Turmoil in South Africa over FW de Klerk’s denial of apartheid as crime against humanity

On February 2, during an interview with the South African Broadcasting Corporation (SABC), former South African President FW de Klerk stated, “the idea that apartheid was a crime against humanity was and remains an agitprop project initiated by the Soviets and their ANC/SACP allies to stigmatize white South Africans […]”.

INCREASED TENSION

South African civil society promptly condemned FW de Klerk’s statement asking for his sincere repentance.

In the attempt to stem the public displays of rage over his statement, a fortnight later FW de Klerk made a public apology to the South African people disavowing what he had previously declared and admitting that his stance on apartheid had been “totally unacceptable”.

De Klerk’s statement has indeed brought out several socio-political and economic issues, which have plagued South African society since the end of the apartheid regime.

In the last two decades tensions between South Africa’s white minority and its black majority have increased due to economic reasons: political factions such as the African National Congress (ANC) and the Economic Freedom Fighters (EEF) have often blamed the apartheid regime for South Africa’s slow economic development.

However, the truth seems to be that since 1994 South African parties in power have preferred to criticize the “white inheritance” rather than to admit their inability to tackle the high levels of corruption and poverty in the country. 

SOUTH AFRICANS’ REACTION TO FW DE KLERK’S STATEMENT

On the crime of apartheid, article 7 of the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court (2002) states that, “the ‘crime of apartheid’ means inhumane acts […] committed in the context of an institutionalized regime of systemic oppression and domination by one racial group over any other racial group […]”.

When it comes to South Africa, the Rome Statute’s definition of apartheid perfectly describes the condition of black people—and that of other ethnic minorities—living in the country in the period 1948-1991. 

Shocked by the former South African President’s statement, figures such as Philippe Sands (legal expert, QC) and Thabo Mbeki (another former South African President) strongly criticized de Klerk’s deplorable standpoint in that “it is unarguable […] to claim today that apartheid is not […] a ‘crime against humanity’”.

Through its spokesman, Pule Mabe, the ANC accused de Klerk of “undermining the foundation of our (South African) democracy” and of hence hindering the realization of South Africa’s nation-building project. According to the ANC, the only way South Africa could achieve reconciliation between its different ethnic groups would be through mutual respect and sincere collaboration, which also includes the white minority’s acknowledgment of apartheid as a crime against humanity.

Siding with the ANC, the Desmond & Leah Tutu’s Foundation stated, “it is incumbent on leaders […] of the white community, in particular, to demonstrate the courage, […] and compassion necessary to contribute to societal healing”.

ASPIRING FOR SOCIETAL HEALING

The Foundation’s emphasis on “societal healing” is consistent with Archbishop Desmond Tutu’s moral ethics. Indeed, since the end of the apartheid regime, and the establishment of the South African Truth and Reconciliation Committee (TRC), Desmond Tutu promoted the importance of societal healing for the South African people, defining “social harmony” the greatest desirable good to which every nation should aspire.

In contrast to what Desmond Tutu hoped for, however, South Africans’ heated debate over FW de Klerk’s statement threatens to build even more resentment within the South African society, hence strengthening the black community’s perception that the white minority still has not been held accountable for all the crimes committed in the past.

Andrea Baldessari.jpg

Andrea has recently completed the ‘M.A.S. in Transitional Justice, Human Rights and the Rule of Law’ from Geneva Academy of International Humanitarian Law and Human Rights, a MA of Global Affairs & Policy (PIC)’ from Yonsei University, South Korea, and a BA of Korean Language, Culture and Society from Ca’ Foscari University, Italy. She has worked at Seoul based NGO 'Human Asia' as a human rights intern. She is passionate about social justice, public health, human rights and the rule of law.

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