In Cape Town, Alastair Leithead spoke to the politicians on both sides of the debate.

ANC's Steve Tshwete, Safety and Security Minister

People ask why we should form a co-operation with a National Party that did so many bad things to black people in this country for so many years?

Those questions have been posed in letters to the editors of the various newspapers in this country.

Members of the old National Party joining the ANC are being laughed at and ridiculed.

But what would have happened if we had absolutely nothing to do with all white people - if we had adopted that position from the time we left prison?

And I suffered in prison - 25 years and nine months on Robben Island in the hands of the National Party.

Critical reaction

If we had come out and said: "We would have nothing to do with the NNP because of this history," we would not be serious about reconciliation and about nation-building.

The critical reaction of the media, particularly the English-speaking media, runs against the grain of our fundamental policy of reconciliation, to bring together black and white in this country.

The gap is still there and we have a big responsibility to bring our people together.

No saviour from up above is going to come to redeem the situation - we have to do it ourselves as South Africans.

The struggle must remain a selfless one, going beyond party political gains. We must build our country - it must strive as a democracy - and that is what we are doing.

There are people who say it is wrong for the National Party and the ANC to come together. But it is not wrong - they are wrong.

The ANC is the victor here and it is nothing new for them - signing up to this deal is simply a sweet way of swallowing up the NNP and of increasing their own numbers.

The NNP keep dressing themselves up in clothes that don't fit them - some of them are just wolves in sheep's clothing.

They do not think in terms of race - how is their leader, Marthinus Van Schalkwyk, suddenly a champion of black people against racism?

The important thing to remember is the idea of principles and strengthening the democracy, and that is not going to happen if you bring in the old forces of racism.

I believe the ANC will just carry on with bolstered numbers and that this is the end of the NNP - there is no contribution that they can make.

Dominant

They just wanted position and by co-operating with the ANC they have left many of their party members in the lurch.

People are leaving the NNP and they will not go back.

The Democratic Alliance is the main opposition and we want to guard against any groups being dominant. We are not going to be discouraged - we have slogged it out as a minority and we will continue to do so.

The agreement is just rhetoric and it sounds hollow coming from the NNP, who have used so many dirty tricks over the years.