Skeletons and witch hunts

Last Thursday, 27 April, South Africa commemorated the change in 1994 to a new constitution, new government and general suffrage for all South Africans. Lofty speeches and all those proper things and then came this one from Archbishop Desmond Tutu, who chaired the Truth and Reconciliation Commission: White people often do not appreciate the extent of the grace and forgiveness shown to them by the black people of South Africa [BBC News]. The implication was that white people somehow keep things business as usual while the black community has to make do with what they have.

Some white people took offence to his remarks. One of them, the last white president and Nobel laureate, FW de Klerk, spoke out stating that black people should more appreciate the fact that white people surrendered power and continued enormously to contribute to the wealth of South Africa. In an article published in a South African Sunday newspaper, Mr de Klerk defended the last white government against some of the latest allegations. Earlier in an article published in the Wall Street Journal, Mr de Klerk had remarked that many white South African were feeling increasingly alienated [FW Foundation] in their own country by some actions of the government.

All the above posturing has to do with some stormy clouds of an impending witch hunt that have raised their ominous heads over the plains of South Africa. There have been calls to investigate previous presidents, including Mr de Klerk and Mr P.W. Botha and their members of government for corruption. In stark contrast, Mr Nelson Mandela lauded Mr de Klerk this past weekend for his courage in leading white South Africa towards change. Still, somewhere in some closets there are a few skeletons that may just come out clattering upon opening.

The true destiny and prospects of South Africa are as ever still in the balance. There are strong undercurrents of potentially devastating turmoil under the surface of apparent growth and stability. The spectre of a meltdown is much less than 10 years ago. However, there are signs of building unrest and pressure from within the black community for a lack of real improvement in their daily living conditions. And there is still some resentment over the past that had not been buried, only postponed - mostly because of Mr Mandela's calming influence. But his time is in its twilight and after him, who knows?