As required by the Promotion of National Unity and reconciliation Act that provides for the existence of the commission, the Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) of South Africa was compelled to institute a multilingual interpreting service. For the first time, legal and community interpreting were combined in this unique way in South Africa. This paper will focus on cross-cultural influences, interpreting techniques, managerial influences and support structures in coping with the emotional catharsis caused by human rights violations and psychological and physiological torture. The first-hand experience of the Language Facilitation Programme, now the Unit for Language Facilitation and Empowerment (ULFE) of the University of the Orange Free State, during this exciting period in the history of interpreting in South Africa will provide us with a different perspective on similar future ventures.