FW de Klerk Foundation dissociates from outgoing director’s comments on US policy

The FW de Klerk Foundation has publicly distanced itself from remarks made by its outgoing executive director, Christo van der Rheede, about the United States’ approach to South African policy.

Board says statements were unauthorised

In a statement on Sunday the foundation’s board said Van der Rheede tendered his voluntary resignation on 19 August and will leave his post on 31 December. The board said it accepted his letter of resignation and that both parties mutually agreed the exit date.

The board added that since his resignation on 19 August, Van der Rheede has made statements about the US stance on South African policies and that these statements are not authorised. It said it “further dissociates itself from any statement made on behalf of the FW de Klerk Foundation from the date Van der Rheede advised the board of his intention to resign.”

Van der Rheede responds and criticises US approach

Van der Rheede said he was consulting a legal representative and described the foundation’s statement as a surprise.

In an opinion piece cited by the foundation, Van der Rheede wrote that “the issue of race must finally be removed from the political formula” and warned those hoping for US intervention to act as a political saviour for a specific minority to “come to their senses.”

“When a superpower like the US bases its policy toward South Africa on a simplistic, race-based narrative, it creates substantial dangers. American rhetoric focused on the supposed persecution of an isolated ‘Afrikaner minority’ hands the ruling party an undeserved and toxic political lifeline.”

He argued that if the US genuinely wanted to serve ordinary South Africans it would avoid “ethno-nationalist crusades” and would instead use diplomatic and financial tools to target specific individuals identified as state captors.

Analysts react to the public fallout

Political analyst Roland Henwood said that Van der Rheede’s scheduled departure at the end of December suggests the matter did not require an immediate exit, adding that “He did well at the foundation and was well received as executive director.”

Another analyst, Rene Oosthuizen, said the foundation distancing itself from Van der Rheede’s comments raises serious questions given the strained US–South Africa relationship. She said the situation could reflect concerns beyond a single resignation.

Questions over the foundation’s direction

Hermann Pretorius, head of strategic communications at the SA Institute of Race Relations, welcomed Van der Rheede’s resignation and said he had “serious reservations about his suitability for this role.” Pretorius said the foundation’s important decision now is not only who should succeed Van der Rheede but whether the organisation intends to engage seriously with FW de Klerk’s legacy.

Pretorius said FW de Klerk’s legacy ought to offer political insight about policy failure, party leadership, power-sharing and the movement away from racial classification, and that so far too little has been made of that heritage.