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Former president FW de Klerk. Photo: Ross Jansen
Former president FW de Klerk has urged South Africans to return to the “national consensus” achieved at the dawn of democracy in 1994, warning that the country will not succeed if politicians play different groups – whether black against white or rich against poor – off against one another.
He was speaking at a conference hosted by his foundation and commemorating his watershed February 2, 1990 speech in which he announced the unbanning of political organisations, the release of political prisoners, including Nelson Mandela, and an end to media restrictions and national security regulations.
He suggested that Planning Minister Trevor Manuel’s recently released National Development Plan could form the basis of a new, inclusive social contract on what needed to be done to make SA succeed.
This would include prioritising education, employment, economic growth and equality.
De Klerk noted that over the past 18 years SA had fared best when pursuing “pragmatic policies”, even achieving a debt-to-GDP ratio of just 23 percent at one point. But SA was at its worst when it allowed ideology to determine the course.
“We cannot afford to go back to ideologies whereby individual job opportunities and career advancements are once again determined by race. We cannot accept an ideology that identifies some of us as colonialists and outsiders, while others are seen as central to our national identity. And we should not tolerate the remnants of an ideology that sees people as superior or inferior on the basis of race,” he said.
He said his comments were largely in response to calls by President Jacob Zuma for all citizens to engage in a national dialogue about SA’s future.
The enormous challenges included: empowering children through quality education; restoring the dignity of the unemployed 35 percent; and “above all,to strive for equality by ensuring that all citizens – not just the richest 30 percent or 40 percent – benefit from our new democracy”. - Political Bureau
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Ashley, wrote
Ashley, wrote
De Klerk didnt sell anyone out. And this man deserves alot more respect from Black people aswell, You call him the last "apartient presedent" De Klerk had more to do with the END of aparteit than Mandela himself, and brought reason, freedom, and sanity back to an otherwised brainwashed (by his predesessors) nation.
badballie, wrote
Mr. De Klerk the last time you called for "national dialogue" we were plunged into 18 years of legalized theft, dictatorial policies and genocide of white population members, who in their right mind will listen to anything you have to say now. You and your party have caused enough trouble already don't you think?
BeeGee, wrote
@Jason Ferguson.Any chance of getting some free football tickets from your brother?(Man.U.Coach)
Joseph, wrote
Anonymous, wrote
I cant believe this man is given a platform to speak after apartheid no wonder black people want to get these people back...Honestly IOL really thanks for taking me back to the days of apartheid thanks a lot
Anonymous, wrote
We as a society shouldn't be enforcing discrimation policies anymore. It's a blunt tool,it just perpetuates race defined underclasses,with an elitist upper class. We should be looking at all disadvantaged and asking how we can prevent this from happening. We see the scourge of HIV, how we could have responded better to the pandemic. We have other huge challenges too. Like an age-skewed population bubble. See the huge amount of people especially youth we failed to properly train and never taught them discipline. We should adress that issue urgently. We should look at other developing economies,see what they do right.If it means a massive, comprehensive effort to eliminate poverty,to fight the social ills in our country,then it must be done.de Klerk is so right.It will be a bold move for government to abandon discrimination and to go back to Anc principles of non-racialism.I am speaking as a person who lost a lot in the apartheid era.No amount of reverse discrimination can solv some issues now
ceebee, wrote
De Klerk did sell out, but he underestimated the stupidity and greed of the ANC. We should go back to 1994 to solve the problems of corruption, theft, fraud, racism and incompetence imposed on us by the ANC.
PAPAITU, wrote
I FW De Klerk could be addressed as former Apartheid president, just like as JUJU addressed as " the suspended ANCYL leader.
Butterfly, wrote
Cry our beloved country...... a little too late I'm afraid.....this country is not a democracy any longer it is a dictatorship! funny how history repeats itself!!
Anonymous, wrote
De Klerk, it is to late now to turn around on what you should have done in 1994. It is too late you sold us out. Is he still in the country?
Anonymous, wrote
It would also help if the president was rather a well-liked , well-educated and respected woman, instead of a morally and financially corrupt popularist
aNON el politico, wrote
@jason ferguson....have you been absent from class. it may have escaped your attention that whites are not allowed to participate in building a non racial society, that whites are continuously blamed for every ill black perceive limits them, whites are continuously called insulting names as this is termed 'customary' black language, that whites are not accepted as africans in their own country but continuously referred to as those 'boat people' when in fact all people of south africa including blacks are settlers - do you maybe think that is why whites have tended to withdraw? there is everything wrong with ideology especially where it is race based and centred around cadres deployment. sorry jason, SA needs to work as one unit irrespective of our differences and to dismiss those who disagree with your ideology and instruct them to look to other shores epitomise the intolerance sweeping this country, the inability to accept skilled people delivering the services that this country needs unless they're black and anc connected. sorry jason but class was not dismissed, come back.
on_meth, wrote
Guess who , wrote
@Rascal and Goro The president is making sense. The classes are set for gain purposes.Malema he is trying to combat where he is the same battle and he is fighting painted a clown. There are individuals of whom their generation work as a result of classes so it is cold war if you are informed it make sense
Don, wrote
Juan, wrote
Anonymous, wrote
With all due Respect leadership, I think if we are to live in Democratic country. the notion of party winning by 2 third majority is not democracy. a change in leadership for Next five year is essential for SA democracy. as African Male, I admire Mr de Klerk and still believe his input to National Development Plan can changeaffect the future of SA. “We cannot afford to go back to ideologies whereby individual job opportunities and career advancements are once again determined by race. We cannot accept an ideology that identifies some of us as colonialists and outsiders, while others are seen as central to our national identity. And we should not tolerate the remnants of an ideology that sees people as superior or inferior on the basis of race,” he said. Mark that space SA?
Godfrey, wrote
With all due Respect leadership, I think if we are to live in Democratic country. the notion of party winning by 2 third majority is not democracy. a change in leadership for Next five year is essential for SA democracy. as African Male, I admire Mr de Klerk and still believe his input to National Development Plan can changeaffect the future of SA. “We cannot afford to go back to ideologies whereby individual job opportunities and career advancements are once again determined by race. We cannot accept an ideology that identifies some of us as colonialists and outsiders, while others are seen as central to our national identity. And we should not tolerate the remnants of an ideology that sees people as superior or inferior on the basis of race,” he said. Mark that space SA?
Jason Ferguson, wrote
I hope that De Klerk is also adressing his fellow whites in his comments. Whites have changed very little in their racists attitutes. In fact it is getting worst. There has been no attemt by them to help the people affected by apartheid. Life just carried on for them. As I person of colour I have noticed whites isolating themselves from their felloe country men. South Africa need all its citizens to do well. There is nothing wrong with ideology. Perhaps if all political parties had clear ideologies South Africans will know what they get when they vote. The ANC is black party with know idea where it wants to take the country. The DA is white party wanting to be all things to all men. It is time to draw clear lines to give the country a definite direction. Those who want to leave the country we can then wave goodbye while the rest of us work together
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