government, the ANC and other political parties [2]
COSAS	Congress of South African Students
COSATU	Congress of South African Trade Unions [3]
DRC	Dutch Reformed Church also known as NGK (Nederduitse Gereformeerde Kerk) [4]
FABCOS	Foundation of African Business & Consumer Services [5]
HRV	Human Rights Violations hearings at the TRC
IFP	Inkatha Freedom Party
MCC	Mandela Crisis Committee, formed by UDF in response to the activities of Winnie Madikizela-Mandela and the Mandela United Football Club [6]
MK	Umkhonto we Sizwe (“Spear of the Nation”) military wing of ANC [7]
MP	Member of Parliament
PAC	Pan Africanist Congress
Pebco	Port Elizabeth Black Civic Organisation
PFP	Progressive Federal Party originally the United Party, official parliamentary opposition during Apartheid
RENAMO	Mozambique political party and resistance movement opposed to FRELIMO [8]
SABC	South African Broadcasting Company; television and radio
SACC	South African Council of Churches
SACP	South Africa Communist Party
SADF	South African Defense Force
SASRIA	South African Special Risks Insurance Association; originally established in the wake of the 1976 Soweto Uprising to cover potential calamities such as civil disturbances which normal insurers would not consider; funds demanded by some to help fulfill TRC reparations mandate [9]
SDU	Self Defense Unit; ANC aligned structure
SPU	Self Protection Unit; IFP aligned structure
SWAPO	South West Africa People's Organization active prior to Namibia’s independence [10]
UDF	United Democratic Front, umbrella anti-apartheid movement operating inside South Africa from early 1980s; generally seen to be aligned with the ANC [11]
UNITA	Angolan political party and resistance movement [12]

Definitions of Names, Places, Practices:
Askari	ex-MK members who became state operatives[13] Individuals who became collaborators with the state security forces, often after being captured and/or tortured Kiswahili word for soldier [14]
Comrades	Young political activists affiliated to the ANC
Death farms	Rural areas (literally farms) where apartheid third force/covert security force operatives killed and/or buried many anti-apartheid activists. [15] The TRC helped identify these areas and performed exhumations on behalf of the families of the deceased. See also hit squads such as Vlakplaas and CCB.
Dominee	Title: Reverend in the Afrikaans church.
Hostels	Accommodation for migrant workers in the urban areas; dormitory style, single sex, and overcrowded; often a place from which violence erupted between hostel dwellers and residents of informal settlements and/or townships [16]
Kitskonstabels	Special Constables [17] “The emergency period of the 1980s had seen the state appoint a large number of inadequately trained municipal policemen or “kitskonstabels” literally “instant constables” in a bid to crack down on political opponents. The municipal police, or “green beans” (named after the colour of their uniform), were notorious for their brutality and were more often vigilante groups than anything resembling a policing agency.” [18]
Necklacing	The burning to death of selected individuals, with the aid of inflammable liquid and/or motor tyres [19] “Many of those killed [were] brutally executed by fire, a practice commonly referred to as necklacing, in which a tire filled with gasoline is placed around the victim's neck and set aflame. This vicious form of public execution is usually reserved for those black South Africans who are accused of collaborating with the government or refuse to cooperate fully with the activities of the terrorists.” [20]
Quatro Camp	ANC military detention camp in Angola, also known as Morris Sea