{"id":10431,"date":"2013-09-18T07:40:51","date_gmt":"2013-09-18T07:40:51","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/praag.org\/?p=10431"},"modified":"2013-09-18T07:40:51","modified_gmt":"2013-09-18T07:40:51","slug":"five-factors-that-will-shape-sas-future-fw-de-klerk","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/praag.org\/?p=10431","title":{"rendered":"Five factors that will shape SA&#8217;s future: FW de Klerk"},"content":{"rendered":"<figure id=\"attachment_4248\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-4248\" style=\"width: 300px\" class=\"wp-caption alignleft\"><a href=\"http:\/\/praag.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/04\/fw_de_klerk1.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-medium wp-image-4248\" alt=\"FW de Klerk\" src=\"http:\/\/praag.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/04\/fw_de_klerk1-300x190.jpg\" width=\"300\" height=\"190\" srcset=\"https:\/\/praag.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/04\/fw_de_klerk1-300x190.jpg 300w, https:\/\/praag.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/04\/fw_de_klerk1.jpg 630w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 300px) 85vw, 300px\" \/><\/a><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-4248\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">FW de Klerk<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">Former President says country continues to present an anomalous picture to the world<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><b>SPEECH BY FORMER PRESIDENT FW DE KLERK FOXHILLS RESORT, ENGLAND, September 13 2013<\/b><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><b><i>SOUTH AFRICA: PAST, PRESENT AND FUTURE<\/i><\/b><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">I should like to talk about South Africa: our past, our present and our future -\u00ad\u2010 about<\/p>\n<ul style=\"text-align: justify;\">\n<li>where we have come from since the 1980s;<\/li>\n<li>where we now find ourselves; and<\/li>\n<li>where we are going.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">It is especially appropriate to do so now -\u00ad\u2010 \u00a0because I can recall no time since 1994 when so many South Africans have been so despondent.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">We should remember 1994 -\u00ad\u2010 not only because it was the birth \u00a0of \u00a0our \u00a0new \u00a0society -\u00ad\u2010 \u00a0but because it provides an important reminder \u00a0that \u00a0we \u00a0South \u00a0Africans \u00a0have \u00a0the \u00a0ability \u00a0to \u00a0solve even \u00a0the \u00a0most \u00a0intractable \u00a0problems.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">It is easy to forget now how desperate our situation was in the mid-\u00ad1980s:<\/p>\n<ul style=\"text-align: justify;\">\n<li>Our efforts to reform apartheid -\u00ad\u2010 including the scrapping of more than 100 apartheid laws and the introductions of the tricameral parliament had simply redoubled demands for &#8220;one-\u00ad\u2010man, one vote&#8221;;<\/li>\n<li>We were beset with internal unrest and increasingly violent protests;<\/li>\n<li>Scenes of chaos and \u00a0insurrection\u00a0 in our streets dominated \u00a0TV\u00a0 screens throughout the world;<\/li>\n<li>After the Rubicon speech the rand had plummeted through the floor;<\/li>\n<li>Unsure \u00a0of \u00a0the \u00a0government&#8217;s \u00a0ability \u00a0to \u00a0control \u00a0the \u00a0situation, \u00a0international \u00a0banks \u00a0had pulled the plug on us by refusing to roll over our short-\u00ad\u2010term debt;<\/li>\n<li>Demands for comprehensive economic sanctions were reaching crescendo pitch;<\/li>\n<li>Our armed forces were confronting increasing attacks on our borders and the borders of Namibia -\u00ad\u2010 attacks that were supported by 50 000 Cuban troops.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">There were no signs of light on the dark and stormy horizon.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">And yet -\u00ad\u2010 \u00a0by 1990 -\u00ad\u2010 \u00a0we had clawed our way back from the precipice.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">The victory of our forces at the battle of the Lomba River in September 1987 had finally convinced the\u00a0 Soviets, the Cubans\u00a0 and the Angolans that there\u00a0 was no\u00a0 prospect of a military victory.