The recent sledging between former president FW de Klerk and [UDM leader Bantu] Holomisa in the media regarding the former's part in apartheid atrocities shows that the TRC did not achieve what it was mandated to do. Its role was to unearth wrongs of the past so that we could move forward as one nation and forget the pains we inflicted on each other.
The recent sledging between former president FW de Klerk and [UDM leader Bantu] Holomisa in the media regarding the former's part in apartheid atrocities shows that the TRC did not achieve what it was mandated to do. Its role was to unearth wrongs of the past so that we could move forward as one nation and forget the pains we inflicted on each other.
After achieving democracy without a civil war like many countries in Africa and the Middle East, we were the envy of the world. Now we are on the verge of losing that respect because of the NPA's decision to prosecute Adrian Vlok and Johann van der Merwe.
Applying punitive instead of restorative justice, was always a problem because those found guilty never want to go down alone. Names of prominent people are bound to pop up as the blame game continues. We will never find closure if we go on a witch hunt.
We must find a solution. Let's get to the truth without dragging former leaders to court.
This will do a lot of harm to our hard-won democracy. Let's not give our detractors an opportunity to associate us with Africa's failed governments. We are currently regarded as a model African country. The 2010 World Cup is just one example of how highly the international community regards South Africa.
Stephen Ntsoane, Soshanguve
Nurture our democracy
The recent sledging between former president FW de Klerk and [UDM leader Bantu] Holomisa in the media regarding the former's part in apartheid atrocities shows that the TRC did not achieve what it was mandated to do. Its role was to unearth wrongs of the past so that we could move forward as one nation and forget the pains we inflicted on each other.
The recent sledging between former president FW de Klerk and [UDM leader Bantu] Holomisa in the media regarding the former's part in apartheid atrocities shows that the TRC did not achieve what it was mandated to do. Its role was to unearth wrongs of the past so that we could move forward as one nation and forget the pains we inflicted on each other.
After achieving democracy without a civil war like many countries in Africa and the Middle East, we were the envy of the world. Now we are on the verge of losing that respect because of the NPA's decision to prosecute Adrian Vlok and Johann van der Merwe.
Applying punitive instead of restorative justice, was always a problem because those found guilty never want to go down alone. Names of prominent people are bound to pop up as the blame game continues. We will never find closure if we go on a witch hunt.
We must find a solution. Let's get to the truth without dragging former leaders to court.
This will do a lot of harm to our hard-won democracy. Let's not give our detractors an opportunity to associate us with Africa's failed governments. We are currently regarded as a model African country. The 2010 World Cup is just one example of how highly the international community regards South Africa.
Stephen Ntsoane, Soshanguve