3rd February – Former president FW de Klerk was loudly applauded for his bold and courageous political changes exactly 24 years ago.
They included the unbanning of the Communist Party after more than 39 years and the first unconditional promise to free Nelson Mandela from jail after 27 years.
De Klerk’s unexpected quantum leap and South Africa’s new-found freedom saw jubilant crowds taking to the streets; clashes with the police; and headlines such as “Viva Comrade FW”.
Some anti-apartheid activists admitted that De Klerk had “removed the moral basis for international outrage against South Africa”.
Consequently, the conditions of struggle had changed and they had to return to the drawing board.
We spoke to Dave Steward from the FW de Klerk foundation about this historic day.
-WATCH INTERVIEW HERE
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