I have reproduced the copy of his letter to Mr Nelson Mandela because it contains Mac's very strongly held beliefs that a new South Africa was possible. Whether any of his letters helped to influence world leaders is debatable but they responded which shows they had taken note of the content
23 East Cliff,
Marine Parade.
Dover.
Kent. CTl6 lLU. England
24th November, 1987.
Dear Mr Mandela,
I hope you will receive this letter through the courtesy of the State President of the Republic of South Africa, The Right Honourable P.W.Botha, M.P.
South Africa is at present going through a period of evolution, and as General Jan Smuts predicted, the White - Black situation is the major problem. He confessed that he did not have a solution to the racial issues in South Africa and was aware that one day this problem would loom up and the policy of European Supremacy would be challenged.
Mr Wilbur Smith, South Africa's biggest-selling novelist said recently, "Botha is the only reformist leader we have had in Africa in 300 years.
It is ironical that everyone paints him as a monster. History will record him as the man who paved the way towards our equitable society. For that I admire him greatly." I have not always agreed with the State President but I agree with Mr Wilbur Smith's statement. It is true.
Some years ago I said, the winds of change are not confined to South Africa, but they are blowing throughout the world," and this is what is happening in many countries at present, including the Soviet Union. People in the world want human dignity and human rights respected.
They are frustrated by confrontation and fighting seeing families and friends killed and murdered. They want changes by co-operation, compromise and diplomacy. What do the South Africans of all races want.? Do they want anarchy, or do they want peace.? An equal society.? Power sharing.? If they want the best for their society, then a compromise between black and white is essential.
All the people are entitled to participate in the decision making of their country. This must be attained in such a manner that one group of people will not be able to dominate another group. The white population cannot expect the status quo to last much longer, this would invite civil war. If on the other hand, the blacks insist on black majority rule, then this would not be acceptable to the whites and they would take up arms, with their superior army and sophisticated weapons and would cause havoc such as has not been seen this century.
The casualties on both sides would be horrific. Dead heroes and heroines on both sides will not help the country they love. But if good sense prevails, then there is a reason for a political dialogue between the communities with a view to forming a power-sharing government.
There will obviously be difficulties of satisfying the demands, rivalry and political identity of different ethnic groups and therefore the constitution of the country must be full and fair so that the judicial powers are able to give reasonable interpretations of the law. The South African field of ethnic groupings involved are the Zulu, Xhosa, Tswana, Sutu, Venda, Shangaan, Swazi, Ndebele, Afrikaner English speaking South African, Dutch, German, Greek, Italian, Portuguese, French, Jewish, Lebanese,Scandinian, Tian, Coloured, Malay, Indian, Bushman and Hottentot.
The constitution for South Africa that I would recommend to you has been given a lot of thought and discussion, and the opinion is that it is the only constitution that has one man, one vote, it is a safeguard to all the people, black, white, coloured and Indian leading to eventual acceptance, that though the races in South Africa may have their different histories and cultures, they are all bound together in their destiny.
In the meantime it will be necessary for the State President to have a national dialogue and negotiations with authentic black leaders, which I hope includes you, Mr Mandela, who wish to share power with the whites and are trying to do so by peaceful means. If black leaders really have their people and South Africa's best interest at heart, and I believe they have, they should support this constitution and send outside help packing,thus maintaining the dignity of their cause as this is a South African matter to be decided by South Africans. Most people in South Africa today with the exception of a few extremists believe that apartheid was an obnoxious doctrine. They want it completely abolished and quickly. The State President of the Republic of South Africa has been accused of making the changes at a snail pace, though continually chipping off bits of apartheid, where today, apartheid, in my mind is no longer an issue. It must be remembered that 300 years of customs, traditions and laws cannot be dismantled or disregarded in one big sweep. There must be a time table. I was very impressed by the change in outlook of the South Africa Government in recent months. They are moving to a position where they are prepared to have a power-sharing government in partnership with all the races in South Africa People.
Listening to the world radio programme of the British Broadcasting Company (B.B.C.) of the l4th June, l987, I could not fail to recognise the consistent vocal emphasis on change, made, again, by the Minister of Foreign Affairs, South Africa, The Rt Hon Pik Botha, when he said in reply to a telephone caller from Singapore, " We will negotiate a new treaty and in our opinion, everyone must share in the government of the day. " I am not sure, Mr Mandela how much news you are receiving in prison, but I can tell you that it is a different South Africa from the one you knew twenty five years ago.
