MysticFlopper
History Lesson 103
Within the Southern African region, anticipation of change filtered earlier on and was manifested in the transformation of the previously anti-apartheid Southern African Development Co-ordination Conference, which excluded South Africa, to the newly restructured Southern African Development Community, which is more development oriented. SADCC was, in essence, a politically motivated response and 'defensive mechanism by the Front line States (FLS) to the PW Botha government in South Africa's idea of a 'constellation of states' in the region.
The Declaration and Treaty establishing the Community, which replaced the Co-ordination Conference, was signed at the Summit of Heads of State or Government on 17 August 1992, in Windhoek, Namibia. South Africa joined SADC in 1994 .While it was formerly a resistance movement, it has now become a co-operation structure, which is actively seeking peace, stability and prosperity and there are already positive results in this regard.
In case you're not aware at one point PW & the Nats offered a truce between SA and its neighboring states: leave white rule in SA alone, join forces and make the SADC region an economic powerhouse. He was told to take a walk.
To grant PW credit for either SADCC or SADC, well Tsafendas was correct, tapeworms do reside in human beings heads. Better feed it well.
Here's what you call progress in Economic terms, all done by ‘’what you call us….monkeys’, SADCC. SADC, OAU, NEPAD, NEDLAC, and lets not forget our wonderful Administrative laws that benefits all South Africans the free privilege of the CCMA. If people are not happy with employers, employment conditions, etc then go ahead this government implemented systems that are free and fair.
Anyway back to class, History 103
The birth of the new South Africa could in a sense be said to have also been a child of its own times, hailed as perhaps the greatest human rights campaign ever. Thus the end of apartheid and essentially of colonialism in South Africa, owes a great deal to the efforts of the Organisation for African Unity whose main objectives were, to rid the continent of the remaining vestiges of colonisation and apartheid; to promote unity and solidarity among African States; to co-ordinate and intensify co-operation for development; to safeguard the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Member States and to promote international co-operation within the frame work of the United Nations. Indeed, as a continental organisation the OAU provided an effective forum that enabled all Member States to adopt co-ordinated positions on matters of common concern to the continent in international fora and defend the interests of Africa effectively.
Through the OAU Co-ordinating Committee for the Liberation of Africa, the Continent worked and spoke as one with undivided determination in forging an international consensus in support of the liberation struggle and the fight against apartheid.
The OAU initiatives paved the way for the birth of African Union, which was successfully launched at the Inaugural Summit held in Durban, South Africa in 2002. Clear as it should be by now, it must be emphasised that the AU is not the continuation of the OAU under a different name, but this new organ has the capacity built into it, to drive the development of the African people through New Partnership for Africa's Development.
NEPAD deliberately highlights peace and security, democracy, good political, economic and corporate governance, and regional integration as the necessary conditions for development (and of course, investment, both domestic and internationally). These necessary conditions coupled with other NEPAD priorities such as infrastructure development; ensuring banking and financial standards; agriculture and market access; are about reducing the risk profile of doing business on the continent, creating the conditions conducive for investment, reducing business costs and increasing Africa's competitiveness in the world economy.
Since you may not be on par with the history or reality of this country lets educate you on the Greek, Tsafendas……..My friend Mark Lottering would call him his bra, being truly coloured and all.
Tsafendas was the parliamentary messenger who assassinated Prime Minister HF Verwoed, by stabbing him four times with a dagger, during a parliamentary session in 1966. Born in (present day Maputo), Tsafendas was the illegitimate son of a Greek father and a Mozambican mother, a domestic worker named Amelia William. As a young boy he was shunned by the White community and was nicknamed “blackie”, due to his wavy hair and dark skin. He had lived in Germany, Canada, the United States, Greece, France, Turkey, Portugal, Iran, Ghana and Angola.
He was 48-years-of age at the time of his heroic act, had an IQ of 125 and could speak eight languages, the man who irrevocably changed the course of South Africa's history, Dimitrio Tsafendas died in 1999 aged 81, from pneumonia. He was buried quietly in Krugersdorp.
One card on a wreath of white lilies on his grave read: "Displaced person, sailor, Christian, communist, liberation fighter, political prisoner, hero. Remembered by your friends."
Did you know that during the great demonstrations in 1976, it was chanted: "TSAFENDAS INYANGA YEZIZWE" (Tsafendas healer of the nation)
Anyway, it’s not Adderly Rupert its Anton Rupert.
An article in an Afrikaans publication, Beeld, contains a reference to a book written in 1967 about Verwoerd & Tsafendas. The title isn't given but the author is J.J.J. Scholtz. Possibly this is the book. One news account said:
"Dimitrios Tsafendas came to England in 1959 and was offered a job by a British man who owned the Rothmans cigarette factory. In 1960 he mentioned the fact that he wished he had the opportunity to kill S.A. Prime minister. The owner, Anton Rupert, picked up on this, and this is how it got the ball rolling. The murder plot members met at a meeting in Birmingham in March, 1963. There they decided on the assassin’s assignment. He was paid 5000 Rand. He would remain in England, until ‘Time Magazine American,’ would print a picture on its front page of Dr. Verwoerd in the form of a lamb dripping with blood, and that would indicate the time had come to start proceedings.”
5000 Rand, …….really…….just shows how little people really know of the struggle.
Right what must I do today, Hmmmm, No cash in transit vans operating on a Sunday. OK, since it’s our land, my property, vrou bring over a goat so we can slaughter it in the yard and do what we have done for hundreds of years, place it over an open fire. Only to be informed in the past century that we are natives who are still barbaric. So what, in order to justify the similar method of flaming the meat, you call it BRAAI.
Well then, laat ons ‘n plan met die vleis maak.
Manne, languages are really an art, Hats of to Dimitrios Tsafendas.
Anyway……lets be serioooooous
What we have is unity, power, intelligence and the heart to forgive and transform this wonderful country, into an effective economic hub for all and I reiterate for all South African to enjoy. Definitely a far better hand being dealt to you than that dealt to our forefathers and kind.
What now, do you require lessons in simple arithmetic?
Your ‘’R10 Milliard certainly does not equal 7 Million USD, taken between 1972 – 1980.
Conveniently missed out a few years in your response.
Wrt to Dave Rockefeller, smart man very smart man.
Ever covered the issues of scarcity in Economics….perhaps go over the supply and demand curve. You might enlighten yourself.
PS: You should take a lead from de Beers, look at how nice they were obviously the new Broad Based Black Economic Empowerment Act has a lot to be Thanked for, but the crux is de Beers have realized the history of this country and have very nicely become part of the game plan.
Hats of to them
What’s with the Shake – shake……..man stay away from the Deep Heat.
Considering we are all rouges, thief’s, embezzlers…well last night was a special one…we broke out a nice bottle of Cognac and Cuban Cigars to match.