“The Maties who caused all the trouble”
The controversial 1989 Matie students’ visit to
Lusaka and Windhoek
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ACTS OF BETRAYAL …
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DAKAR TALKS, 1987
On 6 July 1987, Dr. FvZS led a group of 52
mainly Afrikaans-speaking intellectuals, to
meet the (ANC) in Dakar. Delegates were
drawn from academic, professional, cultural,
religious and business fields.
This ground-breaking meeting is regarded as
a milestone in South African political history.
It received positive attention internationally.
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Acts of betrayal or bold leadership
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Pres. Kaunda het Maties na Zambië
genooi
Matie-SR 'sal nie met ANC praat‘
Berigte oor ANC-gesprek SR se lede
voor stok
Verset kring uit oor Maties by ANC
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Prof Mike de Vries
 Act
of betrayal
 Plea for, inter alia:
 return to the Christian religiom”;
 healthy authority relationships;
 disciplined freedom
 a sense of responsibility and sense of duty
 respect for the marriage as institution vs free
love
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25 years on …
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Botman on Talks
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A turning point for SU
 1989 was a turning point for SU
 "As students, you represented the next generation. If the
leaders of tomorrow were starting to think for themselves,
the old order's tight grip was starting to slip. And as Maties,
you represented a University that had been pivotal to the
idea of Afrikaner Nationalism from the beginning. So, if
critical voices at Stellenbosch were growing louder, it
would become harder to keep everyone else 'on song',“
 In 1999, your alma mater finally acknowledged – and I
quote 'its contributions to the injustices of the past'.
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THULI MADONSELA
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ACT OF LEADERSHIP
 The visit was an act of leadership by young people
showing the courage to step out and a willingness
to think for themselves.
 "Developments in history have always depended on
bold leadership,"
 Don’t leave your fate to others when the power is in
your hands to change your circumstances.
 "Don't look the other way," she warned current
students. "We need the same thinking and the
same willingness to step out of line. Great changes
come from actions that seem small."
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SU – qua vadis?
• You showed true thought leadership, and left a valuable
legacy for future generations: You chose to examine life
critically, and to be active and engaged citizens. These are the
attributes that we hope every Matie would have developed by
the time they graduate.
• The country certainly needs thought leaders for the future.
Twenty years into our democracy, a lot has been achieved in
our country, but many challenges remain … both old and new.
And the way to make a difference, is to think critically, engage
with society; and act courageously … as you did.
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