From: nicolson@odie.ee.wits.ac.za (James Nicolson)
Subject: Re: UPI: Ciskei troops kill fifteen as ANC marches on Ciskei capital
Organization: Wits Electrical Engineering (Novell Users).
Date: Fri, 11 Sep 1992 08:34:13 GMT

In article <1992Sep10.142340.27922@ucthpx.uct.ac.za> gavan@elc.mth.uct.ac.za (Gavan Tredoux) writes:

>There isn't any parallel, merely because people are out in the streets
>in both cases. The European situation was largely spontaneous, it wasn't
>organized by a insurgent organization with a history of armed struggle
>and "people's war". One striking difference: in Europe the communists
>were the target of the protests, here they lead them. 

In both cases, people were marching because of the frustration of a 
government denying them freedom. Do you think the people in the Ciskei were 
marching because they were told to by the ANC? This is typical SABC-line: 
mention the word communist, and this demonises the action, without any 
attempt at logical argument. Also anything which is planned must necessarily 
have sinister motives.

>a. They wanted the confrontation, and the massacre suits them down to
>the ground. Notice similar actions planned for Bophuthatswana.

More cynical SABC propaganda -- who could imagine the ANC cares about it 
supporters?... certainly not anyone who only watches SABC and reads
about the ANC in books. For the people in the townships, very often, the 
ANC, and the community organisations which it dominate represent the only 
source of help and support -- people committed to improving the lives of 
township residents. It is easy to lambast the ANC from in front of a 
console, but not so easy to understand what is really happening in the day 
to day lives of people.

>b. They're trying to unseat all tin-pot dictators who DISAGREE with
>them, are not allies. Holomisa runs an IDENTICAL setup in the Transkei,
>also after a coup. Why not unseat him? Simple, he's in their fold.
>If the Transkei resembles the New South Africa, we're in deep shit. 

Not quite IDENTICAL. At least the ANC is allowed to operate normally within 
Transkei. In the Ciskei, they are subjected to state sanctioned 
assisations, harrasment and arbitrary detention. The ANC wants both 
governments to go -- Holomisa accepts that he eventually will go, when a new 
constitution is in place. Gqozo is hindering the process which could lead to 
such a constitution -- this is why there is urgency that he be replaced 
now. (The ANC has expressed it willingness to negotiate with homeland 
leaders on the future of homelands)

>Notice also that when Gcozo FIRST seized power the ANC courted him, and
>for a while people thought he was in their pocket, but LATER they fell out.
>A falling out among thieves, as they say.

"... in their pocket," -- someone else may call it forming an alliance. This 
sort of language only fuels everyones perceptions that you are only out to 
bash the ANC.

>: So, why is Gqozo so scared of having a referendum, that
>: would solve it.

>Ahem, howcome there's no call for one in the Transkei? Isn't it much more
>sensible to settle these things through negotiation? After all, you can't
>have a referendum without a constitution can you, and seeing the future
>of the homelands is what talks are all about, it's quite pointless. 

No-one is talking about a new constitution with regards to the homelands. 
The ANC is not looking to reform the homelands in the long term, it only 
wants to ensure that they are not used to hinder its ability to organise. 
Stooges like Gqozo are standing in the way of progress to democracy, that is 
why the issue must be dealt with now.

------------
James Nicolson, Department of Electrical Engineering
University of the Witwatersrand, South Africa