If the biggest concern about South Africa is that it will go the corrupt dictatorial
If the biggest concern about South Africa is that it will go the corrupt, dictatorial way of much of Africa, then FW de Klerk's decision last week to withdraw the National Party from Nelson Mandela's coalition government of national unity is the best thing that could have happened. During its first two years of democracy South Africa has had a meek and loyal opposition. This was necessary: watching over the infant body politic as it took its halting first steps required the attentions of the country's entire, extended political family. But sooner or later the child must walk on its own two feet, without the clucking uncles and aunts. It might be argued that de Klerk's Nationalists should have waited a little longer before abandoning the infant but they have demonstrated a deeper wisdom: that a healthy democracy requires a vigilant and outspoken parliamentary opposition. In the short term there will be a price to pay The Rand plummeted after de Klerk's announcement. The foreign investment the country so badly needs to help redress apartheid's economic inequities will not be pouring in just yet.
But if there is one lesson South Africa has absorbed better than most countries it is that without pain there is no gain. Or, as the old activists' slogan went, "patience is bitter but the fruit is sweet".De Klerk would not have made his dramatic move if he believed it would plunge the country into chaos; or even that it would undermine the chances of a safe transition to a durable multi-party democracy. The man who ordered Nelson Mandela's release and persuaded white South Africa to relinquish apartheid invested far too much toil, energy and prestige in building the new order to allow the edifice to crumble on a party political whim. De Klerk's place in history is assured but he would like to be remembered as a man of courage and vision, not as a reckless, petulant fool.When de Klerk said that his party's departure from Mandela's government should be seen "as an important step in the growing maturity and normalisation of our young democracy", he was not engaging in hollow, self-justifying rhetoric Yes, there were party political interests at play. There was pressure from within the party to break ranks with Mandela's African National Congress. There was also the feeling that to make a dent in the ANC's 64 per cent majority come the 1999 election the National Party had to distance itself from the government of national unity and define itself as a plausible alternative.But, before taking his party concerns into account, de Klerk the statesman looked and saw that for all the market jitters South Africa has made remarkable progress since the elections in April 1994.
A democratic constitution was ratified on Wednesday, one which, with one or two misgivings, the overwhelming majority of members of parliament supported; President Mandela enjoys more legitimacy across colour and political lines than any national leader anywhere; the army and police remain white-led but show no signs of flagging in their loyalty to the new regime, even though Magnus Malan, the former defence minister, and other retired military men of high rank have been in the dock charged with apartheid war crimes.The rule of law remains entrenched, Mandela setting an example when, refusing to abuse the privileges of his position, he subjected himself to the humiliation of testifying at the court hearing on his divorce.The nation-building atmospherics have been good, occasionally glorious. When South Africa won the rugby World Cup a year ago the entire nation joined in the celebrations Rugby had always been "the oppressor's sport". Before the international boycott of the Eighties those few blacks allowed into segregated corners of Ellis Park Stadium would cheer, without fail, for the visiting sides. Yet when Mandela walked into the stadium before the final match in the Springbok colours, he sported a shirt with the number six on the back worn by the team captain (Francois Pienaar, blond son of apartheid), and not one black South African thought to complain.Six months later white South Africa returned the compliment Soccer is traditionally "the blacks' game".