Friday, May 14, 2010

Van Zyl Slabbert, R.I.P.

He was the white politician of my righteous teenage years. He was my hero when he left parliament to form IDASA. I think I was in love with him as he was then, tall, piecing-eyed, fit. He laughed a lot.

His brain was too good for politics.

Stil, broers,
daar gaan 'n man verby
hy groet,
en dis verlaas.
Daar's nog maar één soos hy;
Bekyk hom goed.


Excerpt from Gen. de Wet, Jan FE Celliers

He was a great South African.

We need more.

4 comments:

Mal Content said...

Sad to hear he has passed.I met him several times professionally (in my other life in politics) and he really was a righteous man.
Thanks for the post.
Hamba kakhle.

Jay said...

I loved him too.

Hen said...

I was about to tell you about him.
A bad week for people dying. Lanice Snyman died too. It is really sad about Van Zyl Slabbert - he was a remarkable man who stood tall above the rest and who could still have contributed. Sense, reason, justice, and an enviable brain.

Donovan G said...

It was due to people like Slabbert that two illiberal nationalisms agreed to a distinctly liberal constitution that entrenched the rule of law. History will do him due justice.