Raam en Rigting in die Politiek en die Storie van Apartheid
Part 1, byJapie Basson
POLITIKA (Soft cover, 164 pages, ISBN 0 620 32284 5, Price R150)
Japie Basson, one of the most colourful South African politicians from the apartheid era caused – more often than not – “a fluttering in the political pigeon coop”. That is, according to Sakkie Perold, a former editor of the Afrikaans Sunday newspaper, Rapport.
This first part of his political memoirs, Raam en Rigting in die Politiek en die Storie van Apartheid, is testimony to his multifaceted political career, which he steered and piloted through the tempestuous political waters of a country “where the dynamics flowed like a strong river, meandering left to right, down waterfalls, and seldom quietly along the plains”. (From Paul Murray’s review on LitNet, September 2006.)
At a very early stage of his parliamentary career his “verligte” viewpoints – which he expressed in no uncertain terms – irritated the then Prime Minister Dr HF Verwoerd to such an extent that he asked Basson to leave the National Party.
Basson stuck to his principles, though, and as a result of this was steeped in controversy for most of his political life – which lasted half a century!
He has often been described as a man ahead of his time.
In Raam en Rigting in die Politiek Basson provides firsthand information on historical figures like General JBM Hertzog and Dr DF Malan, and especially on the powerful influences of former Prime Ministers HF Verwoerd and BJ Vorster.
This book is an eye-opener to the machinations behind apartheid, and a must-read for anyone trying to understand or come to terms with the travesty that held this nation in bondage for so long.
The contents in a nutshell
Chapter 1
The Bassons: Huguenots or Hollanders? (Die Bassons: Hugenote of Hollanders?)
A well-researched and very interesting chapter on the origins of the Basson family, who settled in Paarl. There are some fascinating stories about the persecution of Protestants in France, the Netherlands and Belgium – an appetiser to the National Party’s “persecution complex” in the form of apartheid.
Chapter 2
At the Southern Tip ... (Aan de Zuidpunt ...)
At the southernmost tip of Africa, wrote the Dutchman Piet Kort in 1968, lives a group of people who deem themselves to be so important that all other interests should be cast aside for their benefit ... A chapter about some foreign publications describing the realities of apartheid “that eventually turned so many thinking people against us”.
Chapter 3
Breakfast Politics (Politiek by die Pap)
“The house where I grew up,” writes Basson, “seldom experienced a day without party-political vibrations.” Everyone, even the family GP and intimate friends, was closely involved in politics. Basson also tells of how, through his father’s influence, he became an avid reader of newspapers from an early age.
Chapter 4
Polarisation Plagues Paarl (Polarisasie Pla die Pêrel)
A lively and intimate description of the author’s youth in his hometown, his schooling at Paarl Boys’ High, and the serious yet good-natured “animosity” between Boys’ High and Paarl Gymnasium. The chapter also describes the almost irrational church and school politics in the town.
Chapter 5
Gold from a Guinea (Goud uit ’n Ghienie)
Gold – in the shape of a “lasting and soul-satisfying love of books and for the well-written word” – is worth much more than a guinea to Basson. The author tells us how it happened that he developed such an insatiable love of reading.
Chapter 6
Daily Dreams (Drome in die Dag)
Even as a schoolboy Basson already had an eye on Parliament – much to the disbelief of his Latin teacher!
Chapter 7
In the Grip of Hollywood (Die Houvas van Hollywood)
“I sometimes wonder which words one would have to choose,” the author says, “if one were asked to explain the worldwide grip and influence of the film industry in general, and of Hollywood in particular, on the happiness and actions of humankind.” He then tells of Dr Albert Hertzog’s phobia with regard to the supposed threat of the American film industry to the Afrikaner’s cultural life.
Chapter 8
Pathfinders and Patriots (Padvinders en Patriotte)
The founding of the Voortrekker movement and the challenges it faced in later years – without losing sight of its main goal, namely to help shape better and more useful citizens.
Chapter 9
A Bible Translation Causes Commotion (’n Bybelvertaling bring Beroering)
Basson tells of his grandfather’s indignation about the 1933 translation of the Bible into Afrikaans – he was so disgruntled that he walked out of the church! – and shares thoughts about translations and translating, having gained some experience in this field while working as a journalist at Die Suiderstem.
Chapter 10
Displeasure and Dispute (Toorn en Tweespalt)
This chapter deals with Prof. Johannes du Plessis, whose statue became known to Stellenbosch students simply as “Pink Piet” – a name light years removed from the calibre of man that Du Plessis was: a formidable, liberated theologian, a friend of General Jan Smuts, and because of his controversial pronouncements more often than not in the line of fire from the synod of the Dutch Reformed Church.
