Speakers: Tony Leon, James Harding

In his autobiography, On the Contrary: Leading the Opposition in the New South Africa, Tony Leon, leader of the opposition to the ANC for thirteen years, looks back on a half century of South African politics from the fight to end Apartheid to the birth and near death of the Democratic Alliance and his struggle with Thabo Mbeki over AIDS, Zimbabwe and race. In a no-holds-barred assessment he provided an insider’s account of the dramas and events which have helped shape and define modern South Africa. He also charted the future course of South Africa following the rise of Jacob Zuma and the struggle for power inside the ANC. This was a rare opportunity for a view from behind the scenes from one of South Africa’s prominent actors.