The Long Obedience: The Political Career of Zach de Beer, 1953-1994

Zach de Beer, former leader of the PFP (1988-1989) and the DP (1989-1994) is one of the forgotten men of South African history. During the darkest years of the apartheid state, he, along with others, kept liberal democratic ideals alive. Outside of parliament, as a prominent figure in the financial world, he encouraged constitutional and political reform. He played a leading role in the founding of the Democratic Party in 1989. In recognition of his contribution to the anti-apartheid struggle, President Nelson Mandela appointed him as ambassador to the Netherlands in 1994. He died in 1999.
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