"WE often forget the miracle of our transition, the fact that a country so deeply divided managed to negotiate a settlement and establish a democratic order, and establish a government of national unity and managed to establish national unity amongst the diverse, cultural, ethnic but particularly political groupings which we have in the country" - Jakes Gerwel, August 1998.
There were gasps of disbelief on Saturday at the memorial service for Professor Jakes Gerwel, who died in a Cape Town hospital last Wednesday, when Planning Minister Trevor Manuel announced the passing away of former chief justice Arthur Chaskalson.
Two years ago, Steve Kretzmann interviewed Professor Jakes Gerwel for the University of the Western Cape’s internal magazine, 360 Degrees.