GOOD NEWS STORIES FROM SOUTH AFRICA  
  
 
 
 
 
   Frederick van Zyl Slabbert remembered
Tuesday, 18 May 2010

During this past week South Africa lost an extraordinary leader. Political parties were unanimous in their tributes, describing him as a "visionary", a "principled patriot" and an "intellectual and moral leader".
 
Dr. Frederik van Zyl Slabbert was a politician, an academic, a businessman and political commentator, who will be best remembered for his courage in opposing the minority apartheid rule and his foresight in establishing dialogue between white South Africans and the then banned ANC, culminating in the meetings in Dakar, Senegal in 1987.
 
According to his daughter, Tania, he died peacefully on 14 May, age 70, surrounded by his family.
 
Steuart Pennington, South Africa – The Good News CEreflects on his interactions with Van Zyl Slabbert:

"The first time I met Van Zyl was after he had finished the Comrades Marathon in the early '80's, I was amazed at how big a man he was, and how such a big man could run so far. I was also amazed that the leader of a political party would even think of running the Comrades; the politicians I observe don't do much sport. Back then (in fact the same holds true for the present) they looked pretty unhealthy as they sat around in parliament pontificating with corpulent profiles occupying chauffer driven cars. You can imagine my astonishment when I learnt that he was a serious rugby player!
 
But for me the best memories of Van Zyl were when we had a surprise weekend together at Londolozi Game Reserve, courtesy of the owner Dave Varty. Van Zyl was there with his wife Jane (so small in stature next to her husband) and Colin Hall of Woolworths. I have seldom been as amazed by quick wit and the ability to mix Afrikaans and English with such humour. It reminded me of the exchanges in Parliament when for the first time the Nats had an Afrikaner, as leader of the opposition, giving them the gears in their own language.
 
He wrote for our first book "SOUTH AFRICA – The Good News" in 2002 on Government and Opposition: are the checks and balances intact? His opening words were "Perhaps in politics, more so than in most disciplines, amnesia plays a disproportionate role!" He reminded us "most important to remember is that where there is strong constitutional government, politicians are inevitably and, for them, inconceivably, groomed for obscurity". Van Zyl ended the piece with: "Considering where we have been and what we have gone through, the future is rich with promise. That is, of course, all things being equal". I phoned him about that last sentence; was it a pun, was the play on "things in SA, human things" or "equal" I asked? "Let's leave it to the readers" he laughed.
 
Our paths crossed frequently, we even spoke on the same platform on occasions. Van Zyl always greeted me, the lesser mortal, warmly and he always made mention of the work we do. He was a man amongst men and always made everyone around him feel welcome. The twinkle in his eye and his readiness to smile was ever present, and for me, his defining character. 

By Steuart Pennington

Sapa