NetNews Usenet Archive 1992 #26/NN_1992_26.iso/spool/misc/activism/progress/8281

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From: [e-mail] (Rich Winkel)
Subject: SOUTH AFRICA POLITICAL UPDATE   November 7, 1992
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/** reg.safrica: 200.0 **/
** Topic: SA Political Update 7 November **
** Written  5:52 am  Nov  9, 1992 by sapp in cdp:reg.safrica **
From: Southern Africa Partnership Project <sapp>
Subject: SA Political Update 7 November

SOUTH AFRICA POLITICAL UPDATE   November 7, 1992

Laurie Adams/Chris Benner
US-SA Sister Community Project
PO Box 5328 Johannesburg 2000
ph: [phone] fax: [phone]
Email: [e-mail]


I.  NATAL THREATENS TO ERUPT INTO ALL-OUT WARFARE

     After six years of war in Natal, hundreds of failed peace
agreements, and thousands of deaths, community members and
leaders are despairing that an end to the carnage will ever be
possible. Over one hundred people have been killed in the last
two weeks in Natal, including top regional ANC leader Reggie
Hadebe, who was assassinated while returning from a peace meeting
on October 26. David Ntombela, regional Inkatha Freedom Party
(IFP) leader, was shot at two days later while returning from
another peace meeting. Three other IFP leaders involved in peace
talks were attacked in the same week.  The Dispute Resolution
Committees set up under the 1991 National Peace Accord seem to be
accomplishing little except to draw leaders to meetings after
which it is easy for assassins to identify and kill them.

     There is no chance that free and fair elections can happen
in Natal, and few people have any idea how to end the escalating
cycle of death. While the attacks at one time were clearly
targeted at undermining support for the United Democratic Front
(UDF) in the 80's, the conflict now includes thousands of
families who were never politically involved. Communities are
divided into armed camps.  Whether the war is being fueled and
supported by the state or a 'third force' almost doesn't matter
in some areas, where cycles of revenge killings over six years
have created hardened warriors who believe nothing but fighting
until final victory will bring peace.

     The government has responded to the heightened warfare by
sending 2,000 troops into Natal and declaring large numbers of
communities 'unrest areas' so that they can use State of
Emergency tactics such as detention without trial.  De Klerk and
his ministers are using the tense situation as an opportunity to
vilify the ANC, claiming that the killing is being caused by
Umkhonto we Sizwe (MK) soldiers infiltrating Natal from the
Transkei.  Regional ANC leaders, including Reggie Hadebe right
before he was killed, claim that they have evidence that the
state has brought Renamo troops into Natal from Mozambique to
help Inkatha attack and to provide training. Buthelezi continues
to blame the ANC and to threaten that the war will only get worse
unless he and his followers are given what they want - i.e.
disbanding of the ANC's MK, a scrapping of the Record of
Understanding which banned traditional weapons and agreed to the
fencing off of hostels, and eventually some kind of new
dispensation that ensures that he continues to have extensive
power in the Natal/kwaZulu region.

     Meanwhile, violence continued in the Transvaal with a
massacre of a family of six in the PWV (Pretoria-Witwatersrand-
Vaal), the assassination of Thokoza civic leader Vusi Tshabalala,
and continuing attacks on the commuter trains, among other
attacks. Police report that 231 train commuters have been killed
since January, with another 434 injured.


BRIEFS

1. Drought Relief

     A week of rain throughout South Africa (excepting the North
East) has raised some hopes that the devastating drought may be
lifting. But while much-needed rain may enable some farmers to
plant their crops this year, it is still too late for many
farmers. Five thousand white farmers are expected to stop farming
this year.  Over 300,000 farmworker families have already been
displaced, and it is expected that up to 3 million more displaced
farm workers will flood the PWV.  In Lebowa and Venda, two
homelands to the North of Johannesburg, water has completely
dried up. Communities are dependent on the South African Defense
Force to deliver tanks of water.

     Meanwhile, 6 million rand of relief funds are being withheld
from starving residents of the Ciskei because of fears that the
Ciskei National Relief Fund, which claims to be an independent
Non-governmental organization, has been channeling drought relief
funds into Brigadier Gqozo's African Democratic Movement.  R1.25
million is already unaccounted for.


2. Key Operative Confirms State Anti-ANC Propaganda Campaign

     Eight months after the De Klerk regime entered negotiations
with the ANC, Military Intelligence of the South African Defense
Force was still launching covert propaganda initiatives to
discredit the ANC, the Weekly Mail and Radio 702 reported this
week.  R12 million of covert money was spent between August 1990
and August 1991 to set up Newslink, a newspaper based in Botswana
meant to be the centerpiece of the regime's pan-African anti-ANC
propaganda effort.

     The project came to light when businessman Abel Rudman,
hired by Military Intelligence to carry out the disinformation
campaign, went public in an attempt to get a further 6 million
rand he claims the government still owes him for setting up the
project.  The project was shut down amidst the InkathaGate
controversy over covert projects and because of conflicts over
who should pay the bills.  The government now admits to the
project despite earlier denials, although it still insists no
funding was given after February 2, 1990.

3.  Mass-murderer Barend Strydom threatens to strike again

     Barend Strydom, jailed for killing 6 Blacks and an Indian in
a 1988 shooting spree, was released last month as a political
prisoner despite psychological analysis saying he is insane.
This week Strydom released a set of demands including the
deportation of Nelson Mandela and Joe Slovo and the re-
establishment of Boer Republics, threatening 'unspecific action'
if his demands are not met.  According to the state, this
statement does not violate Strydom's parole.


4.  White Support for Inkatha on the rise

     A recent Markinor survey found that 15% of 800 whites polled
said they would vote for the IFP (as opposed to, for example, 11%
for the Conservative Party). Another 30% said they were positive
about the organization. The Zulu Nationalist party has several
whites in key leadership positions and most of their public
relations officers are white.

     Some whites have even gone to the extent of taking up arms
for the IFP.  Whites clad in traditional Zulu garb were seen at a
recent IFP rally, and independent monitors report that at least
one white took part in a recent confrontation in Richmond, where
residents were trying to return to homes they had fled.  The
Daily News, a Pietermaritzburg paper, has also reported that
training camps for the IFP exist on private white farms in the
region.

     Inkatha's overall support nationally among all race groups
is estimated by independent polling agencies to be between 2% and
10%.


5 .  President's Council Approves Further Indemnity Bill

     The Further Indemnity Bill, which allows De Klerk to give
amnesty to anyone he wants without disclosing the nature of their
crimes, was passed by the President's Council this week. The
President's Council has the power to pass legislation even when
it is turned down by the Tri-Cameral Parliament.  This is the
first time De Klerk has had to resort to using the President's
Council.


6. National Economic Forum Launched

     After months of negotiations during which the government
refused to participate, the National Economic Forum (NEF) was
finally launched this week.  The NEF was advocated for by COSATU
in order to have a forum outside of political negotiations to
discuss the future of the economy.  The NEF brings together the
unions, government and business bodies such as the Chamber of
Mines, the National African Chamber of Commerce, the South
African Agricultural Union and the Afrikaanse Handelsingtuut.


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