Truth to De Klerk’s powerful message

Although she wrote a book about her life with former state president FW de Klerk, Elita de Klerk remained in the shadows of public life.

After his death last year, she defended him against accusations that, because he was the last apartheid president, he was a racist who presided over evil.

In her personal thoughts about Freedom Day on Wednesday, Elita revealed the pain she felt at some of the messages after his death – “many were full of hatred”.

“At the time, I was aware I had to personally walk through my pain and not try to avoid it. To face it, head-on. I had the full knowledge that only in this way could the healing process begin.”

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She said she realised then that this country has not healed from the damage of the past. And racism is alive and well.

She added: “If we allow the racist spirit to control us, it takes our freedom away.

“Hatred is a spiritual prison. The shackles of hatred do not allow us to move. We must face our pain, collectively, head-on, as painful as it is and allow light to come in.”

There’s a message in there which we should all heed.