Author: Frederik Van Zyl Slabbert

Frederik van Zyl Slabbert was in Parliament in opposition against the Nationalist government from 1974 to 1986. His career in opposition politics culminated in 1979 when he became the leader of the opposition. He resigned from Parliament over the issue of the Tricameral Parliament, a foolish Nationalist constitutional development, as the ruling party stumbled towards finally accepting that Nelson Mandela must be released and a democratic South Africa negotiated. Throughout this period he arranged a number of conferences with the ANC in exile. The Other Side of History is his anecdotal reflection on political transition in South Africa.