Apartheid in South Africa - Contrition

Contrition

The following individuals, who had previously supported apartheid, made public apologies:

• FW de Klerk – "I apologise in my capacity as leader of the NP to the millions who suffered wrenching disruption of forced removals; who suffered the shame of being arrested for pass law offences; who over the decades suffered the indignities and humiliation of racial discrimination."

• Marthinus van Schalkwyk – "The National party brought development to a section of South Africa, but also brought suffering through a system grounded on injustice", in a statement shortly after the National Party voted to disband.

• Adriaan Vlok – who washed the feet of apartheid victim Frank Chikane in an act of apology for the wrongs of the Apartheid regime.

• Leon Wessels – who said "I am now more convinced than ever that apartheid was a terrible mistake that blighted our land. South Africans did not listen to the laughing and the crying of each other. I am sorry that I had been so hard of hearing for so long".