<\/p>\n<ul style=\"text-align: justify;\">\n<li>The \u00a0following \u00a0year \u00a0we \u00a0began \u00a0negotiations \u00a0on \u00a0the \u00a0withdrawal \u00a0of \u00a0Cuban \u00a0forces \u00a0from Angola and the parallel implementation of the UN independence process in Namibia;<\/li>\n<li>Also by 1987 the ANC had accepted that there would not be a revolutionary outcome in South Africa and that the only path to the future lay through negotiations;<\/li>\n<li>The successful independence process in Namibia in 1989 showed that it was possible to negotiate successful outcomes with enemies;<\/li>\n<li>Finally, \u00a0the \u00a0collapse \u00a0of \u00a0the \u00a0Soviet \u00a0Union -\u00ad\u2010\u00a0 \u00a0symbolized \u00a0by \u00a0the \u00a0fall \u00a0of \u00a0the \u00a0Berlin \u00a0Wall \u00a0in November, 1989 -\u00ad\u2010 \u00a0signaled the arrival of an entirely new global paradigm.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">By the beginning of 1990 these events had opened a historic window of opportunity for a peaceful and negotiated settlement. We did not hesitate. We jumped through -\u00ad\u2010 and after almost four years of roller-\u00ad\u2010coaster negotiations we were able to reach a national accord on our future.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">It was our proudest moment.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">Our 1993 and 1996 constitutions were the outcome of the genuine give and take process inherent in all negotiations. The final agreement was at least as close to original negotiating positions of the non-\u00ad\u2010ANC parties as it was to that of the ANC.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">It contains all the basic rights that we need to maintain a free and prosperous society.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">It \u00a0articulates \u00a0the \u00a0values \u00a0of \u00a0human \u00a0dignity, \u00a0equality, \u00a0fundamental \u00a0rights \u00a0and \u00a0non-\u00ad\u2010 discrimination on which the new South Africa has been established.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">It acknowledges the supremacy of the Constitution and the rule of law.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">It \u00a0makes \u00a0provision \u00a0for \u00a0all \u00a0the \u00a0institutions \u00a0and \u00a0mechanisms \u00a0that \u00a0are \u00a0necessary \u00a0for multiparty democracy based on accountability, openness and responsiveness.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">It has served us well for the past 19 years. Which brings me to the present.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">It is important to remember the many, many successes that we have achieved since 1994 -\u00ad\u2010 many of them as a result of government action:<\/p>\n<ul style=\"text-align: justify;\">\n<li>We have experienced 19 years of economic growth -\u00ad\u2010 \u00a0interrupted only briefly by the global \u00a0economic \u00a0crisis \u00a0of \u00a02008.<\/li>\n<li>The regulation of our security exchanges and our reporting standards are the best in the world;<\/li>\n<li>Our banks are the second soundest in the world and our corporate boards are the second most efficacious. Our financial services and protection of minority shareholders are third best in the world and our ability to finance local equity is the fourth best internationally.<\/li>\n<li>We are one of the primary gateways to Africa -\u00ad\u2010 \u00a0and are now the fifth largest investor in the\u00a0 \u00a0continent.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">We have also made significant social progress:<\/p>\n<ul style=\"text-align: justify;\">\n<li>The \u00a0percentage \u00a0of\u00a0 the \u00a0population \u00a0living \u00a0in \u00a0absolute \u00a0poverty\u00a0 has\u00a0 declined \u00a0to \u00a0less\u00a0 than 20% -\u00ad\u2010 \u00a0largely because of social grants.<\/li>\n<li>More than three million housing units have been built -\u00ad\u2010 \u00a0enough to house almost a quarter of the population -\u00ad\u2010 \u00a0with another million units in the pipeline;<\/li>\n<li>More than three quarters of the population now have access to electricity, drinkable water and sanitation<\/li>\n<li>We have experienced moments -\u00ad\u2010 \u00a0like the 2010 Soccer World Cup -\u00ad\u2010 \u00a0when we have lived up \u00a0to \u00a0Archbishop \u00a0Tutu&#8217;s\u00a0 characterization \u00a0of us\u00a0 as\u00a0 the \u00a0Rainbow \u00a0Nation \u00a0of\u00a0 God;<\/li>\n<li>We have seen the rapid growth of new and self-\u00ad\u2010confident black middle class. Whites now comprise less than 40% of the top decile of income earners.