1998, the government tried to cope with this problem by appointing Judge
William Heath to head a Special Investigating Unit, which recovered,
saved, or prevented the loss of 1.3 billion rand by March 12, 1999; but
that was only the tip of the iceberg.V
Exit Mandela
On February 5, 1999, as his presidency drew to a close, Mandela deliv-
ered in parliament a somber review of the state of South Africa.83His gov-
ernment, he said, had laid solid foundations for the future. The judiciary
made no one, not even the president, above the law. "Equality, the right to
vote in free and fair elections and freedom of speech" were now taken for
granted. "Though we might differ on method, it has become a national
passion to pronounce commitment to a better life for all." Fresh water,
electricity, and telephones were supplied to many more people, even
though targets were not met; many school classrooms were built or re-
paired, adult education was expanding, and a recent meeting of represen-
tatives of government, labor, business, and local communities created "a
splendid partnership between business and government. "
But, said Mandela, "The long walk is not yet over. The prize of a better
life has yet to be won." Racism survives in the new South Africa; full rec-