From: rich@pencil.cs.missouri.edu (Rich Winkel)
Subject: South Africa Update 9 April 1992
Followup-To: alt.activism.d
Originator: rich@pencil.cs.missouri.edu
Organization: PACH
Date: Thu, 9 Apr 1992 22:49:16 GMT

/** reg.safrica: 201.0 **/
** Topic: South Africa Update 9 April 1992 **
** Written  7:15 am  Apr  9, 1992 by sapp in cdp:reg.safrica **
From: Southern Africa Partnership Project <sapp>
Subject: South Africa Update 9 April 1992

SOUTH AFRICA POLITICAL UPDATE   April 8, 1992
 
by Laurie Adams and Chris Benner, representatives of the
US-SA Sister Community Project and Global Exchange
PO Box 5328 Johannesburg 2000
fax: 011-834-8385  ph: 011-834-1677
 
NOTE: We apologize for the delay in sending you this update.
We have been fully occupied leading a delegation of U.S. anti-
apartheid activists on a tour of South Africa organized by
Global Exchange. 
 
I.  NATIONAL PARTY OVERCONFIDENT IN AFTERMATH OF REFERENDUM
 
In the past few weeks since the referendum, the National Party
(NP) has clearly been trying to use the 69% 'Yes' vote to
regain the initiative in the negotiations process, and to use
the white vote as a mandate to implement its own policies and
priorities, regardless of opposition views.  While most
publicity has focused on the success of the referendum in
undermining right-wing opposition to reform in the country, in
fact most of the government's actions since the referendum
have been aimed at confronting the African National Congress
and other democratic forces in the country.
 
On Monday the 23rd, only 2 working days after results of the
referendum were announced, the government announced that the
death penalty would be re-instated, and that 17 people would
be hanged, including several ANC members.  They also used the
opportunity to criticize Umkhonto we Sizwe (MK), the ANC's
armed wing, saying that 'no major agreements will be reached
or implemented' before MK is disbanded.  The government was
forced to reverse its position on the death penalty after
enormous outcry from other parties at CODESA, and the issue of
democratic control of the security forces, including the South
African Defense Force, and the homeland police forces as well
as MK, is being taken up at the CODESA talks.  But these
actions, combined with their recent approach at CODESA,
clearly indicate that the government is trying to take the YES
vote in the referendum not as a mandate for negotiations, but
as a mandate for trying to push its own program.
 
 
II.  GOVERNMENT HARDLINE IN CODESA TALKS
 
Another indication of the NP's hardline attitude after the
referendum was the proposals it has put forward at the CODESA
Working Group dealing with the transition to a new government. 
The NP's plan for a "transitional arrangement" essentially
leaves power in the hands of the current government, but
creates Transitional Councils made up of members of the
current negotiations who would be able to advise the
government during a transitional period leading up to new
elections.  This has been rejected by most parties at the
negotiations, who argue that this leaves far too much power in
the hands of the current government.
 
The ANC, on the other hand, has proposed a two-stage interim
government.  In the first phase, CODESA would appoint multi-
party committees which would be in charge of key aspects of
government operations, including Security Forces, Budgeting
process, Foreign Relations and Local Government.  In addition,
two independent non-partisan commissions would be set-up to
oversee the electoral process and to regulate and democratize
the media.  The current parliament and government would remain
in place, but would not be able to implement anything counter
to the activities of these multi-party committees.  In the
ANC's proposal, this first-phase of the interim government
would last only several months, with the primary mandate of
helping to "level the playing field" so that democratic
elections for a Constituent Assembly can take place.  
 
Thus, there are still some major differences between the
government and ANC's position on an Interim Government.  There
are also significant differences in the Working Group dealing
with Constitutional Principles and the constitution making
body.  The National Party is continuing to insist on the
creation of an "Upper House" in a new parliament, based on
regional and minority party representation, which would have
effective veto power over the democratically elected "lower
house".  The ANC and other parties have continued to reject
this continuation of minority power, and the past two weeks
have been characterized by increasing frustration with the
ability of CODESA to reach an agreement.
 
CODESA II is now scheduled to take place May 16 and 17.
 
 
III. ALEXANDRA RESIDENTS AT WAR WITH HOSTEL DWELLERS
 
Over 100 people have been injured and more than a dozen killed
in the past couple of weeks in an ongoing battle between
Alexandra residents and hostel dwellers in the township who
mostly sympathize with the Inkatha Freedom Party (IFP). Though
the situation has calmed down slightly in the past few days,
barricades have been erected between the hostel and the rest
of the community, and tension remains high.
 
Alexandra is a densely populated township in the heart of the
Northern white suburbs. Residents are organized into one of
the strongest and most unified civic organizations in the
country, and have recently won significant improvements to the
township through negotiations with neighboring white councils
and government service boards. 
 
Conflict with Inkatha in the township began in March of 1990,
when Inkatha supporters were bused into the township from
rural areas of Natal and forcibly took over one of the two
all-male hostels in Alexandra.  Since that time there has been
on-going sporadic conflict between hostel dwellers, who
identify with the Inkatha Freedom Party, and residents, some
of whom are ANC but many of whom belong to no political party. 
The Human Rights Commission estimates that the conflict has
cost 54 lives and 394 injuries to date. 
 
