In my focus on the success of African Bank, I was blind to the hidden intentions of some influential people. I didn't play the game of speaking in tongues, I was outspoken and vocalised what I really meant and did so boldly. Unintentionally and unaware, I ruffled many feathers, often those of very powerful forces. Once I was called to account by the late State President P.W. Botha. We were in Kempton Park attending a conference near the airport, where he and a few of his ministers were present. I had been asked to present a paper. Later in the evening, I was advised by one of his senior aides that the State President requested to meet with me. My wife and I had earlier sat at the head of the table with him and his wife. I didn't know what to expect, but made my way to the holding room from where I was escorted into his private suite where I found him seated.

He shook my hand politely but, with a stern face, looked me in the eye and told me he was pleased to meet me. He then told me that he had taken note of the statements that I was making and was not particularly pleased with some of my views. However, he was very courteous and mentioned that the government would not interfere with me although he felt that I was somewhat misguided. I still recall his caution that I was playing into the hands of enemies of the state.

I spent almost twenty minutes with him and his wife. The rest of our discussion was about general things and he seemed particularly careful not to offend. After a cup of tea, I was escorted out.

Incidentally, my meeting with Botha took place at the World Trade Centre, which became the venue for the Convention for a Democratic South Africa (CODESA), in 1991. CODESA was the beginning of the negotiations that began the process of transition to reach democracy in South Africa.

My leaving the African Bank and the resultant fallout could not but create a crisis for me and my family and even for part of the community. For the first time since I was nineteen years old, I was embarrassed to be officially unemployed. I dreaded how we were going to cope both emotionally, but more especially, financially.