Sorry for Apartheid

For the past few days I’ve thought intensely about the difference between a verbal commitment to reconciliation - saying that you’re sorry and a physical commitment to reconciliation - being sorry.  Alexander Venter in his book “Doing Reconciliation” quotes Rev. Mxolisi Mpambani :

There were two boys living opposite each other.  John stole a bicycle from Tom and then after a year John came to Tom and said, “Tom, I stole your bicycle and what I need now is reconciliation.” Then Tom looked at John and said: “Where is my bicycle?” He said: “No, I am not talking about your bicycle now, I am talking about reconciliation.”

I’m wondering how you would respons to this specific conversation?