"The unbearable whiteness of being"

In a recent article on the alienation of Afrikaner youth, Prof Jonathan Jansen, the black former Dean of Education at the University of Pretoria, wrote that the only way that "racist sentiment could be overcome was if we stopped reinforcing the idea black was good and white was bad, and to recognize each other as human beings." He then asked "Can you imagine what it is like walking through the Apartheid Museum as a white child? To have the knowledge of what your fathers did - it's the unbearable whiteness of being."

I thought that I would visit the Apartheid Museum - to see for myself whether I would also experience this ‘unbearable whiteness of being'. After all, I was one of the ‘fathers' to whom Jansen referred: for the whole of my career I served the government that instituted apartheid; then tortuously tried to reform it, and finally - thank God - abolished it.

It was a wrenching experience. The museum graphically conveys the awful alienation caused by apartheid. One enters through prison-like portals marked ‘nie-blankes' and ‘blankes' - and is then confronted with giant racial ID cards in heavy wire cages. Inside everything is stark: naked brick and steel bars.

One is led up a ramp depicting the first violent contact between whites and San hunters (nothing about similar clashes between the San and migrating black tribes).

There is a large black and white photo of the devastation wrought to Boer farms during the Anglo-Boer War - (but, strangely enough, nothing of the 26 000 women and children who died in the concentration camps).

The general impression of our history is of the depredations wrought by white colonialists that disrupted the peace-loving heirs of the ‘glittering' civilization of Mapungubwe (I saw nothing about the wars of Mfecane). There is a temporary exhibition on the life of Steve Biko (clearly a remarkable man) - and the callous reaction of Jimmy Kruger, to his death in police custody.

The museum makes effective use of TV monitors with repeating films containing statements by Hendrik Verwoerd, sweetly explaining how much blacks benefited from apartheid; PW Botha, wagging his finger; and Paul Sauer, referring to most blacks as 'barbarians'.

There is a flickering film produced during the 30s to depict Afrikaner history - showing happy Malay slaves, the Great Trek and the massacre of Piet Retief. A panel on education highlights the early-50s quote by Verwoerd that blacks should not be educated beyond a certain level (but there is no explanation why there were more black tertiary students than whites by 1989).

Everywhere there are images of unrelenting black poverty and repression (but nothing about the fact that the gap between white and black incomes had been closing by 10% each decade since 1970).

All the material is carefully selected to reinforce the points that the Museum has set out to make. One walks through a gallows chamber with hundreds of hangman's ropes depicting those executed under apartheid - juxtaposed nearby with a continuous video of Barbie-doll white children attending church.

There is a panel illustrating the allegedly hateful relations between white families and their black domestics (Gosh, did dear old Sally who for decades was part of my parents' family, really hate them?) and a giant photo of dehumanized naked, black mineworkers undergoing a medical examination.

Due homage is paid to ‘good' whites who supported the struggle - the Braam Fischers, Neil Aggetts and Ruth Firsts - to avoid any accusation that the exhibition is in any way anti-white. But there is nothing about the contribution that the ‘bad' whites made to the development of the country; very little about the factors that motivated successive generations of white voters; and hardly anything about the global context within which all of this took place.

Perhaps the most riveting part of the exhibition is a 20-minute large screen film of the unrest of the 1980s. It includes many of the images of the turmoil that we have now largely forgotten; riot police chasing protesters over barbed wire fences; soldiers firing tear-gas from Caspirs; undulating seas of chanting and toy-toying demonstrators.

Young black veterans of the struggle explain with almost religious zeal the necessity of ‘necklacing' informers. The film ends with the claim that it was all this that forced the apartheid government to the negotiating table (there is no possibility that there might have been any worthy motive).

After that it all changes. F W de Klerk is given credit for his role in the process and Roelf Meyer boyishly explains how the transition liberated whites as well.

