"This country is armed to the teeth, and none of these African states could begin to attack South Africa"
- Helen Suzman
About this Quote
Helen Suzman's quote is a reflection of the militaristic power of South Africa during the apartheid period. She is indicating that South Africa is so heavily armed that no African state would have the ability to introduce an attack versus it. This quote is a testament to the strength of South Africa's military throughout this time, and the worry it instilled in its neighbors. It also speaks with the power imbalance in between South Africa and the rest of the African continent, as South Africa was able to preserve its overbearing regime with the aid of its military might. This quote works as a pointer of the overbearing power of South Africa during the apartheid period, and the requirement for the international community to do something about it to ensure that such a regime never rises again.
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