The inner circle: Recollections from the last days of white rule - Softcover

Heunis, Jan

Softcover

ISBN 10: 1868422828 ISBN 13: 9781868422821

Publisher: Jonathan Ball Publishers SA, 2007

Synopsis

In this remarkable book of witness, Jan Heunis reveals the stories behind many of the dramatic events of the final years of white rule, and describes how the National Party was eventually out-manoeuvred in negotiations with the ANC as South Africa emerged from the darkness of half a century of Nationalist rule. After graduating from the University of Stellenbosch where he studied law, Heunis joined the Department of Foreign Affairs as a legal adviser, and before long became Chief State Law Adviser in the State President's Office under PW Botha. He later played an influential role in the multi-party negotiations that led to the Constitution of 1996. Born into the National Party, the son of Constitutional Development minister Chris Heunis, he himself was never a politician, but worked at close quarters with -- and often against -- South Africa's most powerful political figures. From the insights, both professional and personal, offered by this privileged vantage point, Heunis presents bitingly honest appraisals of pivotal players such as PW Botha, Nelson Mandela, Pik Botha, FW de Klerk, Kobie Coetsee, Denis Worrall, Hernus Kriel, Roelf Meyer, and of course his father, the complex Chris Heunis.

About this title

Synopsis

Jan Heunis, son of constitutional development minister Chris Heunis, was born into the National Party. As a law graduate from the University of Stellenbosch, where he served on the Student Representative Council for the NP, he joined the Department of Foreign Affairs as a legal adviser. He swiftly moved up the ranks and subsequently became Chief State Law Adviser in the State President's Office. In this title of witness, Heunis reveals the inside story of some of the most dramatic historic moments during the final years of white rule. These include the signing of the Nkomati Accord with Mozambique, PW Botha's infamous Rubicon speech and his later resignation, and how the National Party were outwitted during negotiations with the ANC. Heunis describes the actions of such figures as PW Botha, Pik Botha, FW de Klerk, Kobie Coetsee, Denis Worrall, Hernus Kriel, Roelf Meyer and of course his father Chris Heunis. Heunis looks back on a remarkable period of South Africa's history, and in doing so paints a vivid portrait of the inner sanctum of a political party during its last decade of rule.

Edition details

• Publisher: Jonathan Ball Publishers SA
• Publication date: 2007
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 1868422828
• ISBN 13: 9781868422821
• Binding: Paperback
• Edition number: 1
• Number of pages: 207