Chapter 11
Home and High Priest (Huis en Hoëpriester)
Amongst others Basson tells of an unplanned visit to Ireland, during which he had the privilege of listening to a speech by the former Irish freedom fighter and later President, Eamon de Valera. He also describes a visit to the Irish parliament.
Chapter 12
Poetry in Parliament (Poësie in die Praathuis)
The author sometimes tries his hand at writing and translating poems. In this chapter he shares his thoughts on this, and also quotes from books in his collection that have been signed by the authors, amongst others Dr Nic Diederichs and Arthur G. Barlow.
Chapter 13
Running Riot with Hitler (Op Hol met Hitler)
The influence of the Hitler culture on certain groups in South Africa is discussed, with reference to nationalist-socialist factions such as the Greyshirts and the Brownshirts – and the inspiration of the “Purified” National Party, namely the Orangeshirts!
Chapter 14
Structure and System (Raam en Rigting)
The author and his father served together in Parliament for five years, and the author and his brother for fifteen, yet they were never in the same party. “It was quite natural for us to be who you are, with great self-assurance,” he writes. He talks about his views on democracy, and the attitude of the Bassons towards fellow citizens with differing views.
Chapter 15
Initiation Delirium in Dagbreek (Doopdolheid in Dagbreek)
Basson went to the University of Stellenbosch to study law, but first had to undergo the indignities of the initiation process at the Dagbreek residence. He has much to say about this, with annotated remarks on what he thinks of the initiation rites of the time!
Chapter 16
Residence and Room-mate (Koshuis en Kamermaat)
A chapter about a rather unique room-mate – short and to the point.
Chapter 17
Academic Abstracts (Akademiese Afleiding)
The author tells of his studies at the University of Stellenbosch, his classes with Dr HF Verwoerd and the “feeling” he started to develop about the Doctor’s politics. he also tells of his enjoyable lectures from Prof. Piet Schoeman, and of his friend, Frans Venter, (later known as the author FA Venter), who lost his trousers thanks to a newspaper article criticising Dr DF Malan, and ended up underneath a tap at a women’s residence ...
Chapter 18
A Place in Politics (’n Plek in die Politiek)
During Basson’s second year he was asked to help establish a United Party (UP) student branch, the first of its kind in the country. He tells of his meeting with Beyers Naudé, amongst others, and of the election during which Adv. HA Fagan overwhelmed the National Party (NP) in Stellenbosch by a majority of 30 votes.
Chapter 19
The Beloved Language (Die Geliefde Taal)
We read about the JJ Smith spelling method (as advocated by Prof. JJ Smith, the first editor-in-chief of the Woordeboek van die Afrikaanse Taal), and about the then editorial staff of Die Suiderstem, among others Freda Linde and FA Venter.
Chapter 20
Keeping Cool in a Cabinet Crisis (Koel in ’n Kabinetskrisis)
A visit to the UP student branch by the then Prime Minister, General Hertzog, as a crisis raged in his Cabinet.
Chapter 21
Fun with Plato (Pret met Plato)
The author tells of his election campaign in South West Africa, and of some peculiarities about his opponent, Adv. MJ Kritzinger.
Chapter 22
Helmsmen and Statesmen (Stuurmanne en Staatsmanne)
In this chapter we read about General Smuts’ abhorrence of apartheid; about Dr DF Malan’s views; about the author’s respect for Confucius’ teachings, and about a book containing an open-mouthed reflection on the failure that was apartheid.
Chapter 23
Coalition and Purification (“Smelting” en “Suiwering”)
The stormy coalition politics of the thirties are discussed – the UP of Hertzog and Smuts, DF Malan’s near-humiliation in Calvinia during the election, and the UP victory over the Purified NP in the 1938 election.
Chapter 24
Seven Statements (Sewe Stellings)
In the thirties Parliamentary party politics hinged on relationships between Afrikaans and English speakers, and South Africa’s relations with Britain. References to race pertained to the white Afrikaans and English world. “Seven Statements” refers to the seven “preconditions for coalition” between the NP and South African Party (SAP). The sixth point revolved entirely around the so-called “native issue”; there was an intention to find a solution for this problem “without denying the Bantu his right to development”.
