Sequel to Long Walk to Freedom - Revision 2 - Chapter 4 Page 6

Each member of the alliance had strong objections against some of the proposed candidates, including the candidacy of the late Alfred Nzo, a gifted, disciplined and experienced expert on foreign affairs. There were also objections against Derek Hanekom on the ground that it was unwise to give the land portfolio to a white person. These objections affected others as well. I rejected all these reservations as based not on principle but on purely personal considerations. I presented the list to the officials as recommended by Thabo. The officials approved all the names without exception. Then there followed a discussion on who would be appointed Deputy President. Two names, Thabo Mbeki and Cyril Ramaphosa, were considered. Ramaphosa had led our team of negotiators to the World Trade Centre. He is an impressive, adroit and persuasive individual and influenced both friend and foe at the Centre. He earned for himself a lot of respect and admiration, and emerged as one of the most powerful figures among that constellation of eminent thinkers .* 47