The truce was signed on Tuesday by UDF president Archie Gumede and Inkatha Youth Brigade national chairman Musa Zondi. It followed several talk-sessions between senior members of the two organisations.
In a joint statement, issued a few days after the weekend killing of a youth in Mpumalanga township, Hammarsdale, the two leaders called on their members to "stop killing one another".
The statement was issued after residents of several violence-torn townships, including Mpumalanga, Kwa-Makhutha and the Pietermaritzburg areas, attended "three or four meetings" at a Durban venue. Their statement says the purpose of the meetings was "to iron out the differences which have led, the two organisations to the escalation of violence".
The two sides agreed to "ferret out ways and means of stopping violence" and stressed their commitment to freedom of expression, association, assembly and movement. Differences between the two organisations were acknowledged but the signatories said these differences "should not be allowed to escalate to black on-black violence".
The statement said the two organisations "believe strongly in national unity and call on their members to stop killing one another. "We believe our common enemy is apartheid." But the fragile truce between the UDF and Inkatha lay in the balance yesterday after three members of the UDF-affiliated Hammarsdale Youth Congress yesterday claimed they were routed out of Mpumalanga township by Inkatha members. The youths were part of a swap that returned to the township after several months in hiding.
The KwaZulu township of Mpumalanga has been dubbed "the killing fields" because of the spate of murders that have taken place there. Scores of Hayco activists left the township to seek refuge in neighbouring areas and Durban townships following the murders of several activists in Mpumalanga. The murders were allegedly committed by a local vigilante group called "Otheleweni", so named because of their war cry.
Divisions within the community first surfaced soon after the formation of the UDF in 1983 when vigilantes disrupted a rally at the local hall. Undaunted by this action the township youth formed the Mpumalanga Youth Organisation which had close ties with the UDF.
From its inception Mpuyo received threats but the first blood was spilled during a visit by the award-winning play Asinamali. After their performance the cast was attacked, resuIting in the death of Jeffrey Shongwe, a Durban impresario.
Several members of the cast were also injured in the attack by the vigilantes last year in March the Mpumalanga Youth Congress, which has changed its name to Hammarsdale Youth Congress, elected as its president former Inkatha Youth Brigade local treasurer, Vusi Maduna. Scores of youth brigade members crossed the floor to join Hayco. When unrest erupted in the township Hayco members were blamed for the violence.
Several Hayco members were harrassed by vigilantes resulting in the abduction and death of Mmashu Mbatha in February. Maduna himself was killed in mysterious circumstances in March this year. After the death of Sithembiso Mngadi on his way from a street committee meeting, Hayco executive members received death threats. Soon after the threats three Hayco members were abducted and killed.
Since July this year over 12 people have been killed resulting in Gumede holding talks with Inkatha general secretary Oscar Dhlomo. The talks condoned, culminating in Tuesday's truce. Gumede's concern with unity was repeated when he addressed the 118th birthday of Mahatma Gandhi this week.
He said people had to become courageous since fear was an important part of the armour of oppression. However, he added that while courage was necessary, the lives of all those involved in the struggle for change had to be "worthy of emulation by others.
This article originally appeared in the Weekly Mail.
