Delivered by Ambassador Barbara Barrett on 11/11/2024:
What a pleasure it is being here with my friend, the incomparable Elita de Klerk! (and now the unexpected added treat of my decades-long pal, Bridgett Radebe!)
And I have looked forward to joining you, especially those of you, who knew, worked with, and admired FW de Klerk, as I did.
FW de Klerk was an extraordinary man starting with his loving heart. FW was a better man because of his rock-solid devotion to Elita. When Elita was at his side his joy was absolute.
Together, they were admired – not just here in South Africa, where you knew him best – but around the world.
Congratulations to Elita and the FW de Klerk Foundation on yesterday’s Launch of the Centre for the Constitutional Transformation of South Africa! The powerful lessons portrayed through the Centre’s exhibit should be taught in classrooms everywhere.
As this is the third annual FW de Klerk Memorial Lecture, I follow two impressively distinguished precedents.
Last year in Washington, in conjunction with the Global Leadership Foundation Board, Professor Chester Crocker, the dean of the American diplomatic corps, delivered the second lecture from his vantage point as an American diplomat and scholar.
Chet Crocker was the architect of President Reagan’s policy of “constructive engagement” toward Southern Africa, stressing the goal of regional stability. He masterminded the Reagan policy that was seen as a more ‘even-handed’ approach to countries in this region. Chet Crocker had known and respected FW de Klerk through all or parts of six decades.
The late Lord Robin Renwick, British diplomat, author, member of the House of Lords, and former British Ambassador to South Africa, delivered the first.
In this Third Annual FW de Klerk Memorial Lecture let’s reflect on the contribution of one of the most consequential figures in modern history: Former South African President FW de Klerk.
To begin, let’s celebrate….continue reading this article HERE.
Thoko Didiza: {2019 – 2024} Thoko Didiza has served as the Minister of Agriculture, Land Reform and
Rural Development from May 2019. She previously held the position of Minister of Public Works and has been involved in
various initiatives aimed at improving land reform and rural development in South Africa.
Mr. Alien
Fun South African Fact: South Africa’s natural and human fossil history dates back hundreds of thousands, even millions, of years. Early dinosaur fossils have been discovered in the Western Cape and up to 80% of mammalian fossils found so far have been discovered in the Karoo.
The Dude
Van der Merwe is approached by SANRAL one day who want to build a new highway through his donkey farm. Van is really concerned with how his donkeys can get from one side of the farm to the other without having to cross the highway and risk being injured or killed. He is promised that they will build bridges the highway so that his donkeys can cross under the highway. Van agrees and gives them the go-ahead.
The highway is built and a year later the same rep goes to the farm to go see how Van and his donkeys are. He eventually finds Van under one of these bridges chipping away at the roof of the tunnel with a hammer and chisel.
\”Mnr Van de Merwe, what are you doing damaging the highway bridge?\”