PIONEER
Dene Smuts
Politician | Negotiator | Constitution drafter
Born: 13 July 1949 Died: 21 April 2016
“The suppression by a racial minority of a majority was not self-determination – it was just that, suppression. It was not sovereignty – it was oppression with blind disregard for the rights of the people to whom it was denying those same rights, in the name of first Afrikaner and then white sovereignty … ‘What has been sacrificed?’ I asked at Swellendam: Not sovereignty or self-determination, but power."
Who is
Dene Smuts?
Negotiator for the Democratic Party (DP) during the transition, spokesperson on the Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC), a member of the Constitutional Assembly and whip of the DP.
Professions
and Roles
Whip of the DP (now Democratic Alliance), Shadow Minister for Justice and Constitutional Development, journalist, editor, politician, CODESA negotiator, legislator, and legal analyst.
Best Known For
Serving as the first female whip in South Africa’s parliamentary history.
Life highlights
- Smuts became editor of Fairlady and later the managing editor of Leadership.
- After being threatened after trying to publish a flattering article about a non-NP politician, Smuts left journalism, and two years later joined the new DP.
- in 1989, Smuts was voted into Parliament for the Groote Schuur constituency while working for the DP.
- In 1992, Smuts became the first female whip in South African Parliament.
- Smuts acted as one of the DP’s negotiators during CODESA and the Multi Party Negotiating process.
- Smuts was the DP Party Chairperson between 1994 and 1997.
- Smuts became the DP spokesperson at the TRC, and also acted as the DP spokesperson for telecommunications and broadcasting. Smuts had a keen interest in freedom of expression and free speech.
- Smuts was voted into Parliament in 1994 and served on Theme Committee 4 of the Constitutional Assembly, focusing on the Bill of Rights. She would serve in Parliament until 2009.
- Smuts, despite not having any formal legal training, became the DA’s Shadow Minister for Justice and Constitutional Development from 2009 to 2014.
IN THEIR OWN WORDS
“The suppression by a racial minority of a majority was not self-determination – it was just that, suppression. It was not sovereignty – it was oppression with blind disregard for the rights of the people to whom it was denying those same rights, in the name of first Afrikaner and then white sovereignty … ‘What has been sacrificed?’ I asked at Swellendam: Not sovereignty or self-determination, but power. Although inevitable, that is a major sacrifice and F W de Klerk will always deserve everyone’s admiration for the skill and style with which he led the old establishment into the new order. The repression of a majority by a minority is not, however, self-determination. To give up oppression is not capitulation. What has been given up? Injustice. Poor tragic skeletons now being exhumed. What have we accepted instead? Equal justice under a justiciable Bill of Rights protected by independent courts which will ensure that a new government can never again in the name of race, group rights, sovereignty or self-determination lock up, torture and afterwards burn or bury other people.”
– Dene Smuts
IN THE WORDS OF OTHERS
“Dene said that every one of us needs to be accountable to our conscience, to our country, to our Constitution and to our constituency. I would be brave enough to say that no one South African held up to these standards as much as she did.”
– Mmusi Maimane, then leader of the Democratic Alliance
