{
  "id": 4627837,
  "title": "Afrikaans ministers who proved it’s never too late for reconciliation",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/31/afrikaans-ministers-who-proved-its-never-too-late-for-reconciliation",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-08-31T10:52:17.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Daily Maverick",
    "slug": "daily-maverick",
    "url": "https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/opinionista/2026-08-31-afrikaans-ministers-who-proved-it-s-never-too-late-for-reconciliation/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Afrikaans ministers Danie Rosslee and EG Fourie demonstrated that reconciliation is never impossible, even for those who had previously opposed apartheid. Political theologian Deon Snyman recalls witnessing both moments over 20 years apart. In 1990, Rosslee, a conservative Dutch Reformed Church minister, stood up at a synod meeting and expressed his support for Professor Willie Jonker's confession of the church's role in apartheid. His words were met with silence, as he challenged the notion that Jonker's confession could be dismissed due to a lack of church authority. Years later, Rosslee credited the prophet Amos for changing his perspective, leading to his transformation into a \"liberated person.\"\n\nIn 2014, Snyman saw Fourie, a conservative Nederduitsch Hervormde Kerk minister, speak at the Faculty of Theology at Stellenbosch University. Fourie acknowledged his church's slow journey towards reconciliation and described them as \"late bloomers.\" He spoke humbly about his church's difficult path away from the theological justification of apartheid, and Archbishop Desmond Tutu embraced him in recognition of their shared journey. Both ministers exemplify that reconciliation knows no bounds, regardless of past opposition.",
  "summary": "Danie Rosslee and EG Fourie were not early opponents of apartheid. Perhaps that is precisely why we should remember what happened when they changed.",
  "key_points": [
    "Danie Rosslee, former conservative minister, supported Willie Jonker's apartheid confession in 1990.",
    "EG Fourie, conservative minister, acknowledged his church's slow path to reconciliation in 2014.",
    "Both ministers exemplify that reconciliation is possible despite past opposition."
  ],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}