There were black writers and publishers who were visibly upset that he was there‚ some of whom were victims of his operation‚ who had lost family members. There was talk of staging a walk-out in protest and maybe we should have done that.
But I was angry that the writers should have to leave an event celebrating them. I walked over to him standing by the stairs and asked if he was Eugene de Kock. I said‚ ‘It’s inappropriate that you are here. People are in tears that you are here and I think you should leave’.
He said ‘Thank you for telling me’‚ and left.
But this story is not about me. It’s about the black writers and publishers who were traumatised by having him there.
Yes‚ we need forgiveness and yes‚ he’s served his time. We also need compassion and sensitivity about inviting him to a private party where there are people who have suffered terrible loss directly because of him.
It’s not fair to put people unknowingly in that situation. I did check in with black writer friends and publishers there who fully supported my action‚ before I went ahead‚ and writer and musician Nakhane Toure accompanied me in going over to talk to him.
Publisher Thabisa Mahlape was in tears. As she said‚ “There‚ right in front of me‚ was the man who was responsible for the breaking of so many black men and as a result black families. I wept‚ I never expected that to happen; my own feelings overwhelmed me.”
My friend novelist Carol Mashigo (who writes as Mohale Mashigo) said on her Facebook page‚ quoted with permission: “Low point [of the festival]: Eugene de Kock. I was telling friends that democratic South Africa is a wild place and nobody told us that killers would attend cocktail functions with you. I’m not ready for democratic South Africa. Tutu’s rainbow nation is WILD!”
The Franschhoek Literary Festival organisers were surprised and upset by his presence at the Sunday Times party.
Wouldn’t you feel the same if the man who murdered your family and friends walked into a function you were at? Probably.
