A young white Afrikaner on reconciliation and transformation

Submitted by Marius Redelinghuys

During the first session of the South African Association of Political Studies annual conference at Kopanong Hotel and Conference Centre, Dr Sally Matthews (Rhodes University) touched on the subject of Reconciliation and the Acknowledgement of White Privilege in South Africa: A Discussion of the Home for All Campaign.

She sought to address specifically the notion that transformation and reconciliation are competing ideals. As a young (what some would call) left-wing white Afrikaner male, it made me think that the debate on these issues — specifically from an academic point of view — misses the point.

I acknowledge the existence of white privilege. I also acknowledge the fact that, perhaps indirectly if not directly, I did in some ways benefit from apartheid white-minority rule. I would not dismiss the regrettable reality that apartheid policies entrenched — not only institutionally but also socio-economically — the white, and specifically male, South African.

At the same time, however, I believe that since the emergence of South Africa in the global arena and considering the impact of globalisation and the effect of Western or American cultural, political and economic hegemony, there is a huge generational gap between the pre- and post-1994 generations.

It is this post-1994 generation that has to deal with the continued transition to a free, fair and open democratic society and the consolidation and institutionalisation of democracy and democratic values. It is also this generation that has to live, work and interact in a society that is still being integrated.

Therefore I seek to argue that reconciliation is, if not an alien concept, at least of decreasing significance to the post-1994 generation. My argument is that the focus here should be on continued integration and transformation of society through progressive and practical or pragmatic measures that attempt to equal out the socio-economic and political legacy of apartheid.

It is very difficult for me as a white Afrikaner male to apologise for an oppressive and exclusivist political system and regime in which I did not directly participate. It is, however, easier for me to commit myself to working towards addressing those inequalities and towards tending to the wounds and scars of that system.

In other words, I argue for an intensive programme of compulsory primary civic education and citizenship training that acknowledges the victims (on both sides) and denounces the perpetrators (on both sides) while placing the struggle for liberation in a particular context.

The cardinal difference here would be the focus shifting from reconciliation (defined as “the ending of conflict or renewing of a friendly relationship between disputing people or groups”) to transformation and integration on the basis of civic awareness, education and responsibility, thus cultivating a culture of collective responsibility and involvement instead of an attitude of entitlement.

I do not underestimate the need for reciprocal transformation in the remaining pre-1994 generation, but as a future South African leader, I argue for a forward-looking, pro-youth campaign for transformation. I wish to restate that I do not believe that these two notions are mutually exclusive, but I think they are contextually relevant or irrelevant depending on the target audience, or in this case, generation.

In conclusion, I wish to restate the importance of and focus on reconciliation and transformation in a post-apartheid South Africa still dealing with the persistent scars and legacy of the previous system. However, I want to stress the need for a pro-active and responsive strategy in which both the public sector (specifically government and education institutions) and civil society target the next generation of South Africans, which needs to transcend the legacy of the past and work together to build a multicultural, non-racist, non-sexist and integrated South Africa in the search for a better life for all.

Marius Redelinghuys is a third-year political science student at the University of Pretoria and an aspiring professor/academic in this field. His study of international relations and political science has its roots in an intense interest in these fields, specifically public policy-making and contemporary issues in South African politics. He also enjoys actively engaging in discussion and debate surrounding issues of racial and social transformation in a post-apartheid South Africa, with the hope of collectively building a better future for all