Then one emerges into the brilliant sunlight of a highveld winter day, onto a plaza dominated by giant pillars representing the values in our Constitution - including one proclaiming ‘reconciliation'.

One wonders what emotions are stirred in the busload after busload of black school children who pass wide-eyed through the museum (perhaps someone should do research) - or in Prof Jansen's angry young Afrikaners.

It is a genuinely moving experience - in the same way that a Palestinian museum on the history of the State of Israel might be. But it has nothing to do with objectivity or reconciliation.

It has everything to do with perpetuating racial stereotypes and entrenching perceptions of racial guilt. In multicultural societies that can be a recipe for disaster.

*Dave Steward is the Executive Director of the FW de Klerk Foundation

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APARTHEID MUSEUM IS JUST TOWING OFFICIAL GOVERNMENT LINE It seems Mbeki's divide and rule policy has been adopted in this museum. Thanks to this policy, this country has never been more racially divided. Gone is the goodwill built up by Mandela. A real sorry state of affairs. by WTF on September 09 2008, 06:32 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

History gone mad. Unfortunately it is now all too clear that the Afrikaners and others were not altogether wrong in viewing blacks as inferior beings. Where they went wrong, though, was in treating them as such. No doubt in time to come, when the pendulum's swung, . .more another museum will be established as a memorial to the hundreds of of thousands (millions?) of innocent people of all races murdered post-1994 by these same liberated savages in the process of 'giving expression' to their culture. . .less by Darwon on September 09 2008, 07:31 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

Mbeki and company practice their own special form of racism here, I am sure one day there will be a museum to all the thousands of people killed here during their reign. by Abacus on September 09 2008, 07:47 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

If I recall the museum was built as part of a social investment project so that Gold Reef city could get a gambling license. The casinos are now full of poor black people hoping for a miracle. If that's not cynical then I dont know what is. by A.Ryan on September 09 2008, 07:58 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

Museum for the AIDS victims Mbeki's denialism has killed millions. No museum to commemorate that one is there? by pfp on September 09 2008, 08:00 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

Julius of the ANCYL It sounds like Julius and his dumber cousin were the directors of the film there - Julius will KILL for ZUMA - what a brainless buffoon, being groomed as future ANC leader - he has done more damage to the image of the ANC in 6 months than all the . .more corruption of Zuma and Selebi put together - Viva Julius Viva - the DA thanks you for all the voters you have converted from ANC to DP Viva Viva . .less by Lovemore Mabandla on September 09 2008, 08:11 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

Nothing strange about this museum, we all know that one racist government was exchanged for another. by cooldog on September 09 2008, 08:23 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

Hang on a seccy Is this the same Dave Steward who spewed forth National Party propaganda on SABC during apartheid? Even if it is, the worrying thing is that his observations are true: One doesn't see the carnage that ANC cowards perpetrated by planting limpet . .more mines etc in civilian places; a picture of that hero of the nation McBride and his dismembered vicitms. One doesn't see the young white man standing naked undergoing a military medical examination whilst wondering what/who the hell he is supposed to be fighting for and facing a prison sentence for non-compliance. And while we're at it: what about some pics of the torture in ANC military camps in Tanzania? What's good for the goose... . .less by Dave on September 09 2008, 08:40 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

Dave - this is sad. You are an apologist to the end The next thing you are going to tell us is that "the blacks actually enjoyed carrying the dompas" as it helped them remember where they lived after visiting an illegal shebeen.... by Watcher on September 09 2008, 08:50 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

"apartheid not our fault" "Yes, our forefathers did not create apartheid and were not racist. It was the government of day that made us live like that. We had no moral compass to assess right from wrong, actually we were told that GOD odained it such. We had domestics like Sally . .more that looked after us, but we didn't need to know where she came from, who looked after children while she looked after us. We hated non-whites because we were told to hate them (by the Nats off-course). Bye the way, we also disliked the Jews too, but thankfully they had a lighter complexion, so we were happy to include them." Reading this blog and comments on this topic, this is what is actually be expressed. I suppose Blacks need to apologise to the white folk for demanding equal rights? What bullsh1t Mr Stewart. Stick to things you know about. . .less by sitting bull on September 09 2008, 08:57 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

