- Title: SOUTH AFRICA: 20th anniversary of speech that ended apartheid is marked
- Date: 3rd February 2010
- Summary: ***FLASH PHOTOGRAPHY*** CAPE TOWN, SOUTH AFRICA (FEBRUARY 02, 2010) (REUTERS) SEMINAR PRESENTED BY FORMER SOUTH AFRICAN PRESIDENT FW DE KLERK FW DE KLERK AT PODIUM POLITICIAN AND FORMER NATIONAL PARTY MEMBER, ROELF MEYER, LISTENING (SOUNDBITE) (English) FORMER SOUTH AFRICAN PRESIDENT, FW DE KLERK SAYING "It is true that historians will regard the beginning of February 1990 as the watershed of South Africa's modern history. There were many events that opened the way to that speech which we delivered on the 2nd of February 1990. However, the nine days between it and the release of Mr Nelson Mandela on 11th February, changed South Africa forever. Those crucial nine days, set the country irreversibly on the road to a different, and I believe, a much better future." VARIOUS OF DIPLOMAT AND FORMER SOUTH AFRICAN FOREIGN MINISTER, PIK BOTHA, LISTENING AND READING BOOKLET (SOUNDBITE) (English) FORMER SOUTH AFRICAN PRESIDENT, FW DE KLERK SAYING "The reality is that have we not grasped the transformation initiative when we did in February 1990, South Africa would soon have been completely isolated in the international community. Our international trade would have ground to a halt. We would have been confronted by escalating conflict on our borders and in our townships. We would, no doubt, have been able to maintain control for many years, but under increasingly grim and unacceptable circumstances." FW DE KLERK JOKES WITH PRESIDENT OF INKATHA FREEDOM PARTY (IFP), MANGOSOTHU BUTHELEZI AS THEY WALK OFF (SOUNDBITE) (English) PRESIDENT OF INKATHA FREEDOM PARTY (IFP), MANGOSOTHU BUTHELEZI SAYING "I couldn't believe it, I was very excited, without having to blow my own horn, as the Americans would say, I also had campaigned for Mr Mandela's release, more that any other president in South Africa. I had rallies for him, you know, we exchanged letters. If you read the book, "A prisoner in the garden", you would see the letters we exchanged. I'm very close, even socially with him (Nelson Mandela)." (SOUNDBITE) (English) FORMER SOUTH AFRICAN PRESIDENT, FW DE KLERK SAYING "I believed in what I was doing. I was a bit concerned about the possibility of afterwards and a reaction which might lead to some form of anarchy or chaos, but we also but we also took precautions in that regard so I actually felt I was doing the right thing, believing in it and the concerns was manageable." FW DE KLERK SHAKING HANDS WITH FORMER CHIEF JUSTICE OF THE CONSTITUTIONAL COURT OF SOUTH AFRICA, JUDGE PIUS LANGA
- Embargoed: 18th February 2010 12:00
- Keywords:
- Location: South Africa
- Country: South Africa
- Topics: History,Domestic Politics
- Reuters ID: LVA1ZT72AA213KI18ZAPOH9OAV21
- Story Text: "I wish to put it plainly, that the government has taken a firm decision to release Mr Mandela unconditionally. I'm serious about bringing this matter to finality without delay, said Former President De Klerk, 20 year ago.
Tuesday (February 2) marks the 20th anniversary of former President FW de Klerk's historic announcement and unbanning of the African National Congress (ANC), and other liberation movements, which was followed by the freeing of Nelson Mandela and other political prisoners.
Mandela was released on 11 February 1990, from Victor Vester Prison. Thousands of ANC supporters had gathered around the prison to catch a glimpse of him as he walked oot of prison, walking side by side with his former wife Winnie Madikizela Mandela.
Nelson Mandela's release and the unbaning of liberation movements led to South Africa's first democratic election in 1994, in which Nelson Mandela was elected as the country's first democratic President.
Addressing guests at a commemoration meeting in Cape Town's Civic Centre on Tuesday (February 2), former President FW De Klerk said historians regarded the beginning of February 1990 as the watershed of South Africa's modern history.
In attendance, with some apocalyptic views of the dire threats that face the fragile democracy in South Africa, was Helen Zille, the leader of the Democratic Alliance and Premier of the Western Cape and President of the Inkhata Freedom Party, Mangosothu Buthelezi.
Other speakers included former chief justice Pius Langa, Bobby Godsell, former chairperson of Eskom, and Baroness Chalker, former British cabinet minister.
"It is true that historians will regard the beginning of February 1990 as the watershed of South Africa's modern history. There were many events that opened the way to that speech which we delivered on the 2nd of February 1990. However, the nine days between it and the release of Mr Nelson Mandela on 11th February, changed South Africa forever. Those crucial nine days, set the country irreversibly on the road to a different, and I believe, a much better future," said De Klerk.
He recalled how his speech, announcement shook the nation and stunned those sitting on opposition benches.
Leader of the IFP, Inkatha Freedom Party , Prince Mangosuthu Buthelezi said that, he was very excited and he could not believe, the announcement at the time.
"I couldn't believe it, I was very excited, without having to blow my own horn, as the Americans would say, I also had campaigned for Mr Mandela's release, more that any other president in South Africa. I had rallies for him, you know, we exchanged letters. If you read the book, "A prisoner in the garden", you would see the letters we exchanged. I'm very close, even socially with him (Nelson Mandela), " said Buthelezi.
Parliament is expected to commemorate Mandela's release on the 11th Feb 2010, which will be marked by a state of the nation address by President Jacob Zuma. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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