The overtures are an improvement from the ritual lambasting of black intellectuals by the president. He has repeatedly bemoaned the absence of black intellectuals from policy debates, suggested that they do not read and that some of them are an embarrassment to the black community. The irony of it is that when it comes to policy formulation it is the white experts that the government chooses to rely on. While the above gives a somewhat benevolent interpretation of these overtures, it is important to appreciate the inherent dangers. Before addressing these it is important to briefly consider what intellectuals do.
Intellectuals perform different roles in society.
Some provide the dominant class with forms of moral, ideological and intellectual leadership, and are thus propagators of its ideologies. But others do not endear themselves to those in power nor try to win their favour. Their place in society is to raise embarrassing questions and their public performances cannot be condensed into some slogan or orthodox party line. These individuals speak truth to power and in carrying out this responsibility no world power is too big and imposing to be criticised. While it may be true that most white intellectuals were either supporters or apologists of the apartheid regime, a blanket exclusion of white intellectuals is inconsistent with the constitutional mandate of creating a non-racial democracy.