The passing of FW de Klerk recently can’t go without comment provided the man was a man and a half so to speak. For those who remember how he transformed South Africa for consenting to the abolishment of Apartheid, will agree with us that the man needs accolades and a sound dirge. Despite being a horribly deplorable and despicable system of management of state business, Apartheid had good and bad people in its ranks. Frederik Wilhelm “FW” de Klerk (18th March 1936-11th November 2021), the last Prime Minister of South African Apartheid, and the vice president of the transition government that saw a democratically-elected government in South Africa in 1994 is one of those who managed Apartheid. De Klerk is credited for having helped in pulling down the Apartheid regime in South Africa. This act gives him a credit of being a creative manager who constructively turned the waves against Apartheid so as to win a place in the club of a few best African managers of the business of the state.
However, it must be noted; de Klerk had to make a U-turn to reach his success as a manager of state business. Such undertakings needed a risk taker and a visionary altogether. For the person who was born and raised under such a system that inculcated fear of indigenous among Boers, arguably, taking such measures needed extra abilities of visualising and conceptualising the future of the country. It needed a person who didn’t look at his personal gains but the one who looked at larger interests of the country. De clerk is essentially an exception to the general rule vis-à-vis good management of state business and democracy. Notwithstanding, from Nyerere (Ujamaa), Kaunda (Humanism), Khama (Paso ya batho or rule of the people), and many more whose administrations were shaped by their environment, de Klerk came from a dictatorial and racist background that he later successfully defeated and completely destroyed. This gives him kudos as liberalist who evolved from a conservative society.
For any person to escape such socially encapsulating captivity, entrapment and lulls of her or his past, such a person really needs extra efforts and soul-searching that, nonetheless, many don’t have. If anything, this is the same situation de Klerk encountered when he’s trying to agree with the ANC to abandon Apartheid once and for all. To get a glimpse of who de Klerk actually was, we need to delve into his history without forgetting the politics, geopolitics and realpolitik of the time whereby the cold war was officially coming to its end. One can argue that de Klerk was a quick learner who saw it coming. Thus, he skillfully and successfully avoided it so as to end up making history along doyens such as Mandela, and his comrades. Either way, de Klerk had the tools, discretionary power, and support to either derail or execute the process. He, however, chose to be part and parcel of a noble history of Africa as far as Apartheid and liberation of South Africa are concerned.
Again, taking such measures did not only need a sage and a quick apprentice but also a person who believes in what he does. Yet again, who is de Klerk? FW de Klerk was born and bled under ultra-Afrikaner nationalist society wherein segregation and racism were the only means of safeguarding the interests of the noble and superior white invaders or Boers. By all standards, de Klerk wasn’t a simple and light person vis-à-vis Apartheid history and machinery as an educated person, lawyer and leader. He’s a heavyweight who’s a very product of this system despite its brutality and illogicality; that he later courageously and heroically helped to pull down. He’s one of a few privileged and the product of the system he’s born to benefit from and defend.
Importantly, as said above, after a long soul-searching rooted in the vision of the new future South Africa that would accommodate all South Africans equally and equitably though theoretically, de Klerk decided to read the writing on the wall. Certainly, de Klerk was arguably still a hawk yet during the last years of Apartheid. Like a Biblical Paul, it can be argued that de Klerk saw the light; and heard and heeded the voice so as to eminently secure a niche in the list of the best managers Africa has ever had despite his dark past under Apartheid. De Klerk is credited for being behind the destruction of nuclear weaponry that the West had given South Africa as symbol and tool of power it’d use to intimidate others in the region. Sometimes, I wonder; what’d have happened if de Klerk and Mandela were born in the Middle East.
If de Klerk were a chicken-hearted manager of public business, he’d have clung to nukes that he’d have used as a bargaining chip during the negotiations that brought down Apartheid; and thereby propelled South Africa to true and exceptional democracy. But he didn’t. He trusted Mandela; and their visions seem to be the same for their country. Truly, de Klerk beat swords into ploughshares vis-a-vis nukes. It is sad that countries with nuclear weapons didn’t learn from South Africa.
