Helen Suzman An Appreciation Helen Suzman, the liberal member of the old South African parliament, renowned for her courageous and unrelenting fight for human rights and justice, died peacefully in her home in Johannesburg in the small hours of New Year’s Day 2009. Her Liberalism was more than a political creed; it was a state of mind, a way of life, a responsibility towards others. Colin Eglin, a co-founder of the anti- apartheid Progressive Party, recalls her.

32 Journal of Liberal History 66 Spring 2010 Helen Suzman An Appreciation

he expressions of grief judiciary, transparent governance, invested in land, property and at her death, of respect and an open society in which other businesses for her person, and of individuals would be free to make Samuel Gavronsky, wanting gratitude for her life choices. She campaigned for the the best available schooling for his and her service that abolition of the death penalty. She two daughters, arranged for Helen Tcame from all sections of the fought for human rights. and her sister Gertrude to go to South African people and from During the dark days of apart- Parktown Convent, a Catholic representatives all political par- heid she did more than any other school for girls. Upon complet- ties were testimony to the impact person to keep liberal values ing her schooling Helen enrolled she had made on the politics of alive. Indeed, South Africa’s new at Witwatersrand University to South Africa and on the lives of its democratic constitution, with the study for the degree of Bachelor of citizens. liberal values that it embraces, Commerce. Helen served in parliament is testimony to the inspirational She interrupted her studies from 1953 to 1989, the years dur- impact that Helen’s work and in 1937 when she married Mosie ing which successive National example made on the politics of Suzman, an eminent physician Party governments were impos- South Africa from a large and well-known ing the policy of apartheid on the Jewish family in Johannesburg. people of South Africa. Apartheid ~ Helen and Mosie moved into a deeply offended Helen’s sense of spacious new home and took part justice and violated the liberal Helen Suzman was born in Ger- in the social and cultural life of values that she embraced. She was miston, a small mining town a the relatively prosperous com- angry at the hurt it was doing to few kilometres from Johannes- munity. They had two daughters, millions of her fellow citizens, and burg, on the day of the Russian Frances, born in September 1939, at the damage it was doing to the Revolution, 7 November 1917. and Patricia, born in January 1943. fabric of South African society. Her father, Samuel Gavronsky, In the Second World War She spoke out against racial and his brother Oscar had emi- Mosie joined up to the South discrimination, against race classi- grated from a small Jewish village African Medical Corps and fication, group areas, job reserva- in Lithuania and in due course was posted to serve in Egypt. tion, and detention without trial. married two sisters who had also Helen completed her Batchelor She campaigned for the repeal of emigrated from Eastern Europe. of Commerce course at Wit- the Pass Laws. She condemned The Gavronsky brothers, who on watersrand University in a year the abuse of power. She worked their arrival in South Africa could and, on applying to join up she for a South Africa in which there speak neither English nor Dutch, was assigned to a position with would be freedom of expression, went into business together. In Helen Suzman the War Supplies Board. In 1945, the rule of law, an independent due course they prospered and MP (1917–2009) after the war, Helen returned to