Convenient loss of memory Lets look at some facts.If it was not for the Nats SA would probably be another Cuba as the ANC was trained and backed by the USSR.For most people all they know about Mandela, prior to his release in 1990, was that he had spent 27 years in prison and was . .more considered by many on the left at the time (and almost everyone now) to be a political prisoner. However, Mandela was no Aung San Suu Kyi, he was not an innocent, democratically elected leader, imprisoned by an authoritarian government.Mandela was the terrorist leader of a violent terrorist organisation, the ANC which was responsible for many thousands of, mostly black, deaths.Mandela has the direct blood of 19 innocent people dead 200 injured on his hands. According to the Human Rights Commission it is estimated that during the Apartheid period some 21,000 people were killed, however both the UN Crimes against Humanity commission and South Africa's own Truth and Reconciliation Commission are in agreement that in those 43 years the South African Security forces killed a total of 518 people. The rest, (some 92%) were accounted for by Africans killing Africans. You choose who was the more peace loving. . .less by Hypocrites on September 09 2008, 09:00 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

It's truly sad Just goes to show, politicians cannot really facilitate or manage transformation, they're mostly the same inside. Maybe the ordinary folks of this country should erect a museum where we can all see the real goodwill among people of all the different . .more cultures, maybe FNB can sponsor this under the "The Good News" brand? . .less by Amazed on September 09 2008, 09:26 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

all-together now de la rey, de la rey, de la rey, de la rey......aaaahhhhhhh.....feel much better now!!! by Grave-digger on September 09 2008, 09:29 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

How stupid can they be!!! My two white afrikaans little children has many black friends, they dont even realise that their friends are black and they are white--why? Because colour is not an issue, preference, yardstic etc in our house! Why would anybody want to take children to a . .more museum like that if there are places like the planetarium, Zoo etc? There can only be one reason and the reason is that if you imprint all the bad stuff that happened in the past in young minds, then you can shape it to believe all the C*** you'll feed it later on. The white people posesess something black people don't and that is the ability to look and think forward! We understand that you cant move forward in life by looking back the whole time.... Apartheid is dead (thank God) can you people move on already?? My philosiphy is that the ANC is keeping its voters stupid and scared of the white man (malema and co.) by not giving them an education because an educated nation would see through this raciallistic governments incompitence!! . .less by Witblitz on September 09 2008, 10:01 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

museum Maybe Dave Steward has brought some political baggage from the past, but have we not all? Including the ANC indunas with all the atrocities committed by them against their own people? The ANC has no right to adopt a holier-than-thou attitude! They are . .more the government and many big sacrifices were made by the peoples of SA to allow the ANC to get where they are. They are obliged to handle SA with care and objectivity. . .less by jaycee on September 09 2008, 10:22 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

@watcher and @sitting bull You've clearly (and perhaps deliberately) missed the point. Nowhere is it intimated that the oppressed enjoyed their oppression or that no one but the government of the day was responsible for what went on. It is quite clearly stated that for . .more something claiming to be a museum the message is heavily biased, something which anyone who knows anything about history (yeah, I can do ad hominem too) knows is against the principles of historical presentation. Does everyone always present history objectively? No, but that doesn't provide an excuse for anything claiming to present history not at least to attempt to be objective. By the "logic" you're employing in your attacks you're claiming that the ANC and other anti-apartheid movements never did anything wrong, or hurt anyone (my uncle must've planted the bomb in the lift himself, the idiot). You're equally claiming that there was never fighting for land amongst the black tribes. I haven't been to the museum myself, but if it's as biased as is claimed here then it has no business calling itself a museum. . .less by CTheB on September 09 2008, 10:22 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

