STATEMENT: FW DE KLERK TALKS ABOUT SOUTH AFRICA’S PAST, PRESENT AND FUTURE
2013-09-17
In a speech on 13 September 2013 at the Nedbank SA Charity Golf Day at Foxhills resort in England, FW de Klerk shared his views on South Africa’s past, present and future.
He said that he could recall no time since 1994 when so many South Africans had been so despondent. He added that “we should remember 1994 – not only because it was the birth of our new society – but because it provides an important reminder that we South Africans have the ability to solve even the most intractable problems”.
I have never, in my entire life, had even a puff of a cigarette. True, I did smoke a cigar 29 years ago when my son was born – but like Bill Clinton I did not inhale. Although I dislike smoking I am fairly tolerant of those who are addicted to tobacco (I have little choice since my wife enjoys the occasional cigarette). Nevertheless, I am happy that people may no longer smoke in planes, restaurants and other public places. I also believe that government should be commended for its vigorous anti-smoking campaign – which has cut smoking by 50% in the past 20 years.
The deepening turmoil in Egypt provides some sharp lessons on the potential pitfalls of winner‐takes-‐all democracy in deeply divided societies. Democracy is in essence a convention in terms of which competition for political power is resolved by elections - rather than by violence. Participants agree that the party or parties that win the election can form the government and rule the country for a prescribed period until the next election.
This year ‐ on 30 July - we celebrate International Day of Friendship. The day is based not only on the recognition of friendship in the general sense but also the relevance and importance that friendship is something more and noble, and embodies a valuable sentiment in the lives of human beings around the world.
I have learned with great sadness of the death of former Chief Justice Pius Langa and would like to convey my sincere condolences to his family and friends. As one of the first Judges appointed to our Constitutional Court after 1994 -‐ and later in the key role of Chief Justice from 2005 until his retirement in 2009 - Justice Langa played a crucial role in laying the foundations for our young constitutional democracy and continued to promote the integrity and independence of the judiciary as a cornerstone of our democracy.
In keeping with this year’s theme of: “Take action; inspire change; make every day a Mandela Day”, staff of the FW de Klerk Foundation will be donating 67 minutes of their time to a community project in Cloetesville, Stellenbosch.
Nelson Mandela is approaching the end of the long walk that he began 95 years ago in Qunu. On his birthday we should commemorate the remarkable contributionthat he has made to South Africa and to all its people.
Mr FW de Klerk and his wife Elita have decided to suspend their current working visit and holiday in Europe because of Mr Mandela’s medical condition. They will arrive back in Cape Town tomorrow. Their thoughts are with the Mandela family during this difficult time and they join in their prayers for an improvement in Mr Mandela’s health. 
In a rambling statement earlier today, ANC spokesman Jackson Mthembu took issue with critics of President Zuma. Mr Mthembu was angry about allegations that there are elements within the ANC who fear the President; that President Zuma is beholden to those who supported him when he was accused of corruption; and charges that critics “cannot even wait for the Public Protector and other respected institutions created by our constitution to investigate and make public their findings regarding the Nkandla allegations”.