Former president FW de Klerk has lent his support to the cooperation agreement between the African National Congress and the New National Party, warning that the country’s transition has become a one-sided affair.
Speaking in the heart of the Western Cape wineland in Stellenbosch on Monday night, De Klerk said he has always believed in the necessity of interparty cooperation in South Africa.
”There is a strong perception that our transition process has become a one-sided affair, that the legitimate concerns of some communities are not receiving proper attention, that we are moving dangerously close to a new institutionalised form of race discrimination.”
He said it could take a generation for the transition process in South Africa to end.
”I can see no early end to the transition process. It might take a generation.”
South Africa requires a special political model based on genuine cooperation and not co-option.
He said South Africa needs to move towards looking at struggling against Aids and poverty.
”Not the struggle continues … the struggle against what?”
De Klerk said he is not going to participate in campaigning in the upcoming general election.
”I’m no longer a politician, I am a voter.
”I will vote for the NNP because I want to be represented by a party which can make a difference. The stronger the NNP becomes, the greater that difference would be.”
He said he will vote for the NNP because of its policies even where it differs with the ANC on important issues.
A total of 750 people paid roughly R1 000 each to attend the banquet at Paul Roos Gymnasium in Stellenbosch where De Klerk spoke.
Women wore ball gowns and jewels while men sported dark suits. At the end of De Klerk’s address musicians played classical music as the guests sat down to a three-course meal. — Sapa
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