Chapter 25
Turning Point and Transformation (Keer en Kentering)
The early thirties where characterised by droughts, financial crises, and Hitlerian propaganda broadcast by the various “shirt movements” that derived their public support from the ranks of the “Purifieds”. We also read of Hertzog’s nationalist-socialist tendencies, which resulted in his defeat in Parliament shortly after the outbreak of World War II; of clashes with the Ossewa-Brandwag; of protests against the admission of German refugees after the war; of the “Republican State Constitution” of 1942 ... and of the run-up to apartheid, which undoubtedly had its roots in the fascist ideologies that entered the country from Germany.
Chapter 26
A Meaningful Missive (’n Beduidende Brief)
A congratulatory letter from the Stellenbosch UP student branch to General Hertzog receives a reply – with strong indications of the General’s irritation with the English faction in the party. The author provides well-reasoned and very interesting insights into the “fitful relations between ... the English Empire fundamentalists and the Afrikaans political firebrands”.
Chapter 27
Split and Separation (Skeuring en Skeiding)
After winning the 1938 election, one would have expected the UP to enjoy a period of positive co-operation in a government of national unity, but the outbreak of World War II upset everything. Read about Smuts’ victory over Hertzog after differences over South Africa’s ties to the “German Reich”; about pre-war anti-UP propaganda by Dr Malan and his party; and about the beginning of a sad “ten years for the National Party which were destined to become even uglier before things would improve” (according to Schalk Pienaar of Die Burger).
Chapter 28
Advent to Apartheid (Vooraand van Apartheid)
Basson tells of the political propaganda and undercurrents – many as a direct result of World War II – that preceded the election of 7 July 1943, and how it happened that the election results were a “slap in the face” for Dr Malan and the NP.
Chapter 29
Moorreesburg, my Girl! (Moorreesburg, my Nooi!)
Just before the 1943 election the author was invited to be the UP’s parliamentary candidate in Moorreesburg. His youthful appearance proved to be a problem (“Does your mother know you’re out?”). Read more about this, and about the NP’s election propaganda and manifesto (“With his tired old British-Jewish capitalist democracy, General Smuts stands for the preservation of the British connection”), and his first meeting with PW Botha.
Chapter 30
Segregation vs Apartheid (Segregasie vs Apartheid)
The leitmotiv of “segregation”, as understood by whites, hinged on a level of civilisation and not colour – according to Basson. At that time segregation was not applied to the so-called Coloureds. Apartheid was created purely for party-political reasons, was presented as a “colour policy” and was unique. “Most countries,” the author says “experienced multi-nationalism or multi-racialism to a greater or lesser degree, and were, like us, burdened with minority questions.” What, then, caused the rest of the world to become so inflamed about our way of handling such matters?
Chapter 31
Rampant Injustice (Onreg op ’n Galop)
Read how it happened that the NP gradually started to lose the Coloured vote, and about the injustices meted out to Coloured voters if they exercised their right to vote. This chapter also contains a page from Hansard, with the Private Member’s Motion in the interest of the Coloured population which led to a Commission of Enquiry into Matters Relating to the Coloured Population Group in 1973.
Chapter 32
Dispensable Downfall (Onnodige Ondergang)
In this chapter we find a rare photograph, published here for the first time, of General JC Smuts at the Fifty-nation Conference to ratify the Charter of the United Nations Organisation in San Francisco in June 1945. The Smuts government “emerged from the World War with glory”. What then led to the UP’s defeat in the election of 1948? Read about the UP’s unnecessary defeat, and of the dawn of 44 years of apartheid under the NP.
Chapter 33
Political Twists and Turns (Kulpolitiek en sy Kronkels)
“In the end,” Basson tells us, “the NP itself did what it said ‘would bring about the demise of the white Christian civilisation’, and which handed over the country to a black majority government.” Read about the “unbelievable in party politics” in this chapter.
Chapter 34
Inkosi Verwoerd: Shears and Shavings (Inkosi Verwoerd: Skêr en Snitte)
A closer encounter with Verwoerd, as experienced by the author. Early danger signs that nobody could or would address.
Chapter 35
Fabricating Fables (“Tonge flink met fabels”)
Read about the “thoughtlessness” of John Vorster, then Prime Minister and later State President. This chapter includes Vorster sayings that motivated the author to open an office file titled Vorster Howlers: John’s Jewels. Some of these cast some light, amongst other things, on the origins of the so-called Information Scandal. Also read how Vorster tried to defend Government policies abroad, and how concepts like “separate development” and “plural democracy” became common coinage.
