Roelf Meyer

Born into a world shaped by Afrikaner nationalism and political power, Roelf Meyer rose rapidly through the ranks and joined the inner circle of the National Party in the turbulent 1980s.

But after his work as deputy minister exposed him to the living conditions of black South Africans and the inhumanity of apartheid laws, his assumptions about race started to shift. As chief negotiator for the NP, Meyer was at the heart of the high-stakes talks with the African National Congress and other parties to end apartheid and bring about democracy.

He offers a candid insider’s account of the personalities, forces and tensions that shaped the transition. During the negotiations, his special bond with Cyril Ramaphosa, chief negotiator of the ANC, proved critical. He sheds light on their relationship, which played a role 30 years later in Meyer’s appointment as US ambassador, and answers the critical question: what does it take to negotiate lasting peace?