One obvious criticism that might be leveled at Final Solution is that the basic storyline is just not believable. As far as the plotline is concerned, how close does the movie stick to the actual historic events?
 
Gerrit Wolfaardt: The plot-line is historically correct, although some of the people involved in the real life situation had to be condensed into one character in the movie because of the time constraints. Some dramatic license was also taken. An article appeared Nov. '02 in the San Francisco Chronicle detailing the fact that what the movie portrays is still going on today.

With respect to the issue of reconciliation -- are you and Moses on good terms today? How long did it take to really achieve reconciliation between the two of you?
 
GW: I was not the white man who had beaten up Moses. I had done that to other blacks and so it was condensed into the movie for obvious reasons. Moses and I became friends and still are to this day. The process of reconciliation took place over months, rather than days or weeks. It was a long process to build trust towards myself and whites in general -- reconciliation does not come through a handshake and a hug. I had to show commitment and the willingness to spend time and listen to Moses. I had to be patient and also demonstrate that I was committed to him -- that is why I also helped him find employment. I have not seen Moses in a couple of years, but we are still friends and always will be.

What advice would you give to those who believe that the kind of radical forgiveness portrayed in Final Solution is just not within human capacity?
 
GW: Forgiveness as portrayed in Final Solution is seen every day in Christian environments. Many examples come to mind, like Corrie Ten Boom for instance. Mandela extended forgiveness and reconciliation to the white regime which had incarcerated him for 26 years. A friend of mine forgave the young black men who had murdered his wife during a massacre in our church in Cape Town, South Africa. I visited countless churches in South Africa and other parts of Africa (and even the USA) where I asked for forgiveness and it was given without any conditions. This amazing grace is extended by Christians because we know what it means to be forgiven from all our sins by our father in heaven. If we cannot forgive, he cannot forgive us.

If a fictional story -- identical in details to yours -- were submitted to a publisher, the author would likely be told that the book is too dependent on improbable coincidences. Do you feel that the events of your life have been coincidental?
 
GW: Some liberties (with condensing characters and situations) were taken, as I mentioned earlier. However, there are even more improbable coincidences in my life that were not portrayed in the movie! After my conversion I asked God to bring people across my path that I may have hurt through my past actions, and that is what he did. If I would write a book portraying chronological and factual events, I would probably run into disbelief, but I would back it up with testimonies of the people involved. True reconciliation, in my view, is a miracle, and because it runs against our human desire to seek revenge or keep a grudge, people will sometimes find it hard to believe.

A very striking image under the closing credits is one of you washing the feet of Vusi Kunene, the actor who played Edward, the leader of the township militants in Final Solution. Could you explain what was behind the footwashing?
 
GW: I preached at the church where the movie was being shot on a Sunday. Many of the cast members attended. I believe God moved upon my heart to ask Vusi's forgiveness on behalf of myself and other white people that may have hurt him, his family or other black people, and I called on him. He was initially taken aback, but I believe he said that if God chose him, then he must respond.

Is the character of Edward a composite, or is he based on an actual person?
 
GW: The character of Edward is a composite. However I got to know many "Edwards" as I moved around the townships asking for forgiveness. Not once did they refuse to receive me or grant forgiveness. I even had people publicly saying that they will go home and destroy the bombs and guns they had hidden to kill white people -- all they needed was to hear a white man say, "I am so sorry for what we did to you, please forgive us."

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