Sequel to Long Walk to Freedom - Revision 4.2 - Chapter 2 Page 7

about the welfare of the Afrikaners as if they were the only people in this country. None should assume that removing roadblocks out of the way was the achievement of one person, however hard he might have applied himself. Three fairly young men in particular, Thabo Mbeki, Jacob Zuma and Joe Nhlanhla were peerless in their diplomatic skills. Having mastered the art of high level negotiations quite early in their political careers. They were also in the forefront in stopping violence between the ANC and the IFP that had cost so many civilian lives. Whilst Thabo Mbeki and other comrades mentioned above were operating in exile some septuagenarians were fighting with warders in prison and using the naked fists most of the time. There was little room for diplomatic skills on their part. THE BREAKTHROUGH WAS A COLLECTIVE TRIUMPH. 7