On Monday, 15 September, Tony Leon addressed the Law Society as a guest speaker. He drew on his experiences in the political and diplomatic worlds—having been a negotiator at the political table in the 1994 and 2024 GNU negotiations and having served as the ambassador (for South Africa) to various South American countries between 2009 and 2012, respectively—to colourfully present some of the lessons he has learned, interwoven with anecdotes useful for life outside of the political arena.

 

 

A chief discussion point centred around his belief that "the only thing that is permanent is impermanence" (sic.). He used the examples of the the fall of the apartheid regime in 1994, despite many beliefs during its reign that it would be a mainstay of the South African social and political landscape, as well as the eventual coming-out-of-majority-power of the ANC (in 2024) to make this point. He reflected on why it was that, in politics and in life in general, one settled for less. He reflected that it was because one was not sure what would happen if they did not accept it. Leaning on this, he made the reflection that sometimes, the choices one makes are not between good and terrible, but rather between good and less worse. 

 

 

He rounded up his discussion on more topical issues, in particular that of the assassination of a recent controversial figure in the United States. He highlighted, firstly, that assassination is the most extreme form of censorship. Historically speaking, he expanded, assassinations have had the effect of driving some or other change as witnessed in the United States during the Civil Rights Movement and in South Africa at the closing of political apartheid. He pondered, finally, on what the effect might be, yet, of the most recent attack in the USA which, for him, has ramifications for South Africa too. 

 

Reflecting on South Africa, and South Africans, he concluded that we surprise ourselves by rising above ourselves in our most critical moments despite the many things that (seemingly) divide us.

We thank Mr Leon for joining us and welcome his return, in future, to impart any more lessons learned and anecdotes connected to his experiences.

The Law Society