Our history as a nation is marked with a bitter history written by the blood of student activists/leaders who lost their lives during the liberation years. The lifeless bones of our forbearers turn in their final resting places after hearing the unfortunate sentiments shared by former (arranged) Deputy President De Klerk. His views around Apartheid are a spit on the graves of Ongkopotse Abram Tiro, Bathandwa Ndodo, Steve Biko, Tsietsi Mashinini and all other fallen student leaders who led the charge against brutal apartheid system.
SASCO is angered by De Klerk’s arrogance and ignorance of the fact that apartheid South Africa was declared crime against humanity by the United Nations convention. The snail pace of transforming our society and eradicating all colonial symbols makes people like De Klerk believe that they are still in charge and Apartheid and all that it stood for was right. We are convinced that De Klerk knew about this but being the white apartheid apologist that he is, he deliberately ignored this in order to please white liberals in our country whom are hell-bent at regrouping themselves to fight the gains of our National Democratic Revolution.
Mandela’s vision to build a rainbow nation is being undermined by characters like De Klerk who are pulling on a different direction and undermining the ideals set out in our founding document as a nation. The country is still undergoing reconciliation and nation building and therefore the sentiments shared by De Klerk undermine this process. It is unfortunate that the ANC seemed luke warm when faced with the decision to take a strong stance against De Klerk at the recent State Of the Nation Address, when a call to remove De Klerk was made in Parliament. The ANC displayed a level of hypocrisy when they denounced De Klerk’s statements post the SONA but failed to do the same in Parliament. The ANC must be more decisive in Parliament and have a clarity of thought when it comes to positions and motions moving forward. Our ANC MP’s in Parliamant seem to have reached their ceiling of thinking and steps must be made to capacitae ANC MP’s.
SASCO supports the call to Strip FW De Klerk of his Nobel peace prize award as he is not representing their ideals and all the state benefits he still receives. SASCO calls for a change of attitude in ANC not only PR exercise and lousy statements but act decisively to confront the arrogance of apartheid apologists. ANC had known 10 days prior to the SONA of the views of De Klerk yet lacked sensitivity and political foresight by still extending invitation to the SONA presentation by the President. The progressive pronouncements made by President during SONA such as building of new TVET College campuses, building of a new University and commitment to build student accommodation is clouded by the wrong image of presence of De Klerk.
The apology is characteristic of arrogant De Klerk who always wants to run away from taking responsibility like he always did during the dark days of our nation. The apology therefore does not change his attitude, the attitude of his foundation and other foundations and many others who secretly hold the same sentiments and secretly cheer in his background for having successfully captured their views. If there is any sense of punishing a sin, De Klerk does not deserve a state funeral when he ultimately dies. De Klerk does not deserve to be buried in the land of our forefathers as he will haunt and distract our ancestors from protecting our nation.
Issued SASCO NEC
Bamanye Matiwane
President
079 026 5759
Or
Buthanani Ngwane
Secretary General
073 257 5677