Port Elizabeth - A comment by veteran journalist Allister Sparks that apartheid-era prime minister Hendrik Verwoerd was intelligent has caused a stir on social media.
During a farewell tribute to outgoing DA leader Helen Zille at the party's federal congress in Port Elizabeth on Saturday, Sparks said he had known several intelligent politicians "including Hendrik Verwoerd" and many other "dull and stupid" ones.
"I rate Helen Zille as the smartest political tactician of all," he said.
"Knowing when to step down is one of the most difficult decisions for a leader to make."
The South African twitterverse responded to the comment with criticism.
Alistar Sparks tells #DACongress that Hendrik Verwoerd was “a smart politician”. They didn’t boo. They applauded.— Sentletse (@Sentletse) May 9, 2015
An angry black student reveres Hitler and rightly gets skewered. A white liberal admires Verwoerd and some try 'explain' his offensiveness.— Eusebius McKaiser (@Eusebius) May 9, 2015
Allister Sparks' listing of #Verwoerd as smart is horrible. Unlike #MceboDlamini , he was here & stood up against apartheid. This? Moronic.— Justice Malala (@justicemalala) May 9, 2015
Alister Sparks saying Verwoerd was a good politician. I think he's scoping to be head of the WITS SRC.— Chester Missing (@chestermissing) May 9, 2015
Sparks must be reminded of Verwoerd quote: "There is no place for [blacks] in European community above the level of certain forms of labour"— Pierre de Vos (@pierredevos) May 9, 2015
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