Die probleem van historiese skuld in Suid-Afrika The problem of historical guilt in South Africa

Abstract

OPSOMMING Historiese skuld is ten beste 'n baie problematiese konsep. Dit word duidelik geïllustreer deur die Duitse geskiedenis sedert 1945, toe die Duitsers vir hulself rekenskap moes gee van hul optrede in die jare 1933-1945.1 Wié het wát aan wié gedoen? Wie besluit oor die vraag van skuld of onskuld van wie? En wie of wat gee hulle die reg om dit te doen? Welke morele of regsbeginsels word in die proses gebruik? Ook: Hoe ver moet in die tyd teruggegaan word? Na Columbus se aankoms in die Nuwe Wêreld in 1492? Na Jan van Riebeeck se koms na die Kaap in 1652? Na die "Scramble for Africa" in die negentiende eeu? Die verwoesting van die Boererepublieke en die groot sterfte van die Republikeinse burgerlike bevolking in die konsentrasiekampe in 1899-1902? Die begin van apartheid in 1948? Dit is vrae wat nie so maklik beantwoord kan word nie. Tog, gebeure wat 'n sekere morele grens oorskry - soos die volksmoord op die Jode in die Tweede Wereldoorlog, die Rwandese volksmoord van 1994, of die etniese "suiwering" in die Balkan in dieselfde tyd - het uitgekristalliseer in 'n bepaalde konsensus oor internasionale optrede rakende menseregte in die breedste sin van die woord, en dit is geformaliseer in 'n sekere juridiese benadering oor die saak. Oor die kwessie van historiese skuld in Suid-Afrika is, in elk geval op politieke vlak, reeds besluit. Die paradigma wat die ANC aan die Waarheids-en-Versoeningskommissie (WVK) voorgehou het - wat, met sekere nuanses, basies deur die WVK aanvaar is - was dat daar twee kante in die bevrydingstryd was. Oorvereenvoudig, was dit die "siegte ouens" (die apartheidsregering) teen die "goeie ouens" (die bevrydingsbewegings, veral die ANC/SAKP). Trefwoorde: Apartheid, kommunisme, ANC/SAKP, Nazisme, Karl Jaspers, Alfred Nzo, Oliver Tambo, Nelson Mandela, pres. FW de Klerk, Afrikanernasionalisme, Lenin, Gandhi, Albert Luthuli, Kabwe, MK, Chris Hani, WVK, Joe Slovo ABSTRACT South Africans are very quick to accuse one another of having been very bad in the past. Afrikaners are accused of severe race discrimination in the form of apartheid. They are portrayed as uniquely evil, almost as bad as the Nazi's in the Second World War. At the same time, especially the ANC/SACP is accused of severe transgressions, such as terrorism in the name of a freedom struggle, supportfor a totalitarian system in the form of Marxism-Leninism, and extreme intolerance of deviant viewpoints in the liberation movement. It would be wrong to view the matter in a simplified way, as the problem of historical guilt is a complex one. In this article, the problem is, firstly, examined from an ethical perspective. Apartheid must be recognised as - when viewed from a Christian viewpoint - immoral and wrong. The policy is examined in detail, with the conclusion that, while there were fleeting moments in which things could have developed more positively, these moments were still-born. Subsequently, the accusation that apartheid was akin to Nazism is examined. It is concluded that, while there were superficial similarities, the differences were too deep, in principle, to be taken seriously. Another aspect that should be seriously considered is why the Afrikaners actually acted in a particular way. Without defending what they had done, it is clear that they, in their own minds, were convinced that the very survival of Afrikaners as a people was at stake amidst threatening historical circumstances exemplified by the political, cultural and economic onslaught of British imperialism, as well as the looming shadow of a vastly superior majority of black people. Lastly, there is the question as to whether the ANC/SACP also has historical guilt to carry. In the light of the way in which the very Kremlin-loyal SACP during the years took over the leadership of the alliance, the answer must be yes. The alliance wanted to replace apartheid with Communism, a policy which has as severe ethical problems as may be ascribed to apartheid. Also, the alliance handled dissenters in an extremely intolerant way by locking them up in concentration camps, where they were treated very cruelly. It is hoped that a nuanced treatise like this could promote a public debate in South Africa. Keywords: Apartheid, communism, ANC/SACP, Nazis, Karl Jaspers, Alfred Nzo, Oliver Tambo, Nelson Mandela, President FW de Klerk, Afrikaner nationalism, Lenin, Gandhi, Albert Luthuli, Kabwe, MK, Chris Hani, TRC, Joe Slovo