From: rich@pencil.cs.missouri.edu (Rich Winkel)
Subject: SOUTH AFRICA POLITICAL UPDATE  September 29, 1992
Followup-To: alt.activism.d
Originator: rich@pencil.cs.missouri.edu
Organization: PACH
Date: Wed, 30 Sep 1992 23:59:45 GMT

/** reg.safrica: 202.0 **/
** Topic: SA Political Update September 29 **
** Written  7:55 am  Sep 29, 1992 by sapp in cdp:reg.safrica **
From: Southern Africa Partnership Project <sapp>
Subject: SA Political Update September 29

SOUTH AFRICA POLITICAL UPDATE  September 29, 1992
 
by Chris Benner 
Global Exchange/US SA Sister Community Project
PO Box 5328 
Johannesburg 2000 
(011) 834-1677  fax: 834-8385  Email:sapp@igc
 
 
I.  ANC AND GOVERNMENT REACH AGREEMENT ON VIOLENCE
 
     The ANC and the government have reached agreement on a
number of measures intended to confront violence in the country. 
The success of the high-level summit between delegations led by
Nelson Mandela and FW De Klerk has raised hopes for a resumption
of negotiations aimed at resolving the political impasse in the
country.  
 
     The summit came after weeks of flurried discussions follow-
ing the Bisho massacre.  In the face of substantial international
criticism, the government finally agreed to a number of key
demands of the ANC, particularly those related to political
prisoners, fencing of hostels and banning of dangerous weapons. 
The ANC delegation, for it's part, agreed to reexamine its
program of mass action, and to recommend to it's National Execu-
tive Committee that the organization reenter constitutional
negotiations.  If adhered to, this agreement could lead to a
resumption of negotiations on constitutional issues in a matter
of weeks.
 
          Intense Debate Precedes Summit
 
     The most contentious aspect of the accord signed by the
government and the ANC related to the release of political
prisoners.  In the days leading up to the summit, it appeared
that this might be the major block to reaching agreement.  The
ANC wanted the complete release of all political prisoners, which
included people who's politically motivated actions had caused
the death of civilians.  The government originally refused to
release these particular people, because of their "atrocious and
morally inexcusable crimes".  
 
     The final agreement included the release of all people who
committed violent crimes with a political motivation prior to
October 8, 1990, regardless of political affiliation.  This gives
equal status to people incarcerated for fighting apartheid, as
well as prisoners of other affiliations.  The ANC has not object-
ed to this, but it does mean that a number of right-wing prison-
ers will be released along with people the ANC has identified. 
The right-wing Boerestaat Party claims there are at least 41
"Boer Freedom Fighters" who should be released under this agree-
ment.
 
     De Klerk has also said that the government plans to go ahead
with a general amnesty that would include state officials.  This
is strongly opposed by the ANC, which argues that only an interim
government or newly elected government should have the power to
grant amnesty to state officials, and then only in specific cases
where details are released, not under a general amnesty.
 
     Meanwhile, at least 150 political prisoners were released
over the weekend, and several hundred more will be released by
the deadline of November 15.  The people released so far include
Umkhonto we Siswe members Robert McBride, Mthetheleli Mncube and
Mzondeleli Nondula--who's release were particularly contentious
in the governments eyes--as well as the remaining members of the
famous "Sharpeville Six".
 
          Measures to Curb Violence
 
     The other aspects of the agreement include particular
measures to help confront violence in the country.  The govern-
ment finally agreed to the ANC's long-standing demands to put
fences around dangerous hostels, and to ban the carrying of
dangerous weapons in public.  An initial 28 hostels will be
fenced in the Transvaal and Natal, to be completed by November
15. 
 
II.  BUTHELEZI REFUSES TO ACCEPT ACCORD
 
     Despite widespread support and international praise for the
agreement between the ANC and the government, kwaZulu homeland
leader Mangosuthu Buthelezi has vehemently denounced the summit
agreements and has decided to withdraw from negotiations with the
government.  Speaking at a Shaka Day rally in Durban on Sunday,
Buthelezi said that he would never ask for permission to carry
Zulu cultural weapons and that hostel dwellers would tear down
fences with their bare hands if necessary.
 
