Genuine understanding needed

I READ the column by Kazeka Kuse regarding FW de Klerk receiving the Nobel Peace Prize with Nelson Mandela. I agree 100% with what she said.

It amazes me how many people are attacking her now for what she wrote. It is also interesting to note that the attacks are coming from people who, because of their skin colour, are the ones who benefited from apartheid.

These people were shielded from reality in the past and they are naively unaware why the National Party government under De Klerk unbanned the liberation movements and freed Nelson Mandela and others.

They did not do it because they suddenly developed a conscience. This country was becoming ungovernable and international sanctions were hurting. That was the real reason, so there was no humanity involved.

I expect to be attacked for my views but I take comfort in knowing that the majority of former oppressed people, such as myself, fully support the views expressed by myself and people such as Kuse.

I will only forgive and move forward once the former privileged show genuine understanding of what we had to endure. Too many people are still holding on to their bigoted and racist views of the past. Legislation has changed but the scars are still there.

Dawood Beydon