[Pic] S.Africa: From my history: Not looking forward to ANC rule back in 1990 - Ian Smith was a Great Man

[This is one of the old but important stories from the original AfricanCrisis website that I am converting on to the new site, in the new format.

Take note of Wood's views that Ian Smith was a great man and not a racist either. I actually wonder if Richard Wood did go on to complete his massive tome on the history of Rhodesia? As for me, I was not charmed with the future under ANC rule and had mentioned that to him in my letter to him early in 1990. There is another letter I wrote in the mid-1980s, which is now gone. I wrote to the then leader of the Conservative Party, Andries Treurnicht. He was extremely anti-communist. He was also a priest. He had no interest whatsoever in South Africa going communist. I liked him. He was fiery and firm, he was a good leader.I think Treurnicht died of a heart attack. I could be wrong. But when Treurnicht died, I also wondered if he had been poisoned. I wrote a letter to Treurnicht in the 1980s suggesting that the Conservative Party find black anti-communists as allies. He wrote me a long and lovely letter in reply, which despite rummaging through boxes of old letters and memories I have never been able to find - sadly. I was deeply troubled by Treurnicht's death. The forces which push us towards communism are inexorable. One watches it coming little by little, and nothing stops it. Jan]

The Outlook is gloomy

I just want to demonstrate to you that one can see things coming a long way off. In Government byDeception, I have written that back in 1983 my brother and I sat and chatted. We believed it would notbe many years before South Africa would be ruled by the ANC. At that time, that was an unthinkable thought among white South Africans. But here is a more concrete example of my thinking. While rummaging through my books I happened upon a letter I had forgotten I had written. I had written to Mr Wood, the author of a book about the RAR (Rhodesian African Rifles) back in 1990. Take note of Mr Wood's 2nd last sentence. Heagrees that the outlook for South Africa is gloomy, yet he still retains some hope.

Posted By: Jan
AfricanCrisis Webmaster
Author of: Government by Deception

“Political language is designed to make lies sound truthful and murder respectable, and to give an appearance of solidity to pure wind.”
(George Orwell)

My all time favourite movie quote is from the Dwarf in Lord of the Rings: "Certainty of death, small chance of success... what are we waiting for?"

      

---

There are no Readers' Comments for this article