T D  C-M R  S A 423 Blackwell Publishing Ltd Oxford, UK MUWO The Muslim World 0027-4909 © 2006 Hartford Seminary July 2006 96 3 ORIGINAL ARTICLE The Dynamics of Christian-Muslim Relations in South Africa (circa 1960–2000) The Muslim World The Dynamics of Christian-Muslim Relations in South Africa (circa 1960–2000): From Exclusivism to Pluralism 1 Muhammed Haron University of Botswana Gaborone, Botswana Introduction to the Dynamics of Christian-Muslim Relations D uring the second half of the 20 th century, the socio-political landscape of South Africa underwent a radical transformation; it changed from being a pariah state before the 1960s to a democratic one by the mid 1990s. These changes also affected socio-religious and cultural developments within the state. The apartheid government’s political philosophy was rooted in the religious tenets of the Christian Dutch Reform Church (hereafter NGK), which biblically justified the government’s practice of racial segregation. The NGK’s theological arguments were the motivating force behind the White Afrikaner politicians’ thinking; these political architects under the leadership of Dr. H. F. Verwoerd constructed the notion of baasskap, which literally and figuratively meant their dominant control and management of their own affairs and the affairs of those who came under them. They cultivated a philosophy in which they blindly believed and faithfully followed, not critically questioning its implications and how it would affect those whom they determined were second-class citizens. Since they regarded themselves to be superior in all respects, all the non-whites (Africans, coloured and Indians) were viewed as peoples who were racially and intellectually inferior. Because of this warped thinking and arrogant attitude towards others, they adopted and