Journal of Liberal History 66 Spring 2010 33 helen suzman: an appreciation

heading? Governed by a political party that had opposed the war effort, that harboured many peo- ple who had been pro-Nazi, and that was committed to enforce the policy of apartheid in the political, economic, educational, and social life in South Africa? She reacted by becoming actively involved in politics. She joined the United Party, served on a constituency committee and became heavily involved as the Information Officer of the Wit- watersrand Women’s Council of the party. She stood as a United Party candidate in the 1953 elec- tion and was elected unopposed as the Member of Parliament for Houghton, a position that she held continuously until she retired in September 1989. When Helen came to Cape Town for her first parliamentary session she became a member of a caucus of a United Party that was confused in trying to define an identity relevant to the poli- tics of post-war South Africa; the party was divided on the issue of an alternative to the Nationalist policy of apartheid. Helen was soon identified as an outspoken member of the ‘liberal group’ in the caucus. She and a caucus colleague defied the party’s decision to vote for the Separate Amenities Bill by walking out of the House when the Bill was put to the vote. She was one of the group of liberal backbenchers who declared their commitment to restore Coloured voters to the common voters roll (from which Witwatersrand University, first Helen Suzman Whites no longer required their the Nationalist government was to take up a tutorship and then to Top: In her office, services. removing them), at a time when become a lecturer on economic while an MP. Helen was appalled by what she the leadership of the party was history. During this period she Bottom: At a learned of the disastrous impact trying to avoid taking a stand on joined the South African Insti- mass funeral. these inhuman laws had on Black this issue. tute of Race Relations. individuals, their families, and Helen’s maiden speech in par- In 1946 the Institute asked her their communities. The Fagan liament was on women’s rights, to assist in preparing evidence Commission recommended a and she went on to take part in that it could present to the Fagan new approach, namely that the every debate that affected wom- Commission, which had been pervaded urbanisation of Blacks en’s rights during her thirty-six established by General Smuts, should be recognised and should years in parliament. However she then Prime Minister, under Judge be accommodated within the law. emphasised that while the issue of Henry Fagan to review the laws However before Smuts could act women’s rights still had to be dealt that applied to the Blacks in the on this recommendation he and with, the issue of race discrimi- urban areas. These laws, com- his party were ousted from power nation and the denial of rights monly known as the ‘Pass Laws’, in May 1948 by the pro-apartheid to Black South Africans was the were based on a policy that went National Party. matter of overriding concern. back to 1922; the laws allowed Helen was shocked. The Pass Blacks to come to the urban areas Laws were not only going to stay, ~ when their services were required they were going to be enforced by the Whites, but had return to even more harshly. But more Helen and I first met in June the Native Reserves when the than this: where was South Africa 1954 at a lunch arranged by Tony

34 Journal of Liberal History 66 Spring 2010 helen suzman: an appreciation

Delius, the poet, author and par- of the United Party in August ‘hands on’ politician and a tena- liamentary correspondent of the 1959, Helen was one of the cious fighter for the causes she Cape Times. She was complet- focal points of the conserva- believed in. She made sure of her ing her second year as MP for tives’ onslaught on the liberals. facts. She went to see for herself. Houghton, while I was about to This came to a head when, at the She visited prisons, spoke to become a member of the Cape behest of the conservatives, the political prisoners and detainees Provincial Council. I found her congress adopted a resolution and saw the conditions in which to be very attractive, physically, through which the party reneged they were held. She went to find politically and intellectually. I on an undertaking it had given out what was happening in the realised that behind her sparkling to provide land for ‘native set- squatter camps. She spoke to peo- blue eyes there was a sharp mind tlement.’ Helen was one of nine ple being harassed under the Pass and a tough will. We seemed to be of us public representatives who Laws or being evicted from their on the same political wavelength, met that evening and issued a homes under the Group Areas and to share the same judgment of statement condemning the con- Act. the political players of that time. gress resolution, knowing that Armed with first-hand infor- That lunch marked the start of a our action would lead to our mation she returned to the fray, personal friendship and a mutu- expulsion or resignation from the questioning harassing, badger- ally supportive relationship that party. ing the apartheid ministers and lasted for more than fifty years A week later, a number of lib- bureaucrats. Using parliament during which we worked together erals who had resigned from the as a platform she demanded the in liberal opposition politics both party met in Helen’s Johannes- attention of the apartheid rul- inside and outside parliament. burg home to form a ‘progres- ers, she got the ear of the media, Over the years I came to sive group’ with the intention of she endured the vilification of appreciate her keen intellect, developing it into a liberal anti- the racial bigots, she earned the to understand her commitment apartheid political party. The respect of the oppressed. to principle, her intolerance of Progressive Party was launched Helen was a liberal, but she hypocrisy, her scorn for position- in November 1959 at a Con- was no political ideologue. For seekers, and her concern for peo- gress held in Johannesburg. Dr her people, not dogma, came first. ple. I also came to realise that she Jan Steytler MP was elected She had a straightforward political did not suffer fools gladly, but she Leader and Helen was amongst creed: ‘I hate bullies. I stand for had a great sense of fun. its founder members. As one of simple justice, equal opportunity She was a warm and gener- the twelve members of the new and human rights. These are the ous hostess, and loved her home, Progressive Party parliamentary indispensable elements in a demo- with its garden and her dogs. Her caucus, Helen played an impor- cratic society and are well worth home was the focal point of her tant role in helping to shape party fighting for.’ domestic, social and a large part of policy and to establish the party’s She confronted bullies like her political life. It was there that identity as an outspoken oppo- Prime Ministers Verwoerd and she entertained friends and house nent of apartheid and as a custo- Vorster and President Botha head guests, had interviews with the dian of liberal values. on. Through her actions and the media or discussions with people At the 1961 election, which arguments that she advanced she who had come from afar to meet Prime Minister Dr Verwoerd demonstrated that liberal values her. It was here that she issued called two years earlier than were not abstract concepts, but statements or worked the tele- scheduled. Helen was the only For Helen that they formed the basis of good phone lines. It was here that she progressive to win a seat. Dur- government and of a wholesome attended to the many people who ing the next thirteen years, liberalism society. knocked on her door to seek her when civil liberties and the rule assistance or her intervention in of law were under assault from was more ~ their suffering under the discrimi- the apartheid government and natory laws and regulations of the the official opposition was either than a politi- Helen’s lone years in parliament apartheid government. compromising or capitulating, ended on 24 April 1974 when Helen single-handedly stood up cal creed. It five more members of the Pro- ~ against detention without trial, gressive Party, including myself, spoke out against racial discrimi- was a state were elected to parliament. This When, after the general elec- nation and fought for civil liber- breakthrough, after three succes- tion of 1958, I joined Helen in the ties and the rule of law. of mind, a sive drubbings at the polls, was a United Party’s parliamentary cau- way of life, a watershed event for the develop- cus, I learned at first hand that she ~ ment of liberal values in South was one of the most outspoken of responsibil- Africa – for Helen had informed a group of liberal members who She was courageous, she was prin- me, as the party leader at that were trying to move the party cipled. When she spoke she was ity towards time, that if the party did not win away from policies based on racial clear, lucid and to the point. No any seats other than her seat of discrimination and to face up to obfuscation, no ambiguity, no others, a Houghton at the coming election the future of a multiracial South spin; there was never any doubt she would resign from parliament. Africa. where Helen stood on issues. commitment For the next fifteen years Helen It came as no surprise that at She was a liberal, but she was continued with her political the very tense National Congress no armchair crusader. She was a to justice. work with the same energy and

