No Racism In The Now South Africa

The fact that the African National Congress hasn’t fully [become] a political party remains a problem. We need to solve the problem of undisclosed arms caches, of Umkhonto we Sizwe, the military wing of the ANC. The continuing high level of violence has a negative effect on the whole process. The socio-economic problems-poverty, unemployment–do not stand in the way of reaching agreement on a new constitution, but they have a negative effect.

National states based on different identities are not an unacceptable solution but we have tried it and we stumbled on the fact that in South Africa people from all population groups are working together, they are interdependent economically and it is impossible to compartmentalize South Africa into so many nations.

I have taken an initiative to make it possible for the [right wing] to come to the negotiation table and present their views. They are finding all sorts of excuses [not to attend] because they don’t have a plan to put on the table. Where in South Africa, without removing millions of people, can such a white homeland be realized?

I have tried to be absolutely honest and not to have two stories–one for the white voters and one for those who don’t have a vote. You must take everybody along on the basis of what is the truth. In trying to do so I have obviously lost some support, but I’ve gained new support. There is already, with the exception of the far right, consensus that there won’t be racism in the new South Africa. I have no fears that I will lose a referendum.

A suicide plan would be a winner-takes-all situation where a majority can misuse its power and suppress minorities, however they be defined.It would be a system where a party with 51 percent of the vote will have 100 percent of the power. We stand for the type of measures built into the Constitution of the United States, where there are strong checks and balances. You have a presidency which does not have absolute power, you have strong devolution of power to the various federal states. That is the direction we need in a multicultural country.

The situation gives rise to real concern, but I do not believe that things are coming asunder in that sense. Those are growing pains, and we will have to overcome them as America had to overcome them in the early 1950s. There are enough South Africans who, irrespective of race or color, are committed to making sure that this country’s potential will be fulfilled, who will make sure we can reach an accord which can work.

title: " No Racism In The Now South Africa " ShowToc: true date: “2023-01-05” author: “Raymond Sargent”

The fact that the African National Congress hasn’t fully [become] a political party remains a problem. We need to solve the problem of undisclosed arms caches, of Umkhonto we Sizwe, the military wing of the ANC. The continuing high level of violence has a negative effect on the whole process. The socio-economic problems-poverty, unemployment–do not stand in the way of reaching agreement on a new constitution, but they have a negative effect.

National states based on different identities are not an unacceptable solution but we have tried it and we stumbled on the fact that in South Africa people from all population groups are working together, they are interdependent economically and it is impossible to compartmentalize South Africa into so many nations.

I have taken an initiative to make it possible for the [right wing] to come to the negotiation table and present their views. They are finding all sorts of excuses [not to attend] because they don’t have a plan to put on the table. Where in South Africa, without removing millions of people, can such a white homeland be realized?

I have tried to be absolutely honest and not to have two stories–one for the white voters and one for those who don’t have a vote. You must take everybody along on the basis of what is the truth. In trying to do so I have obviously lost some support, but I’ve gained new support. There is already, with the exception of the far right, consensus that there won’t be racism in the new South Africa. I have no fears that I will lose a referendum.

A suicide plan would be a winner-takes-all situation where a majority can misuse its power and suppress minorities, however they be defined.It would be a system where a party with 51 percent of the vote will have 100 percent of the power. We stand for the type of measures built into the Constitution of the United States, where there are strong checks and balances. You have a presidency which does not have absolute power, you have strong devolution of power to the various federal states. That is the direction we need in a multicultural country.

The situation gives rise to real concern, but I do not believe that things are coming asunder in that sense. Those are growing pains, and we will have to overcome them as America had to overcome them in the early 1950s. There are enough South Africans who, irrespective of race or color, are committed to making sure that this country’s potential will be fulfilled, who will make sure we can reach an accord which can work.