Suzman 'a voice of reason'

2009-01-02 08:14

Johannesburg - Helen Suzman earned her place in South Africa's political history through her persistent and courageous opposition to the inhumane system of apartheid, President Kgalema Motlanthe said on Thursday.

"At a time when the apartheid government sought a blackout on critical and independent views about the inhumanities inflicted on millions of South Africans it was Helen Suzman who stood out as one of the few remaining voices of reason in the darkest days of our country's history."

He said South Africans of all persuasions should honour Helen Suzman and show appreciation of her contribution to the building of a democratic society.

"On Sunday, as all of us will be saying our last goodbye to Helen Suzman, the national flag at all flag posts throughout the country shall be flown at half-mast in celebration of her life."

Meanwhile, the FW de Klerk foundation said on Thursday that Suzman was for many years a lone defender of liberal values in the South African Parliament.

"She fearlessly spoke out, and actively worked for, the freedoms and justice in which she so passionately believed. She lived to see the realisation of many of her ideals in the adoption of our interim constitution in 1993 and our present constitution in 1996," said FW de Klerk in a statement.

De Klerk said for many years he and Suzman were political opponents, but always respected one another.

"We differed, however, on the need to protect community and minority rights. Helen Suzman thought that such rights could be best protected by guaranteeing individual rights, while I believed that they needed specific protection," de Klerk said.

He said in recent years, through the foundations that bear their names, they have been united in their common endeavours to defend the rights and institutions that were protected by the Constitution.

"Helen Suzman made an enormous contribution to the establishment of our constitutional democracy and to the promotion of non-racial justice in South Africa."

The British High Commission on Thursday called Suzman a towering figure of moral and political courage.

"She provided an unerring compass for what was right and wrong within our world. A consummate politician, she was an inspiration not only for those who were privileged to know her personally, but for successive generations of human rights activists the world over," said high commissioner Paul Boateng.

The commissioner said Suzman would always be remembered whenever people come together in the cause of freedom and justice.

Helen Suzman was made an honorary dame by Queen Elizabeth in 1989.

- SAPA