Journal of Liberal History 66 Spring 2010 35 helen suzman: an appreciation

members of the National Party surprise, announced that organi- left their benches on the govern- sations such as the African ment’s side and, to everyone’s sur- National Congress and the Pan- prise, walked across the floor to Africanist Congress were to be shake Helen’s hand and to thank unbanned, and that prisoners her for what she had done. Helen such as Nelson Mandela were to had won at last. be freed; and also that the process of negotiating a new non-racial ~ democratic constitution would commence. As I sat in parliament When, during the 1980s and 1990s listening to De Klerk making in particular, the international that announcement my thoughts community became increasingly turned to Helen. I could imagine concerned about and involved her thoughts and feelings. What a in the issue of apartheid in South pity she was not there to share in Africa, international organisa- the excitement of the moment! tions, governments, political Helen settled down to a life movements, religious organisa- without parliament, but not with- tions, and civic bodies recognised out politics. Although she did not Helen Suzman for her courageous have the same access to the govern- struggle against apartheid and her ment service as she did when she unrelenting fight for human rights was a member of parliament she and justice in South Africa. interceded in respect of the cases Among the many awards she that were bought to her attention. received were the United Nations She issued statements to the press. Award for Human Rights (1978), She responded to requests from the Moses Mendelssohn Prize of the media for her opinion on topi- the Berlin Senate (1988), Dame cal issues. While apartheid was no commitment, and with the same Helen Suzman of the British Empire (1989), the longer the issue, Helen spoke out outspoken manner as before. She with Nelson Order of Meritorious Service in no uncertain terms when some- proved to be a great team player Mandela. (Gold) President Mandela (1997), one in authority acted in a way and played a pivotal role in ensur- and the Prize for Freedom of Lib- that violated her sense of justice or ing that the party did not lose its eral International (2002). She was abused their power. liberal thrust as it grew, through twice nominated for the Nobel Although Helen was not amalgamations and electoral Peace Prize. directly involved in the negotia- victories, from six to twenty- Among the twenty-nine hon- tion of the new constitution, she seven members in parliament and orary doctorates conferred on her followed developments around became the official opposition in were five from South African uni- the negotiations closely, and was 1977. versities. The balance was from frequently in touch with me, Freed from the workload that universities around the world, as the Democratic Party’s chief she had when she was the sole including prominent universities negotiator, asking me questions, representative of the Progres- such as Harvard, Yale and Colum- expressing opinions or giving me sive Federal Party in parliament bia (United States of America), advice. Helen was able to devote more Oxford, Cambridge, Glasgow In 1991 the party invited Helen of her energy to her work outside and Warwick (United Kingdom) to join its delegation to the first parliament. She continued to visit and the University of Toronto plenary session of the Congress political prisoners and detainees. (Canada). for a Democratic South Africa She visited anti-apartheid activists After thirty-six years in par- (Codesa), the multi-party body who had been banished to remote liament, Helen decided that the negotiating the new constitution. parts of the country. She took up election due to be held in Sep- In a two-minute intervention, the cases of people like Steve Biko tember 1989 would be an appro- Helen pointed out that, although and Neil Aggett who had died in priate time for her to retire. She the text of the statement before controversial circumstances while left parliament as she had done the delegates referred a commit- being held by members of the for thirty-six years, still fighting ment to non-racialism and non- Security Forces. for justice as she persuaded the sexism, less than 10 percent of Her greatest triumph in par- Speaker to allow her to bring a delegates were women. Helen’s liament undoubtedly came on motion of censure against a judge political acumen and the respect 19 June 1986, when the National who in her words, ‘had given a that people had for her became Assembly passed a Bill repeal- derisory sentence to two white apparent when Codesa promptly ing the Pass Laws that Helen farmers who had beaten a Black resolved that all future delegations had fought against throughout employee to death’. had to have an equal number of her political career. After the women and men! Speaker had announced the result ~ In 1991 Helen was elected as and members of the party cau- the President of the South Afri- cus had crowded around Helen On 2 February 1990, President can Institute of Race Relations, to congratulate her, two young F. W. de Klerk, to everyone’s and in 1994 she was appointed as

36 Journal of Liberal History 66 Spring 2010 helen suzman: an appreciation one of the five members of the ceremony, having said that special kind. She did not allow Colin Wells Eglin was born in Independent Electoral Com- he was honoured to confer parliament to determine her Cape Town on 14 April 1925. He mission which supervised the award on these four great agenda. Nor did she allow the served with the Sixth South Afri- South Africa’s first democratic South Africans, he added, ‘But ritual nature or ambiance of can Armoured Division in Italy election. In 1996 the Helen I must tell you that in respect parliament to dilute her mes- during the Second World War. Suzman Foundation, com- of three of them I decided sage. In fact, Helen was more Elected to the South African Par- mitted to promoting liberal with my head. In respect of than a parliamentarian. She liament as a member of the United democracy, was founded. the fourth I decided with my was a political activist who, Party in 1958, in 1959, together Over the years since Helen heart. I won’t tell you that with consummate courage with ten colleagues, including first met Nelson Mandela, fourth is, but she gives me a lot and skill, used parliament to Helen Suzman, he resigned from when visiting the prison on of trouble!’ get her message across. the United Party to form the lib- Robben Island where he was In awarding Helen the Helen Suzman was a eral anti-apartheid Progressive held, the two of them devel- Decoration President Mandela great South African liberal. Party. He served in parliament oped a friendship founded on referred to her courage: ‘It is Her greatness was founded, until 1961, and then again from mutual respect and under- a courage born of the yearn- not on any grand design, or 1974–2004; for ten years dur- standing. This did not prevent ing for freedom, of hatred great speech, or momentous ing the 1970s and ’80s he was the her telling him quite frankly of oppression, injustice and event, but on a commitment leader of the Progressive Party when at times she disagreed in­equity whether the victim to a set of basic liberal values and its successors. Following the with him or with something be oneself or another; a for- combined with a multitude release of Nelson Mandela, Eglin his government was doing. titude that draws its strength of single acts of courage and played a key role in the constitu- In 1997 President Mandela, from the conviction that no caring. tional negotiations that led to the at a ceremony in Pretoria, person can be free while oth- For Helen liberalism was adoption of South Africa’s new awarded Helen and three dis- ers are unfree.’ more than a political creed. It democratic constitution; Mandela tinguished men the Decora- was a state of mind, a way of described Eglin as ‘one of the tion for Meritorious Service ~ life, a responsibility towards architects of our democracy’. He is (Gold), then South Africa’s others, a commitment to the author of Crossing the Bor- highest civilian award. At Helen Suzman was a great justice. ders of Power – The Memoirs the commencement of the parliamentarian, but one of a Her legacy lives on. of Colin Eglin (2007).

