WHAT a year this has been!
Since president de Klerk’s speech on February 2, we have seen more political change in one year than in the whole of the last 40 years. The eyes of the world were on us this year as the ANC, the PAC and other political organisations were unbanned, as Nelson Mandela was released and as talks about talks began.
But 1990 was also a year of terrible violence — and even as we write, the violence continues. The war in Natal has not ended, nor has the violence on the Reef and in other parts of the country.
We are also saddened by the rising cost of living. Inflation continue to cause more pain and hardship than most people are able to bear. Unemployment is worse than ever.
As we go into the new year and towards a democratic government we are faced with urgent problems. We need to get negotiations on the road so that we can well and truly throw the last spade of sand on apartheid’s grave. We need to educate our children — and adults need also to be given the chance to make up for lost opportunities. We need housing, decent health care. We need to learn and educate each other about the killer disease AIDS, And we need to learn — and practice — tolerance towards our fellow human beings.
The country is changing — and so is Learn and Teach magazine. We have big plans for the new year, plans which we hope will lead to a better, more educational and more exciting magazine.
January to April next year will be a time of planning for the staff at Learn and Teach Publications — so we will only be bringing you your first magazine in April. After April, the magazine will come out monthly. Those readers who have subscriptions should not worry — you will still receive the correct number of magazines.
A few months ago we ran a survey. We would still like to invite all our readers who have ideas about how we can change and improve the magazine to write to us. We would appreciate any suggestions and will give all suggestions serious thought.
So, this is our last issue of the year. Just as we began the year with a cover story about the release of Nelson Mandela, so it is fitting to see this year out with a dedication to Oliver Tambo, president of the African National Congress, who has come home after 30 long years in exile. Welcome home, OR!
Finally, we would like to thank our readers, sellers and funders who have continued to support us for the last nine and a half years and to wish you all a happy, healthy and peaceful new year. Roll on 1991!
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