Archbishop Desmond Tutu has made a final call to South Africans who were involved in political criminal acts during the apartheid era to apply for amnesty before the cut-off date, on Saturday, 10 May.

Archbishop Tutu, former Anglican Archbishop of Cape Town, is chairman of the state-appointed Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) which since May last year has been hearing evidence of gross human rights violations during the apartheid years.

The TRC includes a committee which, under certain conditions, may grant amnesty. The deadline for amnesty applications is 10 May. After this date, those who have committed acts, omissions or offences connected with political aims and who have not applied for amnesty may face prosecution or civil action in the courts.

"This is a cry from the heart," Archbishop Tutu said in an appeal released by the TRC. "I appeal to all of you, right across the political spectrum, please take this golden opportunity to apply for amnesty on the most generous terms possible."

He continued: "This is an opportunity to put the past behind you; to help in the process of your own healing and the healing of this beautiful land. Please come."

Archbishop Tutu appealed especially to several categories of people to come forward, including members of the security forces, particularly those involved in cross-border operations into neighbouring states; he also appealed to township activists who opposed apartheid with violence and to leaders of political parties.

Before the TRC was instituted, there were fears in some quarters that it could degenerate into a form of the Nuremberg Trials or a witch-hunt against lackeys of the former apartheid regime.

However, the exercise has proven to be primarily one of healing, especially through the cathartic process of victims telling their stories of torture and heartbreak, and of forgiveness. Seldom have victims of the former regime's security forces called for retribution and revenge.

In the foreword to a book on theological and psychological reflections on truth and reconciliation just published, Archbishop Tutu said religion was central to the process of healing needed by victims and survivors of the apartheid system.

For people of faith, honesty and mercy, confession and forgiveness, justice and peace were the key to truth and reconciliation. "Those of us who stand within the Christian tradition have, perhaps, a special responsibility in this regard because this nation has through the years employed Christian theological resources to promote apartheid," Archbishop Tutu stated.