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The Fatima Meer Chat

Dieter: One Hundred things may happen, let's not bother about 5. To answer your prvious question, Gandhi did "bad" things as a child. He ate meat in secret, sold a piece of family jewellery for pleasure - but he always had an enormous conscience which made him confess his "sins"

Why has South Africa kept away from the UN force to impose law and order in Rwanda? Why this reluctance to get involved? I thought mandela is the lone African leader with the moral standing to successfully mediate in any regional dispute?

Since the W word has been uttered, I need to ask: Did you, as someone who knows her well, ever think that Winnie would be capable of the neck lacings and the thuggery she is accused of?

IF you do not want to answer for security reasons, I will understand.

I've always wondered - are Wilbur Smith's descriptions of Africa true or romanticized?

Who are the leaders I should be looking out for in your country?

Trenton: Very good relations are already on course. You do know that India was the first country, way back in 1948 to break diplomatic and trade relations with India in protest of Racism

How would you descibe Wiinie Mandela? Do you think she is guilty?

Who are the individuals you admired in the apartheid years? Did you have any white friends? Like Mrs Helen Suzman?

Hey, Dr Meer, Thanks for answering my question! :-)

Do you believe India has lost its moral standing? As a visitor to that country, do you see any hope for India?

Why has South Africa kept away from the UN force to impose law and order in Rwanda? Why this reluctance to get involved? I thought mandela is the lone African leader with the moral standing to successfully mediate in any regional dispute?

Phoenix: Not often. The last time he came home was last year when we lost our son. I am sure the ANC "gang" get together. Sisulu as always is gracious and good

I am sorry to hear about your son. Please accept my condolences. It is always very hard to accept the death of one's children.

What does Walter do these days? How does he cope without the magnificent Albertina?

Does that mean you and your husband are no longer close to the ANC leadership?

Are Frene Ginwala and Jay Naidoo the only Indian active in the ANC and the government?

Do you believe India has lost its moral standing? As a visitor to that country, do you see any hope for India?

Alexander: I was very impressed with what I saw during my last short visit in India. Everybody was bubbling and happy, even the beggars in Mumbai. The economy is vibrant and so there is hope. As for her moral ground, she holds as much of it as any country and more than many

Who will replace Mandela in the struggle

Are Frene Ginwala and Jay Naidoo the only Indian active in the ANC and the government? Does that mean you and your husband are no longer close to the ANC leadership?

Dr Meer: I think you are a extremely interesting person. Admirable too, because you have the courage to stand by your convictions. Tell me, do you think South Africa will dominate the world some day, just as it is doing so in the field of cricket, except for the odd match?

Admirable, that you are here Chatting with us, your admirers, for so long. Is Mr Sharma related to you?

Mr Sharma: Ofcourse not. there are atleast 4 Indian Cabinet Ministers apart from Jay Naidoo. There are thousands of Indians in all levels of administration, provincial councils, and in the party as activists.

But Frene and Jay are the most high profile.

I asked earlier: Who are the leaders one should look out for in your country?

Don't you feel it is wrong for a person to be deified? I mean, isn't it better to treat someone as a great human being (aka Mandela) rather than raise them to a godlike level (Gandhi)?

Hiiiiiiiii!

Why has South Africa kept away from the UN force to impose law and order in Rwanda? Why this reluctance to get involved? I thought Mandela is the lone African leader with the moral standing to successfully mediate in any regional dispute? I see Mr Mandela is very reluctant to plan an activist role in African diplomacy.

Why has South Africa kept away from the UN force to impose law and order in Rwanda? Why this reluctance to get involved? I thought Mandela is the lone African leader with the moral standing to successfully mediate in any regional dispute? I see Mr Mandela is very reluctant to plan an activist role in African diplomacy.

It seems that the ANC's rise to power has alientaed and isolated people like you and Mr Meer.

Savera: South Africa is not really playing cricket. We have inherited the old white team which excluded blacks. When you see a black team, then we will talk. As for dominating the world, we are too small a country. Our Gold will continue to dominate - but whether the beneficiaries will change will depend on our future economic policy. Mandela dominates, but he is afterall - transitional

Mr Sharma: What nonsense !!!

Does that mean Krish Mackerdhuj has been unable to get blacks into the cricket team? That's an interesting point to make because Jonty Rhodes was on this Chat last week and he say blacks would be in the team only in five or ten years.

I am sorry for offending you, but I detected a bitterness in the way you spoke about Mandela and the current ANC leadership.

Dieter: Iqbal Meer Sharma is my Grand nephew - Hows that for intergenerational comraderie !!! (He is typing for me)

Do you think racial tensions will ever disappear from your country? In my country they have surfaced again. Do you think the days of erry du Blanche and the Afrikaner far right are over?

Dr Fatima Meer: What is your opinion on the famous saying, Power corrupts politicians. How far this saying is applicable to Nelson Mandela?

Are you avoiding questions about Winnie Mandela? There were a few questions about her which you seem to have ignored? I asked you one too! In case you missed it, I'd like to repeat it - What is your opinion about Winnie Mandela as a person? Do you think she was guilty?

Thanks Iqbal. Posterity will certainly remember for a lot of other very good things, I am sure. But what you are doing now -- we cannot be grateful enough. We have no opportunity to discuss both Gandhi and Mandela with someone who knows them both so well.cthis

What does Walter do these days? How does he cope without the magnificent Albertina?

Do you think racial tensions will ever disappear from your country? In my country they have surfaced again. Do you think the days of Terry du Blanche and the Afrikaner far right are over?

Trenton: I think you should appreciate that no one from Nelson's old gang would want to talk about Winnie.

Mr Sharma: You were mistaken on both counts. My husband is in the KwaZulu Natal Parliament. I do what I like doing best.

Do you think it is right to deify someone? Isn't is better to look up to someone as a great human being (Mandela) instead of elevating him to a god like status (Gandhi)?

Mandela may be truly incorruptible, but what about his children and his relatives? What are the standards of honesty in the ANC administration?

Forgive me, Madam. Please forgive me. We do not get to read so much about Indians in South Africa. My best wishes to Mr Meer and to your good self. And to Mr Sharma (we share a surname!) too.

Phoenix: Why? Did she not contribute to her country's fight against apartheid? Did she not sacrifice her personal life - what kind of a life must she have had with her husband in jail and she herself on the run? And when her husband came back, to have him walk out on her and leave her when she needed him the most? yet, she let him go. If that is not sacrifice, I don't know what is!

I am not attacking Winnie. There is a lot to admire in her. But that's life. God bless her and Nelson too.

Trenton & Phoenix: Winnie bears her cross magnificently though sometimes she gets mercurial which is understandable in view of the horrific press she has to field. (Karl): Nelson is incorruptible. He gives a good part of his salary to the Nelson Mandela Children's Fund, which is doing a power of good

Are you still friends with Winnie? Do you meet socially? How often?

DR MEER: THANKS FOR YOR COMPANY TONIGHT!! GOODNIGHT KEEP WELL AND SE U SOON HOPEFULLY>>BYE!

Goodnight, Niyanta. Are you from South Africa?

All: It is getting late and my husband is waiting to serve me supper, so I will entertain 2 more questions before logging off.

Do you think racial tensions will ever disappear from your country? In my country they have surfaced again. Do you think the days of Terry du Blanche and the Afrikaner far right are over?

Dr Fatima Meer: When is it possible that poverty will become extinct in SA? Because till today there is a wide economical difference between rich and poor? And this is not what people like Chris Hani laid his life for?