Allow me a few comments on Hans Pienaar’s review of Niel Barnard’s book, Peaceful Revolution (Niel Barnard provides a revealing peek into the negotiations leading to ’94, November 30). There is deep irony on display in the title. Between 20,000 and 30,000 people died during violence leading up to election in 1994. Some "peaceful revolution"! Included among the dead were more than 400 leaders of a political party that was in opposition to the current ruling party. Barnard knows the identity of the movement that did the bulk of this killing. He also has intimate knowledge of the many tonnes of illegal weapons that were smuggled into the country for the express purpose of killing political opponents. It is poppycock to claim as he did that 40 tonnes of documents were destroyed in army furnaces to destroy the identity of his secret agents — it was done to conceal the true history of exactly what happened on the road to democracy. He writes his memoirs on the transition on the basis of w...
Would you like to comment on this article?
Sign up (it's quick and free) or sign in now.
Please read our Comment Policy before commenting.
Subscribe now to unlock this article.
Support BusinessLIVE’s award-winning journalism for R129 per month (digital access only).
There’s never been a more important time to support independent journalism in SA. Our subscription packages now offer an ad-free experience for readers.
Cancel anytime.
Questions? Email helpdesk@businesslive.co.za or call 0860 52 52 00. Got a subscription voucher? Redeem it now.