By Jacqui Kavanagh
A document based on research by the African National Congress has revealed why the recent Peace Accord between the ANC and the Inkatha Freedom Party has not stopped the violence ravaging black communities in South Africa.
In launching the document, Alfred Nzo, ANC secretary general, said: "There are organised forces both within and outside the state who are bent on sowing fear, death and destruction within African communities. Though the primary aim is to discredit and weaken the ANC and impose the political hegemony of the fascists involved, it is also aimed at proving the notion that black people are not yet fit to rule."
The document, released on April 27, points out:
- Massacres have been conducted by Portuguese-speaking mercenaries, recruited from UNITA in Angola by the South African security forces.
- Assassination plots are being directed against ANC leaders. The chairperson of the ANC branch in Mooi River, Derrick Majola, his wife and their three-year-old child were killed on February 26.
- Sipho Madlala, an operative of the South African Defence Force Military Intelligence Unit, has confessed to his involvement in the February 25 assassination of Chief Mhlabunzima Maphumulo, a member of the ANC-aligned Congress of Traditional Leaders of South Africa. According to Madlala, the operation was undertaken on the instructions of the officers of the Security Branch of the police.
- IFP warlords dominate certain hostels and force inhabitants to participate in attacks or be driven out or killed. "During the conflict in Mzimhlope a few weeks ago, hostel inmates were told, by a senior IFP regional leader and a hostel warlord, to ignore a call for peace which had been brought by a delegation from Ulundi."
- IFP Youth Brigade members have been trained by arms of the SADF, then deployed to hostels to keep control and lead the attacks.
- Squads have been organised to attack the homes of ANC and community leaders, offices of progressive organisations, trains, taxis and buses, meetings and rallies.
President F.W de Klerk's has refused to sack the two ministers widely recognised as responsible for the murderous actions of the security forces.
It is in de Klerk's interests that the ANC comes to the negotiating table in as weak a position as possible. Ronnie Kasrils, a member of the ANC National Executive Committee, told the South African weekly South:
"I believe the National Party has a double agenda and that they want to ensure that there is not total democracy ... They want to control South Africa. They want to manipulate political processes. I see the coming together of the National Party and Inkatha along those lines."