In sum, a few can see and do things the way de Klerk did. For a person whose bread and prestigious station in life came from the Apartheid, it was not easy or normal to cut the hands that used to feed him since he was a baby. Because of such exceptionality and heart, de Klerk will feature high in the noble history of Africa and South Africa. Fare thee well FW de Klerk and Rest in Eternal Peace.
However, it must be noted; de Klerk had to make a U-turn to reach his success as a manager of state business. Such undertakings needed a risk taker and a visionary altogether. For the person who was born and raised under such a system that inculcated fear of indigenous among Boers, arguably, taking such measures needed extra abilities of visualising and conceptualising the future of the country. It needed a person who didn’t look at his personal gains but the one who looked at larger interests of the country. De clerk is essentially an exception to the general rule vis-à-vis good management of state business and democracy. Notwithstanding, from Nyerere (Ujamaa), Kaunda (Humanism), Khama (Paso ya batho or rule of the people), and many more whose administrations were shaped by their environment, de Klerk came from a dictatorial and racist background that he later successfully defeated and completely destroyed. This gives him kudos as liberalist who evolved from a conservative society.
For any person to escape such socially encapsulating captivity, entrapment and lulls of her or his past, such a person really needs extra efforts and soul-searching that, nonetheless, many don’t have. If anything, this is the same situation de Klerk encountered when he’s trying to agree with the ANC to abandon Apartheid once and for all. To get a glimpse of who de Klerk actually was, we need to delve into his history without forgetting the politics, geopolitics and realpolitik of the time whereby the cold war was officially coming to its end. One can argue that de Klerk was a quick learner who saw it coming. Thus, he skillfully and successfully avoided it so as to end up making history along doyens such as Mandela, and his comrades. Either way, de Klerk had the tools, discretionary power, and support to either derail or execute the process. He, however, chose to be part and parcel of a noble history of Africa as far as Apartheid and liberation of South Africa are concerned.
Again, taking such measures did not only need a sage and a quick apprentice but also a person who believes in what he does. Yet again, who is de Klerk? FW de Klerk was born and bled under ultra-Afrikaner nationalist society wherein segregation and racism were the only means of safeguarding the interests of the noble and superior white invaders or Boers. By all standards, de Klerk wasn’t a simple and light person vis-à-vis Apartheid history and machinery as an educated person, lawyer and leader. He’s a heavyweight who’s a very product of this system despite its brutality and illogicality; that he later courageously and heroically helped to pull down. He’s one of a few privileged and the product of the system he’s born to benefit from and defend.
Importantly, as said above, after a long soul-searching rooted in the vision of the new future South Africa that would accommodate all South Africans equally and equitably though theoretically, de Klerk decided to read the writing on the wall. Certainly, de Klerk was arguably still a hawk yet during the last years of Apartheid. Like a Biblical Paul, it can be argued that de Klerk saw the light; and heard and heeded the voice so as to eminently secure a niche in the list of the best managers Africa has ever had despite his dark past under Apartheid. De Klerk is credited for being behind the destruction of nuclear weaponry that the West had given South Africa as symbol and tool of power it’d use to intimidate others in the region. Sometimes, I wonder; what’d have happened if de Klerk and Mandela were born in the Middle East.
If de Klerk were a chicken-hearted manager of public business, he’d have clung to nukes that he’d have used as a bargaining chip during the negotiations that brought down Apartheid; and thereby propelled South Africa to true and exceptional democracy. But he didn’t. He trusted Mandela; and their visions seem to be the same for their country. Truly, de Klerk beat swords into ploughshares vis-a-vis nukes. It is sad that countries with nuclear weapons didn’t learn from South Africa.
In sum, a few can see and do things the way de Klerk did. For a person whose bread and prestigious station in life came from the Apartheid, it was not easy or normal to cut the hands that used to feed him since he was a baby. Because of such exceptionality and heart, de Klerk will feature high in the noble history of Africa and South Africa. Fare thee well FW de Klerk and Rest in Eternal Peace.
Source: African Executive tomorrow.
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