Face the facts It's called the Apartheid Museum and consequently shows a history of the atrocities of Apartheid. It is not the Boer War museum, thats why there is no Afrikaner concentration camp displays. Unfortunatley for white people, their history has some . .more horiffic and shameful moments. It may not be easy to face up to it, but it is undeniable. . .less by Face the facts on September 09 2008, 10:31 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

Who cares... By now, whitey should have figured out that he/she isn't welcome any more in the "glorious" Azanian revolution. A silly addendum to a cheesy gambling palace doesn't mean much in the greater scheme of things... by Zee on September 09 2008, 10:35 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

Without racial tensions the ANC are just a useless African government The ANC need to keep the memory of the struggle alive because without the glory days of their past they are just another African government doing a lousy job at running a country. De Klerk and his government made the ultimate political sacrifice . .more of passing on control of their country to an opposition party because they realised that it was in the best interest to the future of South Africa. This was a courageous and noble act. Compare that to Mugabe where he prefers to destroy his country rather than give it up to anyone else. One day the voters will no longer wish the ANC to be in power. I fear the ANC won't give up power as generously as De Klerk once did, but rather will choose inspiration from the Mugabe style of democracy. . .less by Sad Days on September 09 2008, 10:42 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

to CtheB If your "logic" is correct, then one can argue against the Holacast museum for example, as Germans living at the time, or their offspring would claim that it was biased too. Please accept it that apartheid was a "crime against humanity" and the museum is . .more there as a reminder to our future generations that we should never go down that path again. Further reminder to adults living in these times, is not to pass our prejudices to our children, rather take them to your graves with you. Forget the rantings of the ANCYL and the far right , the non racial country you seek for your children, can be achieved if you ensure it happens. . .less by JG on September 09 2008, 10:50 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

Historic Objectivity Since when has history been objective? All new governments rewrite history, telling what grips them about the past. When a new government comes into power, all the old statues, monuments and stories are dismantled and replaced to glorify the incumbents . .more and demonize the previous "regime". Why should we expect any different from our government? Expecting politicians to give an objective view is like training a wolf as a sheep dog. . .less by Dreamer on September 09 2008, 10:55 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

History is told by the Victors Need I say more......? by Watcher on September 09 2008, 11:43 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

WWDBS- What would David Bullard Say This is a nice one to copy by Lord Ha Ha on September 09 2008, 11:43 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

Witblitz: Pas op. How warming to read that your little Afrikaans kiddies don't know the difference between black and white. I trust they do know the difference between pit bulls and Maltese poodles, though - or did you neglect to warn them about that danger too? Of . .more course, one always hopes the worst will never happen - and probably it won't - but forewarned is forearmed. . .less by Darwon on September 09 2008, 12:06 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

@JG: there is one big difference between the holocaust museum and this one As Hypocrites above puts it, 518 blacks died under apartheid security forces, the rest was black on black violence. I would hazard a guess that of the 518, many were terrorists (whichever way you want to paint them) and sadly there were people like Biko . .more who should never have died. But the Jews were completely passive victims and were slaughtered in their millions. Then take a look at other forms of ethnic cleansing throughout Africa where millions have been killed, including mugabe's slaughter of tens of thousands and the recent genocide there. Add all of these up and apartheid pales into insignificance. . .less by Dave on September 09 2008, 12:25 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

Dave Steward dreaming, Majority of whites supported and helped sustain apartheid. Apartheid =whites abusing wokers = Whites enjoying country resouces Africans left out = Thousands of African killed by whites Apartheid . .more declared crime against humanity. what posetivity is there whith Apartheid..? . .less by Piet Van Bieltong on September 09 2008, 12:44 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

Dompass Please enlighten how long the Dompass was enforced? I bet you the last Dompass holder is now in his 90's. For holocaust museums and this to act as a warning - not the same thing, for in Germany the young Jews don't afterwards come and visit the . .more Germans with a knife and a gun to take a little bit of revenge, like pruning of fingers with shears. This just sweeps up hatred amongst an uninformed black youth. . .less by Domkop on September 09 2008, 12:53 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

