PERCEPTIONS CAN BE STRONGER THAN THE FACTS.

A response to Mr Friedman’s article in the Business day of the 5th December 2001 - The ANC/ NNP Pact

It may be that the NNP does not enjoy the majority support of minorities in South Africa, though this assertion is doubtful in the case of the Western Cape. But it is equally erroneous to categorically exclude the probability of the symbolical significance the pact may contribute towards the amelioration of racial ills in this country.

Among the majority of Africans who are largely poor and uneducated, the NNP is still, at least before the pact, a symbol of the erstwhile Afrikaner domination of Black people. I may add that the DP/DA may be rapidly taking over this image if its leadership persists on the course of prejudice disguised as critical and robust opposition.

Therefore even if the pact fails to integrate the minorities into mainstream politics, it may succeed to attract a significant number of Blacks into the NNP fold. When that happens the DP/DA will have lost the battle for Black support to the NNP and the resultant growth. Simply put even if the ANC does not gain significant White support as a result of the pact, the NNP will succeed to shrug off the apartheid image.

But of more importance, as Mr Friedman also agreed, is the urgent need for co-operation across racial lines in order to fight poverty and disease affectively. Racial polarisation is still one of the major setbacks hindering economic progress in our country.

In my opinion the ANC /NNP pact will, even if at a symbolic level, send a powerful message of an urgent need for a racially united South Africa. The pact may also as a spin off help the government to speed up service delivery through the retention of expertise and skill in the public service. Our people have reached a point where they want the delivery of services irrespective of who does the job.

A lasting pact though which is designed to promote racial unity can be sustained in the long term only if it is based on sound political principles. Christian democracy anchored on the principles of righteousness and justice in socio - economic affairs of the country is the only viable basis for a genuine opposition.


Statement by Adv ZL Madasa MP (ACDP)
6 December 2001