Allen Shardelow, New York
The old "apartheid" South African flag was lowered for the last time at the United Nations on Tuesday. 26 April 1994. On Wednesday. 27 April 1994. the new flag was raised in the presence of South Africa's Permanent Representative to the United Nations. Ambassador Jim Steward. Mr Reggie Khumalo (PAC Ollef Representative to the UN). and Mr Kingsley Makhubela (ANC Deputy Chief Representative to the UN). The event was marked by much brotherly hugging and back-slapping.
Those colleagues who have served at the UN in the past. and certainly those currently stationed in New York, must surely have wondered at how the UN environment had changed. Erstwhile enemies were now standing arm in arm witnessing the birth of the new South Africa on the very ground of the Organisation that had once declared "Apartheid a crime against humanity" .
Their task completed, the lights are out and the shutters drawn at the ANC and PAC Observer Missions to the United Nations. The former Chief Representative of the ANC to the UN. Mr Tebogo Mafole, returned to his former stamping grounds on 25 and 26 May 1994. as part of Deputy President Mbeki's delegation to attend the Security Council meeting which lifted the mandatory arms embargo against South Africa. At that meeting. the delegation sitting behind South Africa's name-plate in the Security Council comprised Deputy-President Mbeki, Deputy Minister Aziz Pahad, the Director-General Mr I..H Evans, Mr T Mafole and Ambassador Jim Steward.
The final step in our reintegration into the UN took place on 23 June 1994 when South Africa's delegation to the United Nations. led by Foreign Minister Alfred Nzo, took South Africa's seat in the General Assembly to warm applause from the delegates of 184 nations. Mr Mafole was again present. He just cannot seem to stay away.
The task ahead for the Permanent Mission at the UN is an enormous one. We have taken our place in the various regional groups (NAM. Africa Group and the Group of 77), and now have to ensure that our views on a plethora of international issues are heard.
Everybody at the United Nations is an observer. Image and association are all important. News of who was seen in whose company is furtively exchanged in the corridors while the subject of their conversation is speculated on. South Africa's diplomats will not escape this scrutiny. Much will no doubt be said and speculated on as we go about our task of being an African country while attempting to maintain our bridge to the Western World.
Interesting and challenging times certainly lie in ambush.
Meintjeskop Courier, Volume II, 1994
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