I actually like Tony Leon. Yes, yes, I know, such a confession is likely to seriously dent my budding reputation as a hardened cynic, but there you have it.

I came to this realisation in the oh-so-colonial setting of the Mount Nelson, but I suspect the amenability crept up on me as I ploughed my way through the 700 pages of his self-reflective weighty political memoir. Across the table, dressed in a dapper suit, Mr Leon exudes affability and easy confidence.

However, it is not his relaxed manner, friendly overtures or even the selection of fine delicacies laid out on the table that endear him to me. It is the impression that he is a man of principle.

A rarity in the world of politics, principles are largely underrated and a man who is willing to stand by his in the face of hegemonic pressure and, at times, public ridicule, is a man who should, at the very least, be respected.

This is, of course, not to suggest that Leon is without his flaws. Refreshingly however, he makes a conscious effort to reflect on these flaws and the mistakes he has made in his aptly-named autobiography 'On the Contrary'. Like principles, self-reflection and apologies are rarely found in the political arena.

Considering that Tony Leon's passion for and involvement in politics has spanned his entire adult life, it is all the more remarkable that he has cultivated these qualities. Few can claim that they enter the profession with noble intentions and even fewer emerge untarnished by the allure of power.

The race against race

Not surprisingly, our conversation drifts quickly from polite pleasantries and his long-forgotten but at-the-time-outrageous relationship with former Miss SA Michelle Bruce, to the dark and twisty world of South African politics.

Shifting gear accordingly, I whack him with the first weighty question — will South Africans ever be able to move away from race-based politics?

Reading 'On the Contrary' has, in part, prepared me for how Leon will answer the question. Context, context, context. His autobiography is so dense with history and contextualising information that it becomes more a concise history of South Africa (over the past 50 years) than a personal memoir. In this case, the context is America, which may just have something to do with the fact that he recently completed a fellowship at the Institute of Politics, Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University.

"How long did it take America to get a black presidential candidate? Two-hundred-and-thirty years, or you know, it took a long time, but they got it! The amazing thing is here's Barack Obama, a black; Hillary Clinton, a woman; and Mitt Romney a Mormon — all these non-traditional moulds producing three major candidates, which is very encouraging."

Even more encouraging, Leon insists, is the fact that Obama's campaign is not based on his race.

"He transcends race. But it took a hell of a long time to elect a black presidential candidate, and a black presidential candidate who wasn't holding on to victimology. And they're a very, very advanced democracy. We're an infant democracy… but we haven't got the luxury of time.

"If we carry on with race politics here — it's quite successful in terms of the ANC — but eventually it starts corroding and destroying. It leads to emigration; it leads to stultification. So, I suppose whether we get to that point, will determine whether or not South African democracy is successful. If race remains the overwhelming and only factor, then pack it all in. Then you live in a country that has a racial census, it doesn't have a functioning democracy."

On the contrary

One of the fundamentals of a functioning democracy is an opposition party. Although the ANC, under the tenure of Mbeki, has increasingly treated opposition as something which should be regarded as counter-revolutionary (bordering on treasonous), there is nothing democratic about a one-party state.

Throughout his political career, Leon has taken up the cause of the opposition. At first this seems like an untenable position. Surely, those opposed to the apartheid government would have been 'on the side' of those in the ANC? Not necessarily.

Politics is not quite as black and white as both governments would have us believe. In the blurry grey area are all the isms — nationalism, liberalism, conservatism, Marxism, communism, socialism etc.

The 'ism' that Leon subscribes to is liberalism and while the political philosophy has a bad rap in South Africa, Leon suggests that this has more to do with its diametrical opposition to nationalism than its proponents.

"The reason that liberalism has bad press in South Africa is that liberalism is the opposite of nationalism. Nationalism — whether it is black nationalism or Afrikaner nationalism — excludes a whole section of the citizenry who are part of the nationalist majority.

"And the antidote to nationalism is liberalism, because liberalism says the individual matters more than the tribal, racial or ethnic affiliation. And they have to be in opposition, you can't compromise between those two points of view.

"The actual clash in South Africa today, ironically, is that you've got a liberal constitution, which is actually contesting against national democratic revolution. That's actually what the fight's about in this country."

However, an opposition party should not simply oppose the ruling party; it should also provide an alternative for voters. Because democracy in South Africa is still in its infancy, the opposition party has, for the most part been nothing more than a dissenting voice in parliament. The trick is turning this dissention into a viable alternative.

"We opened the space for opposition in a very difficult situation, where there wouldn't have been any opposition at all — it would have been a one-party state, possibly. But having done that, we were more successful when I was the leader at doing that than creating an alternative government in-waiting.

Proudly South African

So, are the circumstances right for change in South Africa?

Leon believes that countries succeed when they do certain things economically and politically. He claims that what needs to be done for South Africa to succeed is no big secret (there is a world full of examples of what to do and what not to do), but he questions whether the current and future governments will have the courage to put aside their own agendas and implement the changes.

"Change is very important. Change can be terrifying, but it is also very important. It can bring good things, so let's hope it does."

And, believe it or not, 'good things' for South Africa would be more politicians of Leon's ilk. His political legacy may be modest, but that doesn't mean that it hasn't had considerable impact on the shape of the new South Africa.

"I am proudly South African, but I regard patriotism in the John F Kennedy definition — the job of a patriot is to question the government and not to bow down to it. There is a big difference between being pro-South African and pro-ANC.

"I didn't consider it my job to win the affection of the ANC. I really thought that the ideas I stand for are going to out-win and outlast a lot of the people who shout them down. And they will."

Indeed they will — they found a crack in my armour of cynicism and wriggled their way into that soft spot in my brain where principles are mulled and fortified. Hey, I'm even beginning to suspect that I may just be a closet liberal.

'On the Contrary' provides fascinating insight into some of South Africa's political heavyweights; the complex negotiations behind the transition to democracy; and the petty squabbles between those entrusted with custodianship of our country. And, just in case you were wondering, you will find references to Leon's relationship with Michelle Bruce on pages 238 - 239…