FW just rubs salt into SA’s old wounds

FW de Klerk’s insensitive comments have opened up the pain of the past, writes Mohamed Saeed.

The statements by SA’s last apartheid-era president, FW de Klerk, that apartheid was Soviet-era propaganda, was not a crime against humanity and that apartheid cannot be equated with genocide, debase the sufferings of the millions of victims who have been targets of the repressive system.

De Klerk’s immoral argument that the thousands of human beings displaced, tortured, murdered and marginalised under apartheid cannot reasonably be compared to the millions systematically killed by the Nazis during the World War II, is wrong and cold. By adding that more black people were killed by other black people than by the National Party rubs more salt into the wound.

De Klerk’s ensuing reaction to his denial that apartheid was a crime against humanity should not be stomached. His cold-hearted classification of apartheid will not put food on the table of the masses and bring about the desired transformations. Political parties, parliamentarians and human rights activist should remain focused with the reconciliation and healing process on correcting the injustices that came with apartheid.

Sadly, De Klerk’s insensitive comments have opened up old wounds and pain for South Africans. Together with the Nelson Mandela Foundation and other ubuntu programs, his foundation needs to find an amicable and rational process to manage the repercussions and foster healing and nation-building.