South Africa: Death toll rises as ANC debates strategy

Scan page 17

The political situation for Blacks in South Africa remains difficult. While President F.W. de Klerk pledges to negotiate a new non-racial constitution, Blacks still can't vote and they face daily violence from the police and government-backed vigilantes.

Supporters of the Inkatha Freedom Party led by Mangosuthu Gatsha Buthelezi have been given a green light by the government to lead violent attacks on more radicalminded Blacks in the townships. The police and army only show up after attacks have taken place, or when those attacked prepare to defend themselves.

The government's strategy is clear: push 16 SOCIAL IST ACTION the ANC and its central leader Nelson Mandela to meet as equals with Buthelezi (and government-backed Bantustan leaders) in order to stop the violence. De Klerk charges that the ANC's failure to do so raises questions about its future role in negotiating a non-apartheid South Africa.

So far, the ANC has refused the government's maneuver and has called on the police and army to stop the violence they are abetting. In addition, the ANC recently decided that its "armed wing" would help defend Black communities from violent attacks. The organization of Black self-defense guards would mark a major policy shift.

It was in this context of ongoing state-inspired violence that the African National JANUARY 1991 Congress held its first legal conference in more than 30 years in Johannesburg, Dec. 14-16.

Tension at ANC conference The consultative conference (a full-scale congress to elect a new leadership is scheduled for mid-June) was the first time the leadership of the ANC and its rank-and-file members were able to review the situation in South Africa and evaluate the strategy followed by the National Executive Committee (NEC) since the ANC's legalization last February.

There was obvious tension between the more militant delegates and the elder leaders. As reported by the media, the younger ANC of carrying out private negotiations with the de Klerk government at the same time that the ANC has given up its commitment to "armed struggle." The ANC suspended its guerrilla warfare on Aug. 6. Mandela and de Klerk have met twice, in May and August.

The more militant delegates were also critical of the leadership's willingness to soften the ANC's call for international sanctions at a time when the United States, Japan, and Western Europe want to "reward" de Klerk for his modest reforms of apartheid.

In September, President Bush welcomed de Klerk to Washington. It was the first time in 45 years that a South African head of state has paid an official visit to the United States. Britain and Italy have already lifted all restrictions on new investment in South Africa.

In December, Nelson Mandela urged the 12 European Community (EC) heads of government to keep sanctions at least until early 1991, hinting at a change of ANC pol(continued on page 4)