In David Goldblatt se boek Some Afrikaners Revisited is daar 'n foto van 'n berede jong Afrikaner, geneem by 'n Nasionale Party-viering in 1964. Daardie jong man was in 1990 die eerste lid van die NP-regering wat verskoning vir apartheid gevra het, en in November 2009 het hy uitgetree as Menseregtekommissaris. Watter pad het hom tot hier gelei? En watter pad het Suid-Afrika in dieselfde tyd geloop? Wessels vertel pakkend van die groot politieke veranderings wat hy beleef het, as minister in die laaste apartheidskabinet, as grondwetonderhandelaar en menseregte-kommissaris. Maar dis 'n groter verhaal wat hy vertel. "Dit maak my vies wanneer apartheid die skuld kry vir alles wat skeef loop," se hy. "Dit maak my net so vies wanneer mense maak asof apartheid geen impak het op hedendaagse vraagstukke nie." Met sy vertrekpunt dat die nuwe Suid-Afrika se grondwet op die aandrang van Nelson Mandela by Vereeninging onderteken is, waar ook die Vrede onderteken is wat die Unie tot stand gebring het, vra hy die vraag hoe ver ons op die weg van vereniging gevorder het. Hy beantwoord dit aan die hand van vyf groot temas: die regstaat, menseregte, rassisme, versoening, en armoede. Wessels, wat 'n ver pad gekom het sedert sy berede dae, praat oorredend en met ontwapenende eerlikheid oor nasionale en eie dwalings.

This book is a chronicle of the political and moral evolution of an Afrikaner within the context of the political evolution of South Africa and how he not only overcame the conservative and biased background of his youth, but was transformed into a revolutionary spokesman for change and a recognition of the injustices of the past.

It is also a realisation that many of the consequences of the Apartheid system are still among us and have not been resolved. Many of these old ghosts which he encountered during his career have to be revisited and confronted.

The author takes the reader on a fascinating journey through the internal political struggles that eventually led to the first fully democratic election in South Africa in 1994 and beyond. His role as a Commissioner of the SA Human Rights Commission since retiring as a politician has exposed him to further realities of the legacy of Apartheid.

It is the story of a courageous politician and a dedicated South African set on a course to make a positive contribution to the future of the country.