Acknowledge complicity Its such a damn shame that even in the face of overwhelming evidence,some white folks continue to deny that Apartheid existed, too bad the museum provides ample evidence,not to mention the enduring legacy. The author of this article,tries to . .more trivialise the devastation of the evil system by lacing his writing with irrelevant events.Apartheid had nothing to do with the Mfecane.As for blacks numerical superiority at Tertiary institutions they do after all constitute over 70% of the population ...duh and despite deliberate underfunding by the racist government those bush colleges have produced some of the finest graduates. . .less by BMZ on September 09 2008, 13:29 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

Crying and sobbing brats SAfricans! SA's have to be the most whingey people we have met. Constantly complaining, particularly when abroad about the service that does not match home......?! SA has had a difficult period in its existence, but then so have dozens of other countries. Blacks, . .more get over it. We supported the cause in the 80/90's here in Europe, US, etc, but lets move on please. Enough sobbing about yr suffering etc. We also have problems in Europe, and other countries. Really, this whole Apartheid sob story is wearing thin. Sort yourselves out for God's sake, we're sick . .less by Lionel on September 09 2008, 13:51 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

APARTHEID I will kill for apartheid to return by et tu julius on September 09 2008, 13:53 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

Its such a damn shame that even in the face of overwhelming evidence Quick question. Evidence - is the witness telling the truth or is the witness telling lies with prefabricated evidence? The museum I claim is tampering with the evidence. "and despite deliberate underfunding by the racist . .more government". Now you walked into your own trap. So there actually was funding? Give us some figures - must be in the billions. 1988 around Max Du Preez Vrye Weekblad had a double page article proving non-whites had 16 times more schools than whites. Thats before they were burnt down due to the Liberation before Education campaign. . .less by Domkop on September 09 2008, 15:23 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

@ all of You Clearly none of you clowns should be making any comments about apartheid. I saw nearly half my school being wiped out in Kwa-Mashu in the late eighties. Oh did I mention this was a Primary School. There were bodies everywhere. I was 12years old at the . .more time and probably in Std 5. Police came from out of the blue and just started shooting at anything. THESE WERE KIDS FOR CHRISTS SAKE. Of course this never made it to the news coz no journalist had the balls to enter the area. This wasn't just one incident I can tell many that I've witnessed. All this happened not to long ago while you SUCKERS where safely protected behind electric gates in surburbs. NONE OF U KNOW SHHIIT about apartheid. WE WILL NEVER FORGET!!!!!! . .less by darkchild on September 09 2008, 15:56 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

English persuit of world dominance What makes my blood boil is you still have the audaisty to call us savages and barbarians. Who killed all the aborigines in Australia, all the American Indians (North and South American) King Edward even wanted to kill all the Scots who . .more resisted English rule. The Queen of England should be brought upon the Hague and charged for all these selfish and Self centred murders which descended from England. . .less by darkchild on September 09 2008, 16:10 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

Yeah yeah yeah darkchild ... Spewing unsubstantiated chop again - Now try another one you brainless moron by Piper on September 09 2008, 16:11 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

@darkchild Savages and barbarians? Never has that thought ever entered the mind of a peaceful eductaed civilised person darkchild, promise. Never ever. by Tony Blare on September 09 2008, 16:50 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

botha vs Idi amin Who was a worse dictator - Botha or Idi Amin ? who has done more harm to the people of SA - the current health minister, or all of the NAT presidents put together ?? by Lovemore Mabandla on September 09 2008, 17:11 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

Hau, darkchild Hau darkchild you is talking K** man. Hamba here you little snotnose. Voetsek! by Haibo on September 09 2008, 17:11 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

