'n Historiese perspektief op F.W. de Klerk se toespraak van 2 Februarie 1990

Abstract

2 February 2000 marked the tenth anniversary of FW de Klerk's famous speech in Parliament,. which
paved the way for a new negotiated democratic dispensation in South A:fiica. This article focuses on the
contents of the speech and the implications thereof on society in general, and will deal with the Neo-Aristotelian approach to rhetorical criticism. This approach makes provision for the message or content,
the occasion, the speaker and the audience. Although the above will be discussed briefly, the focus will
be on the message and the implications thereof: The message or, more specifically, the body of the
speech. comprising the unbanning of the African National Congress and South African Communist
Party with the release of Nelson Mandela and other political prisoners, the lifting of the restriction on
media and education regulations and on 33 other organisations, complimented the situation well The
speaker on that occasion, FW de Klerk, as well as the audience, compnsing a joint sitting of members of
parliament, complimented each other well according to the Neo-Aristotelian approach to rhetorical
criticism.