FW de Klerk, Nobel laureate
Nelson Mandela and FW de Klerk both won the Nobel Peace Prize in 1993.
The Nobel Committee honored them “for their work in the peaceful termination of the apartheid regime and for laying the foundations for a new democratic South Africa.”
Celebrated by both Blacks and Whites
Recently, VIPs of all races gathered to celebrate FW de Klerk’s 70th birthday (March 18). While he was president of Apartheid South Africa, nobody could have imagined such an occasion.
Yet, the 200 guests – who heaped unbridled praise on de Klerk – spanned the full spectrum of the new South Africa. They included
- ANC ministers,
- National Party (Apartheid) members,
- leading white businessmen,
- former prisoners from Robben Island, including Tito Mboweni, now the governor of the Reserve Bank, and Tokyo Sexwale, the country’s first black billionaire,
- fellow Nobel Peace Prize winner Bishop Desmond Tutu, and
- current President Thabo Mbeki.
No doubt, the cherry on the cake was seeing his successor, Nelson Mandela, singing his praises as well:
Around the world, people recognise you as a historic peacemaker and nation-builder.
From apartheid to democracy
This gathering was a sublime confirmation of South Africa’s seamless transition South Africa from apartheid to democracy. But it was a proud vindication of Black rule.
Indeed, the most noteworthy praise on this august occasion was that de Klerk heaped on his Black guests. He remarked on the unprecedented growth and international prestige South Africa is enjoying under their leadership.
Here’s a snippet of his gracious—yet ironic—birthday speech:
Despite our problems, things are going far better than even the wildest optimists would have predicted in 1989 or 1990. … Our economy is booming thanks to the wise macro-economic policies that the government has implemented; inter-racial relations are, on the whole, quite good; we have an excellent constitution and free institutions and we are internationally respected. …
Warts and all, South Africa today is a much better place than it would have been…if the National Party had tried to cling to power.
Happy Birthday, F W!
Michelle says
Hi Anthony
Boy who would’ve thunk it! This is a pretty amazing tribute. I had no idea things had come this far along.
BTW: What’s the latest with that rape trial for the vice president?
Richard says
This really is incredible. The fact that this country is in better shape with blacks in charge than it was when whites ran things and treated them like slaves just proves what a fraud apartheid was and how stupid and self-destructive racism is.