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">At the same time we are beset by serious problems. One can hardly disagree with \u00a0the diagnosis of the National Planning Commission regarding \u00a0the \u00a0nature \u00a0of \u00a0these \u00a0challenges. They include:<\/p>\n<ul style=\"text-align: justify;\">\n<li>High unemployment -\u00ad\u2010 \u00a0closer to 40% than the official figure of 25,6%;<\/li>\n<li>Poor education -\u00ad\u2010 \u00a0especially for black South Africans -\u00ad\u2010 \u00a0who fare badly in comparative tests with \u00a0children \u00a0from \u00a0the \u00a0poorest \u00a0African \u00a0countries;<\/li>\n<li>Poor public service delivery -\u00ad\u2010 \u00a0which has led to virtually daily protests throughout the country;<\/li>\n<li>rising levels of corruption; and<\/li>\n<li>the fact that South Africa is still a divided society.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">Another growing problem is the increasingly destructive role that is being played \u00a0by \u00a0our militant trade unions. It is one of the main causes of unemployment and of our failure to attract the foreign investment that we need for sustained economic growth:<\/p>\n<ul style=\"text-align: justify;\">\n<li>South Africa has the worst labour relations in the world. According to the World Economic Forum&#8217;s Global Competitiveness Report it is the worst of 144 countries assessed in terms of co-\u00ad\u2010operation in labour-\u00ad\u2010employer relations;<\/li>\n<li>COSATU has continuously raised labour costs without \u00a0commensurate \u00a0productivity increases -\u00ad\u2010 which has inevitably resulted in job losses. South Africa&#8217;s flexibility of wage determination is the fourth worst in the world.<\/li>\n<li>Our labour legislation is amongst the most onerous anywhere. South Africa&#8217;s hiring and firing practices are the second worst in the world.<\/li>\n<li>COSATU&#8217;s campaign to abolish labour brokers would lead to the loss of more than half a million jobs.<\/li>\n<li>COSATU has steadfastly opposed proposals to open labour markets to the unemployed.<\/li>\n<li>It\u00a0 \u00a0is\u00a0 \u00a0destroying\u00a0 \u00a0jobs\u00a0 \u00a0by\u00a0 \u00a0alienating\u00a0 \u00a0foreign\u00a0 \u00a0and\u00a0 \u00a0domestic\u00a0 \u00a0investors\u00a0 \u00a0through\u00a0 \u00a0its confrontational stance and open support for nationalisation.<\/li>\n<li>On top of all this came the Marikana massacre of 16 August last year; the subsequent wave of violent and uncontrolled wildcat strikes and hopelessly unrealistic wage demands. All this has been compounded by the precipitate fall of the rand against the US dollar.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">So South Africa continues to present an anomalous picture to the world:<\/p>\n<ul style=\"text-align: justify;\">\n<li>on \u00a0the \u00a0one \u00a0hand \u00a0a \u00a0picture \u00a0of \u00a0failing \u00a0governance; \u00a0out \u00a0of \u00a0control \u00a0trade \u00a0unions; \u00a0rising corruption and daily service delivery protests -\u00ad\u2010 and<\/li>\n<li>on \u00a0the\u00a0\u00a0 other \u00a0hand, \u00a0a \u00a0picture\u00a0\u00a0 of \u00a0economic\u00a0\u00a0 dynamism, \u00a0enormous \u00a0opportunities \u00a0and \u00a0a counter-\u00ad\u2010intuitive sense of optimism -\u00ad\u2010 \u00a0particularly in bustling Johannesburg.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">But what of the future?<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">Predicting the future is one of the most risky of all endeavours -\u00ad\u2010 since we live in such rapidly changing times. Nevertheless one can identify some of the \u00a0salient \u00a0factors \u00a0that \u00a0will undoubtedly influence the course of events:<\/p>\n<ul style=\"text-align: justify;\">\n<li>Whatever happens in South Africa will take place within the framework of macro-\u00ad\u2010 developments on the global stage -\u00ad\u2010 just as they have always done in the past;<\/li>\n<li>Secondly, current developments within the ANC&#8217;s ruling alliance will play a key role. The question is whether the leadership will be able to hold together an alliance which now encompasses the whole spectrum\n<ul>\n<li>from Stalinism to social democracy;<\/li>\n<li>from exclusive black nationalism to inclusive non-\u00ad\u2010racialism;<\/li>\n<li>from \u00a0genuine \u00a0commitment \u00a0to \u00a0sound \u00a0governance \u00a0to \u00a0pervasive \u00a0crony\u00a0 capitalism and entrenched kleptocracy?