Why I am sorry about Apartheid
Moneyweb community member tells us how For Whites Only inspired him to write an apology.
Marius Strydom*
21 April 2009 15:41
I recently read Charles Cilliers' book
For Whites Only**. It was insightful, sometimes made me very sad, but also gave me hope for the future. It is due to this book that I would like to address the following apology to everyone who suffered under Apartheid.
I am sorry for my direct contribution, the contribution of my family and the contribution of my people to Apartheid. I am deeply ashamed to be one of the "children" in whose name so many atrocities were perpetrated.
I am sorry for the deeds that were committed for decades to ensure cheap labour on our mines, farms and in our factories. I am sorry for the land appropriation, the pass laws, the laws that denied property and business ownership and I am sorry about bantu education.
I am sorry that for generations, so many parents could not say to their children, "My child, if you work hard enough and you have enough perseverance, you can achieve anything", and instead had to say "My child, stop dreaming and be realistic".
I am sorry about the Group Areas Act, the anti-miscegenation laws and racial classification that tore apart so many families.
I am sorry that for so long, so many people in our country could not sleep soundly, fearing that knock on the door late at night.
I am sorry about Sharpeville, Soweto and the state of emergency in the eighties. I am sorry about Steven Biko, Nelson Mandela and so many others.
I am sorry that despite the fact that I never had the option of voting for the old NP, I still gained so much advantage from Apartheid. I am sorry that my mother had access to the best medical care before and during my birth while your mother did not. I am sorry that my mother and father were there all through my childhood years to love me, take care of me and lead me, while yours were so often absent. I am sorry that I had electricity and running water while you had to walk for kilometres to gain access to fresh water. I am sorry that I went to school every day on a full stomach while you were hungry. I am sorry that I could be educated in small classrooms by good teachers and you could not. I am sorry that the bank was willing to lend me money for university while they showed you the door. I am sorry that I was able to get my first job through contacts, while you did not have the same opportunity.
I am sorry that I am sometimes negative about our country, not having the perspective to realise that we are not unique in our failings. I am sorry that I do not do more to counter and reject the racist comments of others. I am sorry that I also sometimes harbour racist thoughts.
I am sorry that I do not speak IsiXhosa or IsiZulu, while you speak three or more languages. I am sorry that I sometimes look down at you for pronouncing a word funnily in your fourth language.
I am sorry that I am not friendlier to the woman at the traffic light and the man in the parking area. I am sorry that I am too scared to go to Khayelitsha. I am sorry that I do not go to more trouble to make you my friend.
But I am also grateful. I am grateful that you do not hate me, despite what I and my ancestors did to you. I am grateful that you are so willing to reach out a hand of friendship to me. I am grateful that you do not question my right to exist in this wonderful country. I am grateful to be a proud South African.
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