The late Rt Hon Jan Hofmeyr, Deputy Prime Minister, to General Jan Smuts in the last world war, often described as " South Africa's conscience", once said, "The European will not gain the respect of the Bantu until he shows them respect". The respect for the blacks is increasing all the time in South Africa. The goodwill at the present time, between the Zulu, Afrikaner, and English speaking South African in the Province of Natal is good, and this atmosphere and racial harmony could spread throughout South Africa if you, Mr Mandela, will request an interview with the State President, stating your intentions projections, for the future and the directions you intend to pursue.The State President, a straight-talking man, will most probably give you his thoughts on the matter. There must be no uncertainty for the future. The people of strength must talk to each other. In this case, it is you Mr Mandela, and the Rt Hon P. W. Botha, State President of the Republic of South Africa, Head of the legal Government.The blacks and other races in South Africa must face reality. They must work with the power in the country that can make changes, and this is the present Government. I do not think that you staying in prison at the present time is helping your people.The years pass and you are getting older, you have a chance to be with your family and finally, with good luck and good health, you could become one of the State Presidents, if my constitution is accepted. I beg you to take my advice. It will save lives of many men, women and children, black, white, coloured and Indian.
Mini-apartheid is practised throughout the world to avoid marriages between the various races. The people of India do not marry outside their class or caste. Asians in Britain do not encourage their children to marry white or black Britishers. The Zulu is proud of his blood and will point to his veins and skin to prove that he is a pure bred Zulu. This conception is followed by many black tribes who do not wish to marry into other tribes, it sometimes does happen, through love or diplomatic reasons. I do not believe this mini-apartheid is wrong as there is no law to stop mixed marriages, if couples so desire. The end of apartheid does not mean that races need to mix and marry, but there must not be any law to stop mixed marriages but there must not be a law that prohibits a person's rights and privileges to marry and have social intercourse with the people of their own choice. John Allegro, philologist, author of the " Sacred Mushroom " and the " Cross " said on this subject, " Man needs his racial differences to survive: widespread miscegenation, far from solving human dilemma, may undermine our biological viability. Too often, the mixing of culture without adequate safeguards for the maintenance of racial differences has resulted in the loss of distinctive genius - the adoption of a uniformity which offers only the worst of all worlds. The policy of separate development may in the past have offered only shallow excuse for racial exploitation, but it is, nevertheless, the one that best accords with the biological and cultural needs of the human species. If indeed the modern world is becoming too small to permit the exercise of man's instinctive territoralism, then we must devise means for allowing our racial minorities to live separate lives in ways that respect their right to maintain their own integrity. There is no law in South Africa now, that prohibits a person's rights and privileges to have social intercourse and marriage with the people of their choice. There will be a delay in scrapping the 1936 land act because this change will have to be gradually introduced as it is an area where violence could flare up between black and white. This act prevents blacks from owning or acquiring the freehold in white residential suburbs. But could become one of the State Presidents, if my constitution is accepted. I beg you to take my advice, it will save lives of many men and women. In certain white suburbs, black citizens are being accepted and there is peaceful co-existence. In fact, race relations are amazingly relaxed. I remember a number of years ago, when the Rector of Woolwich made some comments on racism. He said,:-
"What prophets, parsons, and politicians have failed to do, the brilliant young Professor Barnard may have achieved. He has exposed the sham-made barriers between colour, classes and creeds. The heart of a coloured man is used in attempt to save the life of a white one. Today, the evil doctrine of apartheid received a sledge-hammer blow from which I hope it will never recover. Man creates the barriers and the decisions. God finds ways of tearing them down. Our skins may be different colours , but , Dear God, our hearts are the same". The truth of this statement is becoming apparent.
We hear of racism being practised all over the world today; it is not a whiteman's monopoly. I am afraid that man is instinctively biased when it concerns his family, pedigree and country. When we have a large number of ethnic groups, many of them minorities, the constitution must be harmonised and agreed, to the satisfaction and wishes of all the people owning or acquiring the freehold in white residential suburbs. But could become one of the State Presidents, if my constitution is accepted.