<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<ul style=\"text-align: justify;\">\n<li>Will the ANC be able to continue to plaster over these increasing obvious cracks\u00a0 \u00a0-\u00ad\u2010 \u00a0or will it\u00a0 split?<\/li>\n<li>Thirdly, will it be possible to moderate the behavior of our rampant and wildly irresponsible trade unions?<\/li>\n<li>Fourthly, will the government break away from its race-\u00ad\u2010based ideology and accept the idea that the skills of all South Africans must be used to enable the country to address its problems and achieve its potential?<\/li>\n<li>Finally, a critical factor will be our ability to maintain the excellent Constitution that we South Africans negotiated between 1990 and 1996 and the institutions that it mandates including<\/li>\n<li>free and impartial courts;<\/li>\n<li>an independent National Prosecuting Authority; and<\/li>\n<li>government that is accountable, transparent and responsive.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">So, these are the factors that will play significant roles in determining our future:<\/p>\n<ul style=\"text-align: justify;\">\n<li>What will happen on the global stage?<\/li>\n<li>What will happen within the ANC Alliance?<\/li>\n<li>Will we be able to control the trade unions?<\/li>\n<li>Will we be able to liberate ourselves from race-\u00ad\u2010based ideologies? And,<\/li>\n<li>Will we be able to uphold our Constitution and achieve the vision that it articulates?<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">Personally,\u00a0 I\u00a0 remain \u00a0an \u00a0optimist -\u00ad\u2010 \u00a0and \u00a0believe \u00a0that\u00a0 we \u00a0shall\u00a0 be \u00a0able \u00a0to \u00a0surmount\u00a0 the challenges that confront us now -\u00ad\u2010 just as we were able to overcome the \u00a0much \u00a0greater problems that we \u00a0faced \u00a025\u00a0 years ago.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><i>Issued by the FW de Klerk Foundation, September 16 2013<\/i><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Former President says country continues to present an anomalous picture to the world SPEECH BY FORMER PRESIDENT FW DE KLERK FOXHILLS RESORT, ENGLAND, September 13 2013 SOUTH AFRICA: PAST, PRESENT AND FUTURE I should like to talk about South Africa: our past, our present and our future -\u00ad\u2010 about where we have come from since &hellip; <a href=\"https:\/\/praag.org\/?p=10431\" class=\"more-link\">Continue reading<span class=\"screen-reader-text\"> &#8220;Five factors that will shape SA&#8217;s future: FW de Klerk&#8221;<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":4248,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[492],"tags":[64,164,76,6328,6324,12258,6326,3108,12250,6327,6325,1996],"class_list":["post-10431","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-opinion","tag-anc","tag-apartheid","tag-cosatu","tag-cubans","tag-foxhills-resort","tag-fw-de-klerk","tag-lomba-river","tag-namibia","tag-south-africa","tag-soviets","tag-tricameral-parliament","tag-unemployment"],"cc_featured_image_caption":{"caption_text":false,"source_text":false,"source_url":false},"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/praag.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/04\/fw_de_klerk1.jpg","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/praag.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/10431","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/praag.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/praag.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/praag.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/praag.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=10431"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/praag.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/10431\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":10435,"href":"https:\/\/praag.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/10431\/revisions\/10435"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/praag.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/4248"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/praag.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=10431"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/praag.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=10431"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/praag.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=10431"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}