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The comments made by former President FW De Klerk which aired on CNN last night are unfortunate and disappointing.

They undermine the important programme of reconciliation which we undertook as a nation in the early 1990s, of which De Klerk himself was a key architect.

While Mr De Klerk rightfully acknowledges that Apartheid was morally indefensible, he too must recognise that the entire concept of racial division through “separate, but equal” bantustans was an insult to the dignity of black South Africans, and an affront on the most basic principles of justice and equality.

It resulted not only in the most extreme form of asset stripping, but deprived millions of South Africans of their sense of belonging.

Mr De Klerk’s role in dismantling Apartheid has and should be recognised and applauded. He remains an important figure in our peaceful transition to democracy, and the building of our rainbow nation.

We urge him once again to occupy this space, as he did in 1994; to use his words to create hope and unity, so that we can invigorate the reconciliation project, and build a truly non-racial, non-sexist democratic South Africa.