SA at racial crossroads: De Klerk

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be.plato

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Cape Town - South Africa was at the crossroads between moving in a racially divisive direction or a pragmatic, inclusive path under the ruling ANC, former president FW de Klerk said on Saturday.

"Are we still at the tipping point? I think we're still at the crossroads," De Klerk, South Africa's last apartheid leader, told a conference organised by his foundation.

"Time will tell which of these tendencies will win out in the end. Time will tell which of these two conflicting approaches will have the victory within the internal debate of the ANC."

A policy to narrow still gaping inequalities as part of what the ANC calls its national democratic revolution would result in an "increasingly ideological and racially divisive path", De Klerk said.

But the party has also given the nod to a comprehensive development plan with proposals for addressing the country's challenges.

This, De Klerk said, offered a "pragmatic, inclusive and rational basis for discussions about our future".

Blaming apartheid

De Klerk said President Jacob Zuma leaned in both directions in a speech last month.

"It opened with repeated and inflammatory references to the depredations of apartheid which appeared to be considerably consciously aimed at stirring up racial grievances and more insistent demands for restitution," he said.

The racist legacy was also blamed for poverty, inequality and joblessness, and not the policies and actions of the past 18 years of democracy, he added.

However, he said Zuma had also urged pragmatic steps, such as defending the constitution, vigilance against corruption and uniting behind the development plan, which has been adopted as "the primary blueprint for the future".

De Klerk released Nelson Mandela from 27 years of prison in 1990, four years before the anti-apartheid hero became South Africa's first black president.
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We've taken the wrong fork already, IMO.

Backtracking might be possible, but the loss of face for ANC makes it unlikely.
 
Budza said:
We've taken the wrong fork already, IMO.

Backtracking might be possible, but the loss of face for ANC makes it unlikely.
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They would rather drag us into anarchy, destruction, and wanton mass looting.
 
Garson007 said:
Does he ever stop opening his mouth? Same **** every few months.
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At least he still cares enough to speak out.

Where's Nelson Mandela's opinion on what SA is turning into?
 
Sinbad said:
I would prefer to hear it from his own mouth. If he is, then I have lost all respect for him.
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Mandela has been very quite of late.

personally, I think the ANC will always run this government and secondly, we may look like Zim in a few years if something drastic doesn't change.
 
Too old for what?

I'm pretty sure he still keeps up with what is happening in this country - on top of that, I am sure he has his own views on the state of RSA too. Why not voice it?

Would mean a lot more coming from him, than De klerk.
 
Tander said:
Too old for what?

I'm pretty sure he still keeps up with what is happening in this country - on top of that, I am sure he has his own views on the state of RSA too. Why not voice it?

Would mean a lot more coming from him, than De klerk.
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He's 94 (compared to de Klerk's 76) and looking at the state he was in 3 years ago I wouldn't think he's in a situation to make any comments.

Stop looking to Mandela to fix problems.
 
You know as I was typing that, the same thought crossed my mind. I think " in a few years" is a relative term. Maybe, "in a few decades time" would be a better term?

Either way, I see us on a downward spiral and not an upward one.
 
2012 said:
He's 94 (compared to de Klerk's 76) and looking at the state he was in 3 years ago I wouldn't think he's in a situation to make any comments.

Stop looking to Mandela to fix problems.
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I'm not looking to him - he can't help us - he can but only inspire those who can make a difference, to do so.

The only hope for us, is getting rid of the current government. Until that changes, nothing will.
 
Tander said:
Too old for what?

I'm pretty sure he still keeps up with what is happening in this country - on top of that, I am sure he has his own views on the state of RSA too. Why not voice it?

Would mean a lot more coming from him, than De klerk.
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Mandela wanted to speak out, but his caretakers advised against it, because of his health and age.
He simply can't actively help anymore, the worst part is people are forgetting his legacy, his actual teachings. The ANC is doing the exact opposite of what he taught them to do.
 
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HideInLight said:
Mandela wanted to speak out, but his caretakers advised against it, because of his health and age.
He simply can't actively help anymore, the worst part is people are forgetting his legacy, his actual teachings. The ANC is doing the exact opposite of what he taught them to do.
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How strenuous is a statement? Sounds like bull**** to me. His caretakers have a political agenda obviously.
 
Tander said:
Either way, I see us on a downward spiral and not an upward one.
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Can you please explain to me how a decreasing GINI coefficient, an increasing HDI coefficient and a growing PPP GDP per capita is indicative of a downwards spiral?
 
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