     Buthelezi has rejected all elements of the agreement and
said that he is planning to mobilize against it.  In a statement,
Buthelezi said that "the IFP and the KwaZulu government will not
be bound by decisions reached in bilateral negotiations between
the government and the ANC".  Buthelezi canceled a meeting with
Mr. De Klerk scheduled for today, and is instead meeting with
Lucas Mangope of Bophuthatswana.  Mangope met with government
officials yesterday, and is said to be "more inclined" towards
maintaining Bophuthatswana's 'independence'.  This has raised the
fear of a united 'separatist' block, which would include the
Conservative Party and anti-ANC homeland leaders.
 
     It remains to be seen, however, how serious Buthelezi's
withdrawal will be or how long it will last.  He is under strong
pressure to accept negotiations, including substantial interna-
tional pressure.  
 
          ANC Campaign Weakens Buthelezi's Position
 
     Buthelezi's position has also been weakened by the ANC's
campaign to promote free political activity in the homelands. 
The ANC regions in Natal recently reconfirmed their intention to
organize a march to Ulundi, the capital of kwaZulu, pointing out
that repression by the kwaZulu police is widespread and free
political activity in the region is impossible.  The date of the
march has not yet been set, but it has generated widespread
publicity.
 
     Buthelezi has responded saying that such a march would be
the "start of the South African civil war" and said that he would
attempt to stop such a march by any means at his disposal,
further demonstrating the lack of free political activity in the
homeland.
 
          RENAMO Helping KwaZulu Police
 
     In a related development, reports surfaced last week of a
group of RENAMO bandits being transferred across the Mozambican
border into Natal.  According to newspaper reports, members of
RENAMO, the infamous South African sponsored bandits in Mozam-
bique, have recently been stationed in Ulundi, the capital of the
KwaZulu homeland.  Sources reported that they would be deployed
in the KwaMashu township outside of Durban, an area strongly
supportive of the ANC, and be available to provide support to the
kwaZulu police in other areas.  
 
 
SHORTS
 
1.  BISHO FUNERALS DRAWS THOUSANDS
 
     A funeral for the people killed in the Bisho massacre was
held on Friday September 18 in neighboring King William's Town. 
Some people estimated the crowd as large as 100,000.  Numerous
political leaders spoke to the crowd.  Observers described the
mood as militant and angry, but well-disciplined.
     
     Meanwhile, investigations into the Bisho massacre are
continuing.  The Goldstone Commission recently heard evidence
submitted to the effect that most of the people killed were shot
in the back, and that the one Ciskei defense force member killed
was shot in the back of the head by an R4 rifle, the standard-
issue weapon of the Ciskei Defense force, suggesting that he was
shot by his own troops.  
 
2.  NEHAWU STRIKE FINALLY RESOLVED
 
     The long and bitter strike by hospital workers in the
Transvaal has finally been resolved.  The Transvaal Provincial
Administration (TPA) has finally agreed to a negotiated settle-
ment with the National Health and Allied Workers' Union (NEHAWU)
and COSATU, ending the four-month old strike.  The agreement
involves the reinstatement of all 7,700 workers who had been
dismissed for striking, but includes none of the union's demands
for pay increases, formal recognition or benefits.  While getting
health workers reinstated is a victory for NEHAWU, the strike as
a whole was essentially broken by the intransigence of the TPA.
They have not been able to improve working conditions or wages in
area hospitals, and the failure of this strike leaves NEHAWU in a
weakened position for future bargaining.  
 
3.  CRIMINAL INVESTIGATION OF ANC LEADERS SUSPENDED
 
     The South African government has announced that it has
suspended investigations into politically-motivated crimes of
leading members of the ANC and the South African Communist Party,
including Chris Hani, Joe Slovo, Oliver Tambo, Harry Gwala and
others.  The ANC accused the government of launching the investi-
gations, which came to light last week, in an effort to pressure
the ANC to accept a general amnesty.  The investigation high-
lighted the fact that ANC members have been given only
'temporary' indemnity as part of the unbanning process--indemnity
that can be revoked at any time.  In light of Saturday's summit
agreement, however, the investigations into these past activities
have been suspended.
 
4.  EUROPEAN COMMUNITY OFFERS TO RETRAIN POLICEMEN
 
     The South African government has accepted an offer by the
European community (EC) to provide training and advice for the
restructuring of the South African Police (SAP).  Details of the
training have not been finalized yet.  The training would be part
of the overall restructuring of the SAP, ostensibly intended to
make the SAP more accountable to community members.  The agree-
ment is significant in that it is a formal acknowledgement by the
South African state on an international level that outsiders can
help to improve the credibility of the police force.

END OF FILE
** End of text from cdp:reg.safrica **
Newsgroups: misc.activism.progressive