Former president FW de Klerk has sparked a debate following his comments in an interview on eNCA-TV in which he described South Africa under Jacob Zuma’s presidency as “nine lost years.”
De Klerk, being interviewed on “The First Citizen” programme on Thursday, said during Zuma’s term in office people were appointed because of their connections.
Speaking about the negotiations between himself and former president Nelson Mandela, De Klerk said talks on the way forward for the country only began once Mandela was released from prison.
De Klerk also spoke about claims that loans were made to the country for the benefit of the white minority. He dismissed the allegation and said South Africa as a whole benefited from the government loans.
“There is no evidence whatsoever that government loans were used only for whites. Universities were being built. Infrastructure were being installed from which everybody benefited.
“I’m not justifying apartheid in any way, whatsoever. But what I’m saying is that it’s a fallacy to say that loans were given just for the benefit of white people. Loans were given to a country for the country’s goals,” the last white president of South Africa told the privately-owned TV station.
His comments, however, drew widespread debate on social media, with some supporting his views and others condemning him. A tweet from #frank said: “De Klerk is 100 % correct. Maybe he should be President again to save South Africa.”
But a tweet from #Africa Mayibuye retorted: “I wish you (de Klerk) said the same during your days when people were appointed based on their skin colour. Now you (white) people tell us about merits (in appointments). Where were the merits during apartheid?”
NM/jn/APA