Mr. Speaker, it is with great pleasure that I rise today to acknowledge the recent readmission of the Republic of South Africa to the Commonwealth.
Because so many of its members, Canada included, found the policy of apartheid racist and repugnant, South Africa in 1961 under pressure withdrew from Commonwealth membership, the same year communist East Germany erected the Berlin wall.
During the early 1960s communist tyranny and racist oppression appeared set in stone; immutable and resistant to change. But in 1990 we have seen both the Berlin wall and apartheid fall, toppling before an irresistible worldwide surge to democracy.
Canada played a major role in ensuring that South Africa's first non-racial election in April was free and fair and we as Canadian parliamentarians should be proud of Canada's continuing help to the new South Africa as it makes the difficult transition to full democracy.
We welcome South Africa back into the family of free nations.