UN General Assembly
1986

"It is first and foremost by our own struggle and sacrifice inside South Africa itself that victory over white domination and apartheid can be won." South Africa is a land ruled by the gun - one in which, as Mandela observed, "all opportunities for peaceful agitation and struggle have been closed." It was so then, two decades ago. It is worse now. White supremacy in South Africa was created by violence and is maintained by violence. The people of South Africa have no option but to rely increasingly on armed struggle in their efforts to recover their freedom. Increased international pressure on the Pretoria regime will, however, help to reduce the cost of that struggle for the masses in South Africa. The same phenomenon is at work in respect of Namibia. The United Nations plan for the independence of Namibia is being stymied by the obstinacy of the South African racists and the introduction of irrelevant and extraneous matters such as linkage into the freedom process.