Hospitals Actually public hospitals were in batter shape 15 years ago under botha than they are today under Mbeki and Manto - FACT ! by Lovemore Mabandla on September 09 2008, 17:12 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

@Darkchild You conveniently forget about the African leaders who commited the most horiffic crimes (e.g. Idi Amin, Mugabe, Charles Taylor, Joseph Kony, Théoneste Bagosora etc etc.). Calling these men savages is too good for them. by Blake on September 09 2008, 23:06 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

What has happened.. ...to the Jewel of Africa, created by the euro settlers? SA had: The finest infrastructure in Africa; roads, telecoms, water, power, sewage, railways. What has happened to this? Run into the ground by black incompetence and greed. For 6-7 years after . .more 1994, the municipalities used the capex budget to fund inflated salaries for officials and hired all their relatives! Nothing was spent on maintenance and asset replacement. Result: municipal electrical distribution infrastructure alone now needs rands 25 billion just to get it back to operationality. We all know that massive corruption has occurred at all levels of govt! We just dont know the true immensity of it. And, under Mbeki, there has been a systematic attempt to push whites out of all jobs. AA and BEE has stripped us of scarce skills to the extent where the economy cannot function properly! But, actually Steward's got a cheek writing this stuff! It was the dumb de Klerk and the yellow-bellied Meyer that handed over SA on a plate, with no adequate protection for whites! They are wholly to blame for the present state of the land. . .less by Jack on September 10 2008, 00:52 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

Peace, Love and respect.... Okay, I was being a bit dramatic and I must admit some of my comments are out of line. The point is we all have skeletons. Lets us focus on building and shaping a better future in stead of discussing issues like apartheid. We all know its a depressing . .more issue. Lets focus on as some of you have pointed out things like service delivery. Lets actually do something about it instead of just talk. Lets judge people for there character not there origins, gender or race. . .less by darkchild on September 10 2008, 06:49 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

darkchild: you still don't get it. 500-year old skeletons are one thing; savagery and barbarity in the 21st century altogether another. by Multimode on September 10 2008, 06:57 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

Police came from out of the blue and just started shooting at anything. THESE WERE KIDS FOR CHRISTS ... Well a std 5 is too dumb to understand bigger politics and the reason why they started shooting. Maybe your mates were busy burning down the school and disassembling it brick by brick, window frame by window frame. The police will still have the records. . .more If you don't understand it does not mean there was ne reason. . .less by Domkop on September 10 2008, 08:22 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

Have any of you been to the AM. I have and I took my teenager to see it. I felt it was my duty to put some balance and perspective on our history. The victors penn the history and the pendulum always swings too far. So whether you were subjected to countless years of "groot trek" . .more tedium or the magnificence of Mapungubwe and the selective amnesia of whoever is in charge, just remember that injustice remains just that and that only one thing can save us...Forgiveness. But you have to earn forgiveness and you have to have remorse. Have we really said sorry yet? Have we really gone out to help the people who slaved to get this beautiful country to where it is? Like hell we have. All we've done is bitch and moan. Get real people! . .less by and Zen on September 10 2008, 10:36 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

The Apartheid Museum . . . the true story This South African Heritage Day (24 September) marks ten years to the day when The Apartheid Museum began nationwide distribution of a concept document that anticipated broad South African participation in the erection of a R1Billion structure called The . .more Apartheid Museum. The founder and originator, Mike Stainbank, began development of the concept in 1977 and registered the trademark The Apartheid Museum in 1990. In March 2000, after many years of slogging from door to door in an effort to find partners, funders and an appropriate location he finally received the one line he had been working toward: “The Apartheid Museum will be built in Bloemfontein.” This brief outline of the origins of The Apartheid Museum draws on years of investigation which Stainbank conducted on Gold Reef – the casino company which markets Abe and Solly Krok as “co-founders” of The Apartheid Museum. Visit the website: www.stainbank.co.za for a broader view on this story. . .less by Arnold on September 24 2008, 18:03 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

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