The former president of South Africa and last head of state under apartheid claimed that the system of racial segregation imposed in the country was not a crime against humanity in a speech last week.
Former President FW De Klerk addressed the Bondsraad at the Voortrekker Monument in Pretoria, saying that the notion apartheid was a crime against humanity is “an ‘agitprop’ project initiated by communists to stigmatise white South Africans.”
Mr de Clerk said that crimes against humanity “have generally included totalitarian repression and the slaughter of millions of people” and “by contrast, 23 000 people died in South Africa’s political violence between 1960 and 1994 - of whom fewer than 4 000 were killed by the security forces.”
Stating it was “not [his] intention to justify apartheid” and that he had “made a sincere apology before the Truth and Reconciliation Commission”, Mr de Clerk went on to reiterate that apartheid did not constitute a crime against humanity and that “unfortunately, many of our people have been strongly influenced by this deluge of criticism - to the point where they are now ashamed to call themselves Afrikaners”.
"My identity as an Afrikaner and as an Afrikaanse - are under enormous pressure," stated Mr de Clerk.
Mr de Clerk also justified his decision to implement a new constitution in the country, for which he won a Nobel Peace Prize, that saw the end of apartheid, stating “if we had not reached a settlement as soon as possible - following the collapse of the Soviet Union - the balance of forces would have inexorably - and quite quickly - shifted against us.”
“With each year that passed, our ability to secure our core interests would have weakened - which is exactly what happened to Ian Smith in Rhodesia,” he added. “Clinging to power was simply not an option.”
He went on to say that those "who think we could have secured a minority veto are deluded". "Such an outcome would have been completely unacceptable to the vast majority of South African citizens - and would never have been accepted by the international community."
See the full text of his speech here.
Former President FW De Klerk addressed the Bondsraad at the Voortrekker Monument in Pretoria, saying that the notion apartheid was a crime against humanity is “an ‘agitprop’ project initiated by communists to stigmatise white South Africans.”
Mr de Clerk said that crimes against humanity “have generally included totalitarian repression and the slaughter of millions of people” and “by contrast, 23 000 people died in South Africa’s political violence between 1960 and 1994 - of whom fewer than 4 000 were killed by the security forces.”
Stating it was “not [his] intention to justify apartheid” and that he had “made a sincere apology before the Truth and Reconciliation Commission”, Mr de Clerk went on to reiterate that apartheid did not constitute a crime against humanity and that “unfortunately, many of our people have been strongly influenced by this deluge of criticism - to the point where they are now ashamed to call themselves Afrikaners”.
"My identity as an Afrikaner and as an Afrikaanse - are under enormous pressure," stated Mr de Clerk.
Mr de Clerk also justified his decision to implement a new constitution in the country, for which he won a Nobel Peace Prize, that saw the end of apartheid, stating “if we had not reached a settlement as soon as possible - following the collapse of the Soviet Union - the balance of forces would have inexorably - and quite quickly - shifted against us.”
“With each year that passed, our ability to secure our core interests would have weakened - which is exactly what happened to Ian Smith in Rhodesia,” he added. “Clinging to power was simply not an option.”
He went on to say that those "who think we could have secured a minority veto are deluded". "Such an outcome would have been completely unacceptable to the vast majority of South African citizens - and would never have been accepted by the international community."
See the full text of his speech here.