Extracts from reviews that appeared in the press
Beeld: Boekeblad 13 September 2004
(At van Wyk)
Dis ’n lekker boek, uitstekend geskryf, selfs vrolik – behalwe oor apartheid – en dit help ’n leemte vul, want Afrikaans is skaars aan politieke memoires. Dié een ... vat jou meer as 80 jaar van Boishaai in die Pêrel tot by die verteller in sy boekery, met Afrikaans sy “lieftaal”.
Hy lyf jou in by sy kleintydse bende cowboys; jy jil langs hom in die stilfliek ... jy hoor die viskarre kom en die nagwa, en luister saam met oupa Hendrik daardie 1933-Sabbat na die eerste Afrikaans vertaling: “Die Here jou God is ’n jaloerse God ...”
“Die Here jaloers!” Oupa vat sy kierie en loop. Vyftig jaar later lees sy kleinseun die Nuwe Vertaling: dis sonder “’n jaloerse God”.
Oor apartheid en sy “baasskappers” is Basson ’n “donkerkyker” en Smuts sy “politieke Springbok” – om sy woorde te gebruik. Sy storie is te verwelkom, want Afrikaners ontwyk diep dink oor apartheid en kom nie tot sielsuiwering nie ...” |
Die Burger: Boekeblad 6 September 2004
(Willie Breytenbach)
Outobiografieë is van die mees onderskatte bronne van eietydse geskiedenis. Dink net aan die nuwe insigte oor Amerikaans politiek wat uit Henry Kissinger se eie boek voortgespruit het; insigte oor wat in Namibië en Angola op die militêre front gebeur het soos gesien deur genl. Jannie Geldenhuys (oudhoof van die SA Weermag); en FW de Klerk se eie verhaal oor hoekom hy die toespraak in Februarie 1990 gemaak het.
Japie Basson ... se politieke lewensverhaal val in dieselfde klas. Die verskil is dat Japie Basson nie self geregeer het nie, want meestal was hy in die opposisie ... ’n opposisie-voorbanker teen Verwoerd, Vorster en Botha.
Basson ken die politiek. Dit kan nie anders nie, want hy het in sy lang loopbaan aan sewe politieke partye behoort ... |
LitNet: 27 September 2006
(Paul Murray)
The Bassons – Danie, father of Japie, Hein, Japie’s brother, and Japie himself – have made a considerable contribution to the South African political scene.
[Japie Basson’s] work as a politician proceeded unabated from the political bench of what must certainly rank as one of the noblest of all positions, as a member of the Opposition.
Basson’s book Raam en Rigting in die Politiek en die Storie van Apartheid is a testimony to a polychromatic career in politics … [his] elegance as a speaker and thinker saw him fill the position in the Opposition as the country’s shadow Minister of External Affairs, and as a specialist in this matter as well as in matters constitutional. His training in law served him well in this department.
A position on the country’s President’s Council was the culmination and recognition of a lifelong contribution to South African politics. Basson’s voice against injustice echoed through the halls of South African politics for half a century. The memoirs in the form of this book tell the story clearly and vividly, and make for dynamic reading.
The fourteenth chapter of the book has part of the title in it: Raam en Rigting, and opens with an apt quote which says of Confucius that he “would never sit on a mat that was not straight”. As a nationalist, Basson explains the belief in Afrikaner nationalism at the time. The purpose was never to operate or act alone for one’s own sake, but rather in context of being part of a multinational country. Coalition and fusion politics is explained in the chapter in broader context of co-operation with English-speaking South African politics.
The numerous chapters serve as separate yet interconnected essays describing, debating, analysing and explaining the exigencies, manifestations and intricate connectedness of the South African political scene at the time of Basson’s political life. There is a chapter that explains for the student of political history the difference between segregation and apartheid, a difficult task in anyone’s books because it is so conceptual. The close involvement for the NP with the coloured people and the effects on the political situation in the country is a topic of discussion in the chapter entitled “Onreg op ’n Galop”.
The current publication is a valuable addition to the existing canon of political writings on South African political history. It brings with it a personal narrative of intense involvement at the time when our history was most closed off, and the voice of a broad-minded South African comes through strongly in the story.
The volume is well illustrated with photographs in black and white as well as with Ivanoff cartoons and copious footnotes. The book is indexed, thus presenting the student with a user-friendliness also found in the accessible prose, neatly written, with sensitivity and in a fluid and pleasing-to-read style. It reflects, above all, Basson’s ability to tell the story of apartheid in such a way that personal history and official history are inextricably intertwined, covering a period in the country’s history that will never be forgotten and in which Basson played no small part. |
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