Mike Berger We, the undersigned white citizens of this country, wish to unequivocally acknowledge and apologise for the harm caused by Europeans to the indigeneous inhabitants of the African continent and to all our fellow South Africans of colour. We recognise that slavery, colonialism and apartheid are part of a continuum of exploitation inflicted by Europeans, among others, on the peoples of this continent and on those brought here for their labour. We know that this process was in many instances carried out with extreme cruelty and, even when cruelty was not a deliberate policy, the systematic exploitation of centuries has disrupted traditional and functional social systems, has caused immense psychological harm and has deprived the people of this continent of the chance to compete on equal terms with those of European descent. This has led to huge pockets of extreme poverty, has brutalised social relationships and has exposed the black people of this country and this continent to the vices of Western civilisation without the corresponding benefits. All this has caused immense individual suffering which will undoubtedly persist for decades to come. We hereby pledge ourselves to work alongside our fellow citizens, irrespective of colour, ethnic origin, sexual orientation or religious belief, for the betterment of all in this country. We recognise that opinions on the best course of action will differ but undertake to remember the history of oppression borne by many of our fellow citizens and to conduct ourselves bearing that reality in mind. Many of us will also offer voluntary financial assistance to specific, non- partisan programmes designed to redress the harm of the past and to enable persons of colour to assume all the rights, privileges and responsibilities of citizenship. We pledge ourselves to combat prejudice and bigotry in our own ranks and call upon all citizens to do the same within their own communities.
We will also oppose political policies which are racially based, but will bear in mind that our history of exclusion and exploitation has led to huge inequalities in this country which deeply impair the quality and dignity of life for millions of our fellow citizens.
We undertake to explore creative and constructive ways to resolve the conflicting objectives of non-racialism and transformation. At the same time we call upon all politicians to refrain from using race, or any other divisive group identity, as a means of rallying or consolidating political support and to conduct themselves in such a way as to promote a common South African identity based upon the principles of democracy and ubuntu. We also request the public media to bear these considerations in mind when carrying out their essential tasks of critically scrutinising public and private policies and behaviour. It is clear that many of those who have signed this document have not personally participated in the exploitation of people of colour and, in some cases, have actively opposed such policies and behaviour – sometimes at considerable personal cost. Nevertheless, we all wish to assume collective responsibility for the injury caused by those of European descent on all persons of colour living on the African continent and especially in South Africa. We undertake this in order to release a new dynamic whereby all citizens of this country join together in creating a prosperous democratic state reflecting the best that African and Western civilisation can offer in terms of human dignity and quality of life.