Jubilee South Africa and Khulumani Support Group
Press Statement
21 November
For Immediate Release

Watch out, de Klerk!

Jubilee and Khulumani want to issue a warning to FW de Klerk that, if he
continues to apologise for Apartheid and support those who have
benefited and still benefit from Apartheid, our organisations will be left
with no option but to put his role in perpetrating Apartheid crimes back in
the spotlight.

Last week, De Klerk suggested that support for the claim (filed by Jubilee
South Africa and the Khulumani Support Group against international
banks and companies that supported the Apartheid Regime) will impede
foreign investment in South Africa and hamper the progress to the New
Partnership for Africa's Development (NEPAD). Today, it has come to
light that de Klerk has given open support to the Swiss banks and asked
them to oppose and resist the case before the US courts.

He has asserted that, far from prolonging the life of Apartheid, the loans
made to the Apartheid Regime strengthened the economy and helped the
regime to create the conditions for change. But, in so doing, he is
confirming that these banks and companies played a major role in
supporting the Apartheid Regime.

The money from the Swiss banks was used to bolster the bantustan
governments and the military, in other words the system, despised and
condemned by the South African majority and the international
community, and the violent means to impose that system on the people of
our country. The loans further contributed to the immensely destructive
impact of Apartheid on the southern African region.

Indeed, de Klerk is also telling us that the loans and support from the
Swiss and other banks and companies afforded his regime undue power in
the negotiations process. Subsequently, resources that should have been
used to uplift the people of our country have been and are being put aside
to pay the Apartheid debt. These banks are thus not only continuing to
benefit from their support of Apartheid, but, in so doing, are perpetuating
their crime by continuing to support the impoverishment of the majority
of South Africans.

It is our contention that the banks and companies must first make an
acknowledgement of their liability and then go further to make
compensation to the people of South Africa and the southern African
region. The court case has been filed because they have, to date,
steadfastly refused to do so.

Up till now, Jubilee and Khulumani are demanding reparations from the
foreign banks and companies that are known to have supported Apartheid
with money and war materials. We have not included de Klerk and others
in South Africa because of our respect for the TRC process and the
rationale behind it.

But, we want to remind de Klerk that he, along with PW Botha and their
predecessors, are the primary perpetrators of the crimes of Apartheid.
Moreover, we have certainly not forgotten the complicity of South African
banks and corporations in this regard.

If de Klerk continues to enter the public domain as an apologist of
Apartheid criminality, he will force us to pay attention to him and add
him to the list of those from whom we demand payment for their crimes.

MP Giyose, Chairperson, Jubilee South Africa, 082 350 0361
Thandi Shezi, Project Officer, Khulumani Support Group, 082 773 1696