By Roosje Grobbelaar
Tony Leon is the longest serving leader of the official opposition in the Parliament of democratic South Africa, and was also appointed by former president Jacob Zuma to serve the country as Ambassador to Argentina, Uruguay and Paraguay. His most recent book Being There offers a behind-the-scenes look at the 2024 negotiations that led to the formation of the Government of National Unity (GNU). Leon was part of the Democratic Alliance (DA) delegation that negotiated with the African National Congress (ANC). On the evening of 13 October, he discussed his book with TJ Strydom at the EasyEquities Skrywerskamer during Woordfees.
What immediately stands out is the title. In a chronically online world, where everyone has an opinion on matters that they have never directly experienced, it is refreshingly rare to hear from someone who quite literally was there. Leon was not only present during the transition to democracy in 1994, but he also knew some of South Africa’s most influential political figures: Nelson Mandela (who spoke at his 40th birthday), Mangosuthu Buthelezi, and FW de Klerk. In Being There he gives his thoughts on these statesmen as well as others he has encountered, such as Yasser Arafat, Harry Oppenheimer and Boris Johnson. After formally stepping down from politics, Leon found himself once again at the center of history during arguably the most momentous event in South Africa in 30 years – the 2024 coalition government.
The interview was one of the most well-attended events of its kind during Woordfees, and was followed by a long, uncensored question-and-answer session. Leon, who was born and raised in Durban, pointed out that, although hope remains, the magnitude and difficulty of the task of “fixing Johannesburg, Tshwane and Durban” is rather unfathomable. He emphasised that the DA “success story” in Cape Town was a much easier project because it had not been governed by the ANC for very long. During the event, he made it clear that he does not use ghost writers, but writes his own book. He even recalls previous painful interactions with editors where he was instructed to cut words: “Inside every thick book is a thin book wishing to escape.” Leon also expressed concern about the worldwide phenomenon of “career politicians”, referring to people who become and stay politicians, not because of skill, but because they have no other opportunities.
The book is filled with detailed journal entries from the GNU negotiation days, as well as some insights into his life journey, the challenges of raising money during his days as leader of the DA, and personal nostalgic reflections. It also contains pearls of wisdom he has gathered throughout his life, such as advice received from Michael Holman, the journalist and former Africa Editor of the Financial Times. Leon quotes Holmes, “I always get my most useful intel from taxi drivers, they know the local buzz best.” He ends the book by dedicating it to the memory of his “liberal colleagues and staunch friends”, Dene Smuts, James Selfe and Greg Krumbock. There is also a special reference to and quote from Senator Robert F. Kennedy: “Few will have the greatness to bend history, but each of us can work to change a small portion of the events, and in the total of all these acts will be written the history of this generation.”
Leon further elaborates, “I do hope that any reader of this book, in whatever field of endeavour, will convert ripples of hope into waves of purpose that crash through the barriers of cynicism, prejudice and ignorance.”
