I read an article about this guy in the Observer (Guardian on Sunday) today.

I get that he wasn't particularly a nice guy but what annoyed me about the article was the way it focused on his "horrible crimes and terrorist bombings" as if that was some how unusual in South Africa during the Apartheid era. It's like the guy writing it had somehow forgotten about the countless bombings carried out by the ANC and the even more disgusting and brutal killings carried out by it's hard line element, which wasn't a minority by the way. Let's not forget, that the "mother of South Africa", Winnie Mandela, advocated beatings and mob executions for those who collaborated with the white community and she herself was guilty of murdering a child, despite her denial of it.

My point being that Terre'Blanche's death highlights the problem with SA as a whole, there seems to be this fantastical idea that the "rainbow nation" was born out of a glorious campaign to topple those who would deny the majority their rights. The reality is that modern day South Africa was born out of hatred and shocking violence. A lot of Blacks hate the white man with a passion and it's pretty common for people to be killed simply because they're a certain colour. All that's happened since apartheid ended was the whites went and gated themselves off and the hatred sunk bellow the surface. I believe then that like much of the African continent, SA needs to think carefully about the current path it's treading and needs to do more to combat the hate on both sides, before it simmers to the surface.

This guy wasn't a particularity nice guy, unfortunately however SA is full of guys who aren't nice, both black and white.