High levels of respect within the presidency

TONY HEARD - Special adviser, the presidency

Sunday Independent April 8 2001

The picture of an overbearing presidency painted in The Sunday Independent (April 1) by Democratic Alliance researcher James Myburgh draws such ludicrous parallels with Stalin and Hitler as to be meaningless as a basis for serious discussion.

Allow me a personal note. I have enjoyed many years working on South African newspapers as editor and reporter, and the past seven in government as a special adviser latterly in the presidency, where I have experienced a refreshing open-mindedness, concern for others' views, genuine respect for gender and minorities, and a pervasive non-authoritarianism.

This rivals the high levels of tolerance I experienced in newspapers. While there is a clear sense of presidential direction, candid and regular exchange of opinion is indulged almost to a fault.

For anyone seriously interested in the operations of the presidency a good starting point would be a new and comprehensive report-back to the nation by the Rev Frank Chikane, the director-general, which has gone to press. An early copy is already available on www.gov.za.