F. W. de Klerk, the last white President of South Africa has died, aged 85.

Klerk freed Mandela, almost three decades after the freedom fighter was locked up in the aftermath of the Rivonia Trial. 

In the penultimate Chapter of his Autobiography, ‘Long Walk to Freedom,’ (Talking With the Enemy) Mandela presents de Klerk to readers as an agent of change. 

Permit me to bring in some quotes.

Chapter 99 of the book begins with Klerk, as President, standing in Parliament to make a traditional opening speech.

Mandela writes: “…In dramatic fashion, Mr de Klerk announced the lifting of the bans on the ANC, the PAC…and the lifting of various restrictions imposed by the State of Emergency. ‘The time for negotiation has arrived,’ he [Klerk] said.”

“It was a breathtaking moment, for in one sweeping action, he had virtually normalized the situation in South Africa. Our world had changed overnight…” (emphasis mine)

Rolihlahla further rejoices that identifying as a member of the ANC was thence decriminalized with a singular action, and political will of one leader, de Klerk.

The February 2, 1990 decision of de Klerk has proven to be an indictment on the cosmetic approach to to governance our generation has experienced on the continent from bellyful gerontocratic leaders. 

Case in point is the unwillingness of the government to reform legal education despite years of criticism from students and other advocates. Indeed, since 2012, attempts have been made at reforms—such attempts are however, lacking of the political will displayed by de Klerk when he freed Mandela unconditionally.

The way to wholly and effectively reform legal education has been widely espoused by the learned Kwaku Azar and I don’t seek to go into that. The reforms sort by progressive stakeholders in this debate can be achieved “in one sweeping action,” amendment of Act 32.

The rather sorry proposal from the AG to the GLC on the way forward on the 499 students is certainly not a sustainable way of running the sector or a country for the matter. 

Only leaders who dare to toe the steps of de Klerk can stand the test of time. History hath shewn that oppressors cannot outlast the struggle, victory can only be delayed, not denied.

OKA

Source - Oswald Azumah