RESEARCH IN PROGRESS If you can help any of the individuals listed below with sources, contacts, or any other information — or if you know anyone who can — please pass on details to them. Details of other research projects in progress should be sent to the Editor (see page 3) for inclusion here.

Letters of Richard Cobden (1804–65) Liberal Unionists Knowledge of the whereabouts of any letters written by Cobden in A study of the Liberal Unionist party as a discrete political entity. Help private hands, autograph collections, and obscure locations in the UK with identifying party records before 1903 particularly welcome. Ian and abroad for a complete edition of his letters. (For further details of Cawood, Newman University Colllege, Birmingham; i.cawood@newman. the Cobden Letters Project, please see www.uea.ac.uk/his/research/ ac.uk. projects/cobden). Dr Anthony Howe, School of History, University of East Anglia, Norwich NR4 7TJ; [email protected]. The Liberal Party in the West Midlands December 1916 – 1923 election Focusing on the fortunes of the party in Birmingham, Coventry, Walsall The Lib-Lab Pact and Wolverhampton. Looking to explore the effects of the party split The period of political co-operation which took place in Britain between at local level. Also looking to uncover the steps towards temporary 1977 and 1978; PhD research project at Cardiff University.Jonny Kirkup, 29 reunification for the 1923 general election.Neil Fisher, 42 Bowden Way, Mount Earl, Bridgend, Bridgend County CF31 3EY; [email protected]. Binley, Coventry CV3 2HU ; [email protected].

‘Economic Liberalism’ and the Liberal (Democrat) Party, 1937–2004 Recruitment of Liberals into the Conservative Party, 1906–1935 A study of the role of ‘economic liberalism’ in the Liberal Party and the Aims to suggest reasons for defections of individuals and develop an Liberal Democrats. Of particular interest would be any private papers understanding of changes in electoral alignment. Sources include relating to 1937’s Ownership For All report and the activities of the personal papers and newspapers; suggestions about how to get hold of Unservile State Group. Oral history submissions also welcome. Matthew the papers of more obscure Liberal defectors welcome. Cllr Nick Cott, 1a Francis; [email protected]. Henry Street, Gosforth, Newcastle-upon-Tyne, NE3 1DQ; [email protected].

The Liberal Party’s political communication, 1945–2002 The political career of Edward Strutt, 1st Baron Belper Research on the Liberal party and Lib Dems’ political communication. Strutt was Whig/Liberal MP for Derby (1830-49), later Arundel and Any information welcome (including testimonies) about electoral Nottingham; in 1856 he was created Lord Belper and built Kingston campaigns and strategies. Cynthia Messeleka-Boyer, 12 bis chemin Vaysse, Hall (1842-46) in the village of Kingston-on-Soar, Notts. He was a 81150 Terssac, France; +33 6 10 09 72 46; [email protected]. friend of Jeremy Bentham and a supporter of free trade and reform, and held government office as Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster Liberal policy towards Austria-Hungary, 1905–16 and Commissioner of Railways. Any information, location of papers or Andrew Gardner, 17 Upper Ramsey Walk, Canonbury, London N1 2RP; references welcome. Brian Smith; [email protected] [email protected].

Journal of Liberal History 66 Spring 2010 37