Content - From Malan tot Mbeki

Early yearsIn 1963 I had my first confrontation with the NP. A number ofColoured people were turned away from a performance of theSymphony Orchestra in the Cape Town City Hall because, under theGroup Areas Act, they were not allowed into a “White area”. I wasvery upset and wrote my first letter to Die Burger newspaper, sayingthat what had happened was wrong and immoral. I stated in myletter that I had never heard of “skollies” in dress suits attendingsymphonic performances. As usual there were many letters attackingme, and I received no support. This, however, had an impact on mypolitical status inside the NP, and at the AGM of my branch I wasopposed as Secretary for the first time. I won the election 23 votes to15, but I was very clearly reminded that if you broke ranks, the Partywould spit you out.From that day, till I left the Party in 1987, I was continuouslyengaged in fights with the NP over certain policies with which Icould not associate myself. At no stage, however, did I contemplateresigning from the Party. I always thought that by voicing myopposition, I could help to change the Party from the inside. I alsohad a run-in with the Security Police who came to the farm after I hadwritten another letter to Die Burger, and I was solemnly warned that Imust be careful with these letters as I was “causing unrest.” I gavethem an earful and then phoned John Vorster (then Minister ofJustice), to whom I complained bitterly. He promised to look into thecase. I had no problems from the Security Police thereafter.I had two good friends, both Professors at Stellenbosch University,who had a profound influence on me. They were “Sampie”Terreblanche and Christof Hanekom, who became excellent soundingboards for me in my objections against certain aspects of NP policy.Tragically, Christof died of a heart attack in 1984, but Sampie stillplays a major role in my life today, as a close friend. He helped mewith many of my important speeches in Parliament, but we had somehuge fights, especially over Sampies’s continued membership of theBroederbond. I despised the organisation, while Sampie thought hecould help effect meaningful change as a member. We almost came toblows on one occasion, but when I resigned from the NP, Sampiefollowed me a week later.On the 14 th of November 1963, a most important event took place,7