In the past two weeks, the conflict between the IFP supporters
in the hostels and the residents has come to the point of open
warfare.  The conflict originated when the IFP repeatedly
tried to bury one of the hostel dwellers in the local
cemetery. Residents of Alexandra resisted the burial because
they saw it as an IFP ploy to further their dominance in
Alexandra. Several people were killed each weekend that a
burial was attempted.  
 
On Thursday the 26th of March, 3,000 Alexandra residents
marched on the Inkatha-controlled hostel in Alexandra
demanding that the IFP supporters leave and stop the killing. 
Police and security forces stopped the march using live
ammunition, tear gas, and rubber bullets.  At the end of the
day over 80 people had been injured by the security forces.  
Residents interviewed by both the mainstream and alternative
press complained that the Security Forces are always willing
to protect hostel dwellers, but never protect residents when
they are under attack.  
 
Thursday's march and stayaway was originally called by the
Alexandra Peace Committee, a body which includes the civic,
the ANC, and the IFP as well as other local organizations. 
The civic, however, did not endorse the march as it feared
violence would break out. The IFP also pulled out of endorsing
the march at the last minute.  On the day of the march local
ANC leaders tried to keep residents in the stadium rather than
have them march on the hostel, but residents were so fed up
with the killings done by hostel residents that they attempted
to march on the hostel anyway. 
 
The City of Chicago, which is linked to Alexandra through the
US South Africa Sister Community Project, is planning a press
conference on Monday April 13 to protest the violence. The
conference will include a live phone hook-up between Nelson
Mandela, Moses Mayekiso (President of the Alexandra Civic) and
Illinois Senator Paul Simon.
 
 
BRIEFS
 
1. MARCH VIOLENCE TOLL
 
According to the Human Rights Commission, at least 374 people
were killed and 794 injured in "township violence" during the
month of March.  Massacres on the trains in 45 different
attacks by unknown assailants accounted for 71 of the deaths,
despite a recent banning of weapons on trains. 
 
2. ICOJ REPORT ON VIOLENCE
 
The International Commission of Jurists recently completed a
10 day fact finding mission to South Africa to determine
causes of the violence and the climate for free and fair
elections. Although they did not comment specifically on the
role of the state in the violence, they did put a major
portion of the blame on Buthelezi and the KwaZulu police. They
recommended that the kwaZulu police, who openly side with
Inkatha, be incorporated into the South African Police. They
also said that ANC-initiated violence has been on the
increase, but commented that this was understandable given the
ANC has been under attack. They concluded by saying:  "It is
clear that it would not be possible to hold free and fair
elections...in the parts of South Africa we have visited" due
to the climate of violence.
 
3. MEDIA REVIVES WINNIE MANDELA CONTROVERSIES
 
Both the international and local media have been having a
field day with reports on Winnie Mandela.  There have been
stories claiming an imminent divorce between the Mandelas,
reports reviving an old claim that Winnie was involved in the
death of a Soweto doctor, editorials criticizing the
engagement party of Winnie's daughter and saying Winnie is
being funded by the Libyan government, gossip about a possible
affair between Winnie and a lawyer, and articles on a fall-out
between Winnie and Xoliswa Falati, an old friend and co-
accused in Winnie's trial. Despite the front-page status being
given to these stories, most of them seem to be recycled
gossip and speculation with no new developments to report. 
 
3. COSATU CALLS FOR GENERAL STRIKE IN JULY
 
COSATU's weekend economic policy conference reiterated a
number of key COSATU demands, and backed up these demands with
the threat of sustained mass action.  Demands of COSATU
include:
 
a.   Basic foods be exempted from Value Added Tax
b.   A Macro-Economic Negotiating Forum established by May
c.   Interim government by June
d.   Legislation protecting domestic, farm, and public sector
     workers
e.   A freeze on food prices
 
Finance Minister Barend du Plessis acceded partially to
COSATU's first demand when he announced that basic food stuffs
such as cornmeal, soya beans, and powdered milk would be
exempt from the tax. He insisted, however, that the 10% tax be
levied on fresh milk and rice. He also refuses to meet with
the VAT Coordinating Committee (headed up by COSATU), calling
it a front for socialism and communism.  COSATU has therefore
declared that it will continue its campaign against VAT until
all basic food stuffs are exempted and until an effective
poverty-relief program is implemented.
 
 
4. TAXI WAR BEING INVESTIGATED
 
The Goldstone Commission, set up by the Peace Accord to
investigate causes of the violence, has been sitting in
Capetown hearing evidence on the taxi war.  The government's
system of providing licenses for routes has been identified as
a major factor of the conflict.  The government has been
granting licenses to one company, while denying licenses to
the other, without giving any explanation for why they grant
or deny a request and without keeping any records.  The degree
to which this has been a deliberate tactic to foment conflict
has not been determined.  Steps are already being taken,
however, to improve the licensing system and a new peace
initiative named CODETA (Congress for a Democratic Taxi
Association) is being spearheaded by the South African Black
Taxi Association to unite the two companies once and for all. 
 
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