Listening to the silent majority

[73]

I again discussed the developments in the Transvaal with tpa member, John Mavuso. ‘We now have in the province, for instance, 400 individual councillors elected by people of all colours; black, white, coloured and Indian. This is part of the progress towards a South Africa of tomorrow. So, while lots of people are speculating about a South Africa of tomorrow, we are busy doing it. They can all go on talking about it as long as they wish. We do it.’ I asked how many of the 400 councillors were black. ‘Just over half of them,’ Mavuso replied. ‘The Regional Services Council of Transvaal has representatives coming from all the various town councils.’ ‘In spite of some councils having been taken over by right-wingers of the Conservative Party?’ I asked. ‘In spite of these negative developments,’ John said. ‘There are twelve Regional Services Councils in Transvaal. Their membership is, of course, multiracial. They meet and decide there on all projects, including the allocation of funds. You know, Willem, as well as I do, that the heart of politics lies in the decision-making power of what to do with the economy and how to divide the available money. We have in Transvaal black people involved in determining the use of these funds, not tomorrow, but right now. Decisions are being taken jointly on a consensus basis by people who represent all the colour groups in our country. The Republic of South Africa of tomorrow is in full progress now. It's no longer in the realm of speculation any more. It is a reality.’

‘In the meantime,’ I replied, ‘Archbishop Desmond Tutu runs off to the Republic of Panama to involve himself with politics there.’ Mavuso: ‘Yes, in Panama he called for investment, and advised Washington to end the current boycott. What Tutu does, he does for Tutu, and much of what he does makes no sense. Of course, the people who pinned the Nobel Prize on him knew exactly what they were doing.’ ‘Scandinavians in general are confused about realities here. All they are doing is negative instead of helping to build bridges between blacks and whites,’ I said.

‘That is exactly what I am wanting to achieve in my function in the

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tpa,’ replied Mavuso. ‘We cannot spend our lives mourning about omissions in the past. We think that whatever time is left of our lives, should be spent constructively and in doing the necessary things in order to contribute to the shaping of a new South Africa. We have to do this demonstratively. That's why I am so active and involved. I intend to build bridges wherever possible. That's why I am surprised that there are still people who feel some embarrassment to be associated with me, such as Chief Buthelezi.

The South Africa of tomorrow, we are building now. Of course, a new nation will not come into being tomorrow. This new South Africa is in a process of change. And, the change we are talking about is what is taking place now. My own involvement in the governing processes is part of that development.’