Specifically, the belated epiphany that Apartheid Was Wrong. While the Cow was still reeling from the shock of Adrian Vlok's apology, Bronstein informed her that David Cameron regretted his party's support for Apartheid. It was all a bit much.
Apartheid, in the sense of the legal system of structural discrimination on the basis of race, ceased to exist twelve years previously. That discrimination, and disadvantage, persisted, was beyond question - but it was not for this that Vlok or Cameron were apologising. What they regretted was safely in the past, safely beyond the reach of what they could effect.
"Perhaps," suggested Gramsci cynically, "that was exactly the point! If they apologised for enduring structural disadvantage, wouldn't the expectation be for them to do something? Something more material, perhaps, than washing someone's feet, or joining the photo-opportunity queues surrounding Madiba?"
The Cow pondered this possibility. The thought of "Dashing Dave" alienating his traditional powerbase to join the ranks of the Bonos and Bobs seemed remote, though perhaps the Tories were more concerned with Muslim-bashing than what happened down in colony they'd long forgotten, right now, and the risk was smaller than feared. And Adie? Perhaps, she thought, the price of petrol being what it is, his pension wasn't quite covering his lifestyle, and he needed a twilight job to make ends meet... and picked pedicure?
Those looking for the link to the Cameron apology... keep looking! The article by David Cameron was published in the Observer on Sunday, 27 August - and is clearly listed here if one searches. However, the article itself - and all the comments that the Guardian faithful posted in scoffing response - appears to have disappeared. Could it be he's had second thoughts?