Great white liberals have always been a rare species in South Africa. Their ranks, diminished by the death of author Alan Paton at 85 a year ago, are about to be thinned again. After 36 years of combat against the forces of apartheid in Parliament, Helen Suzman, 71, announced last week that she will not seek re-election in September.
For 13 years Suzman, a former university lecturer in economic history, was the only liberal opposition member of the house, making her the Progressive Party's spokeswoman. She slashed at purveyors of apartheid, once advising government ministers that they could learn something about...
To continue reading:
or
Log-In
