Special Publications

Helen Suzman Exhibition — by Alex — last modified 2008-04-18 16:51

Helen Suzman takes pride of place among those liberals who devoted their lives to the fight for human rights and the rule of law in South Africa. From the start of a political career that spanned almost four decades, she challenged the iniquity of apartheid and used the privilege of parliament to expose the inhumanity of a system that came to be defined as a crime against humanity. Her struggle against the National Party, both within and outside of parliament, was relentless and often lonely. For thirteen years (1961-1974) she was the only Progressive Party member of parliament, confronting the apartheid government against great odds. Notwithstanding an enormously heavy parliamentary burden, she never failed, as far as possible, to investigate the often tragic consequences of apartheid legislation. Although she represented an affluent white constituency, she saw herself as an “honorary ombudsman for all those people who have no vote and no Member of Parliament.” Within months other retirement in 1989, she had the pleasure of witnessing the collapse of apartheid and the introduction four years later of parliamentary democracy.

helen_fighter.jpg — by Alex — last modified 2008-04-23 12:31

 

Helen Suzman - Fighter for Human Rights Exhibition — by Alex — last modified 2008-04-23 12:40

 

download.jpg — by Alex — last modified 2008-04-23 12:39