I beg you to take my advice, it will save lives of many men and women. In certain white suburbs, black citizens are being accepted and there is peaceful co-existence. In fact, race relations are amazingly relaxed. I remember a number of years ago, when the Rector of Woolwich made some comments on racism. He said,:-
"What prophets, parsons, and politicians have failed to do, the brilliant young Professor Barnard may have achieved. He has exposed the sham-made barriers between colour, classes and creeds. The heart of a coloured man is used in attempt to save the life of a white one. Today, the evil doctrine of apartheid received a sledge-hammer blow from which I hope it will never recover. Man creates the barriers and the decisions. God finds ways of tearing them down. Our skins may be different colours , but , Dear God, our hearts are the same". The truth of this statement is becoming apparent.owning or acquiring the freehold in white residential suburbs. But could become one of the State Presidents, if my constitution is accepted. I beg you to take my advice, it will save lives of many men and women. In certain white suburbs, black citizens are being accepted and there is peaceful co-existence. In fact, race relations are amazingly relaxed. I remember a number of years ago, when the Rector of Woolwich made some comments on racism. He said,:-
"What prophets, parsons, and politicians have failed to do, the brilliant young Professor Barnard may have achieved. He has exposed the sham-made barriers between colour, classes and creeds. The heart of a coloured man is used in attempt to save the life of a white one. Today, the evil doctrine of apartheid received a sledge-hammer blow from which I hope it will never recover. Man creates the barriers and the decisions. God finds ways of tearing them down. Our skins may be different colours, but, Dear God, our hearts are the same". The truth of this statement is becoming apparent.
We hear of racism being practised all over the world today; it is not a whiteman's monopoly. I am afraid that man is instinctively biased when it concerns his family, pedigree and country. When we have a large number of ethnic groups, many of them minorities, the constitution must be harmonised and agreed, to the satisfaction and wishes of all the people.
I outline a suggested basis for a constitution for South Africa, and I have already explained some advantages for this constitution and will repeat some of it again.
The main features are:
(a).The number of black and white members of parliament would be equal. There would be separate electoral rolls for blacks, whites, coloureds and Indians. One man, one vote, for each electoral roll. Voters may not change from their voters' roll. However, it does not stop a candidate from standing for election, be he black, white, coloured or Indian, under any voters' roll. In other words a black candidate could stand for parliament in a white constituency and a white candidate could stand for parliament in a black
constituency.
(b).The blacks would have the number of seats according to their tribal population. This would not stop a person from one tribe standing for parliament in another tribal area if he thought there was a chance of winning the seat. The whites would elect their members of parliament on the present system.The coloureds and Indians would vote by proportional representation. There could be a number of seats which would be open black seats, for places like Soweto, where the residents are of a cosmopolitan nature. It would be for a Constitutional Council to make the decision. The seats would have to be allocated from the tribal composition of seats.
(c).The blacks elected to parliament would have to choose a leader to be their State President.This would bring out the genuine leader of the black population. There would be cabinet posts for coloureds and Indians.
(d).There would be two State Presidents emanating respectively from the black and white members who would have full powers to veto any bill passed by the Assembly (parliament) which they might consider not to be in the interest of the country. Where because of conflicting views, the veto has been applied by one of the State Presidents, the matter would be settled by compromise, an important procedure in the constitution.
(e).There would be one State President holding the office of Senior State President for one year, changing office each alternate year with the other State President.
(f).There would be two Cabinet Ministers for each portfolio nominated by the two State Presidents from their members in the Assembly. One of the Cabinet Ministers would hold office as a Senior Cabinet Minister each alternate year. It would be important that the Minister holding the portfolio makes an effort to work closely with the other Minister; for the wider interests of the country. It is hoped that this close relationship would produce trust, respect and perhaps friendship, a sound basis for a united South Africa. The coloured and Indian leaders will recommend some of their members for cabinet rank, which could include themselves.
(g).There would be an upper chamber of the House of Parliament, the Senate.
The Senate would have the power to veto all bills passed by the Assembly.They would hold up a bill for as long as one year, if they felt the bill not to be in the interest of South Africa, or where it might be damaging to any race or tribe.After one year the bill would be passed. The main reason for the delay in passing bill would be for the Assembly to give some more thought to its contents.
(h).There would be of course the usual clauses found in most constitutions, but there will be some additional pertinent clauses to be considered, such as voting rights, power-sharing, sovereignty, national flags and anthems, percentage vote required for any changes in the constitution, (suggested percentage 85%) the duties of the State Presidents and other portfolios of government. It will have to be decided or a bill of rights or simply to rely on the present common law. The Constitutional Council will wish to consider the composition of the new parliament, which should have one Assembly elected on separate electoral rolls for blacks, whites, coloureds and Indians. Then of course, there is the role of the Senate which I consider further on in this letter. It is important that the constitution is one that is agreed to by all the inhabitants.
The number of black and white members of parliament would be equal. The seats for blacks in parliament would be distributed according to their tribal population,and the estimated breakdown of tribes or areas for these seats are as follows.
Xhosa. 29
Tswana. 14
Zulu. 55
South Sotho. 19
North Sotho. 22
Venda. 5
Shangaan. 9
Swazi. 7
Ndebele 6
166 seats in the Assembly.
There are some new estimated Census figures which would change the composition of the seats; but as the figures are estimated, I have not made any changes, as any adjustments of, the figures would be made by a Constitutional Council.