President Thabo Mbeki on Wednesday again dismissed suggestions that the government participate in a class action in the United States against 23 multinational corporations that did not disinvest during apartheid.
Replying to questions in the National Assembly, he said the government’s stance is primarily informed by a desire to ensure that South Africans remain fully responsible for their own programmes to rebuild the country.
South Africans understand and accept that what reparations were disbursed consequent to the recommendations of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) could only be symbolic as they could never comprehensively or adequately recompense any single person.
”The impact of white minority domination, implemented so systematically and thoroughly over many years and throughout our country, spanning virtually every facet of our lives, affected virtually all black people, and in various respects some individuals from within the white community,” he said.
”The freedom and democracy that we attained in 1994, therefore, represents the most fitting and profound reparation for those of us fortunate to have survived the nightmare.
”Freedom and democracy, and the programmes of social reconstruction and development constitute the most comprehensive response to the crime of apartheid.”
It is also recognised that individuals and communities affected by specific acts of gross human rights violations deserve specific reparations.
This was precisely what the TRC process sought to achieve — and much more still needs to be done to ensure that its recommendations, as accepted by the government and Parliament, are implemented.
The government also recognises the right of individuals or communities to pursue their specific grievances through the courts, within and outside of South Africa.
”However, for reasons that we have advanced, government has not in the past, and does not in future, intend to form part of such class actions,” he said.
The government is conscious that the legacy of colonialism and apartheid has predictably remained stubborn and will therefore take many more years to undo. ”But this is for us as a nation to undo, partnered by our supporters abroad, and not for others to decide on.
”In this regard, it is our view that actions that may in the short term benefit some individuals in our society, but have the long-term effect of generating investor uncertainty, would not be in the nation’s interest.
”At the same time, we wish to call on the business community in our country — both local and foreign — to work with us to implement programmes of reconstruction and development, as well as specific projects proposed by the TRC, the better to ensure comprehensive redress arising from the consequences of colonialism,” Mbeki said. — Sapa