The image that stuck with me that bright February morning was never filmed or photographed.
A pair of white police officers were watching a video feed from parliament just over the cobble-stoned street from where they were standing: FW De Klerk's face filled the screen and I heard the words "unconditionally free Nelson Mandela" - the more senior officer shook his head miserably and said to the man next to him - "dit is die einde van ons volk": it is the end of our people.
The De Klerk government had retained a tradition established by that of PW Botha, De Klerk’s predecessor.
Advance draft
At the opening of parliament in February each year, the international media representatives in South Africa would be herded into a large conference room over the road from parliament and given an advance draft of the president's speech.
![[QODLink]](http://english.aljazeera.net/mritems/Images/2012/2/12/2012212114913931580_16.jpg "The miracle generation")
