ORIGINAL RESEARCH

 

Reflecting on our past: Reconciling a divided nation through listening

 

Besinning oor ons verlede: Versoening van 'n verdeelde nasie deur te luister

 

 

E.S.A. Ayee

School of Communication and the Arts, Regent University, Virginia Beach. E-mail: eayee@regent.edu

 

 

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ABSTRACT

The miracle of a relatively peaceful transition from apartheid to a non-racial democratic rule in South Africa stunned political pundits and observers. After decades of dehumanising laws which led to unbelievable racial conflict and the killing of many people, the country witnessed the birth of a new dispensation. This article briefly recounts the tragic history of South Africa, the current challenges the country faces for sustainable peaceful coexistence between the various racial groups, and the role that listening played and should continue to play in the process of national reconciliation.

Key concepts: apartheid, listening, reconciliation,Truth and Reconciliation Commission

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OPSOMMING

Die wonderwerk van 'n relatief vreedsame oorgang vanaf apartheid tot 'n nie-rassige demokratiese regering in Suid-Afrika het politieke waarnemers en kenners verstom. Na dekades van dehumaniserende wette wat gelei het tot geweldige rassekonflik en die dood van baie mense, is die geboorte van 'n nuwe bedeling waargeneem. Hierdie artikel bied 'n kort oorsig oor Suid-Afrika se tragiese geskiedenis, die uitdagings wat die land tans in die gesig staar ten opsigte van die volhoubare en vreedsame naasbestaan van die verskillende rassegroepe, sowel as die rol wat luister speel, asook die voortgesette rol wat dit behoort te speel in die proses van nasionale rekonsiliasie.

Kernbegrippe: apartheid, luister, versoening, Waarheids- en Versoeningskommissie

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Full text available only in PDF format.

 

 

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