Suggestions that extra-parliamentary groups are rethinking boycott strategies are wildly exaggerated and discussions which are taking place have probably been set back by this week's blaze of publicity. Minister of Information Dr Stoffel van der Merwe yesterday introduced a new element into the speculation by hinting that the restrictions on the United Democratic Front (UDF) could be more easily lifted if it agreed to participate in the October elections "on a democratic basis". He told a press briefing in Cape Town that restrictions on the UDF would remain until such time. But anyone could participate in the October 26 municipal elections, either as a voter or as a candidate, he said.
Apart from normal restrictions, such as the prohibition on people with criminal records standing as candidates, there are no restrictions on who can participate", Van der Merwe said. "Obviously ifthe UDF would ask for the restrictions on them to be lifted they would have to agree that they would participate peacefully and in a democratic manner and would not stir up revolution. "I doubt if they would come forward because their official policy is to destroy the system," he said.
Claims that a rethink of boycott tactics was under way was fuelled by news that MP Wynand Malan, six members of his National Democratic Movement (NDM), Dr Frederik van Zyl Slabbert and others were meeting a senior delegation of the African National Congress (ANC) in Europe yesterday. NDM representative Peter Gastrow confirmed yesterday that the participation boycott debate would be discussed at the meeting in Frankfurt, West Germany, but said it was only "one of many items" on the agenda.
He said it was "unfortunate" that reports had been so "sensationalised", giving the impression that discussions were at an advanced stage. "In fact, discussion about additional strategies have only started taking place within various groupings. "We in the NDM have purposely been quiet about these discussions because we know how sensitive the issue is. These reports are counter-productive and harmful," he said. "
UDF representatives cannot easily discuss the issue because of Emergency restrictions on both the organisation and individual leaders. But if is clear from sources close to the UDF and its affiliates that it would be incorrect to expect a major change of the boycott strategy. It has been confirmed that Slabbert has been floating ideas about alliances between parliamentary and extra- parliamentary groupings – and even the possibility of a joint political party – that would make use of official platforms such as the tricameral parliament. He has discussed these ideas with a wide range of individuals and organisations, including the UDF.
However, individuals he has spoken to say he has been careful to raise it only as a tentative suggestion and there has 'been little mom than an initial discussions of the idea. Reports suggesting that Slabbert is about to return to parliament or that he is at the centre of a grand new initiative are exaggerated. Slabbert is due to move to Johannesburg soon to start lecturing at the University of the Witwatersrand's business school. He is playing the role of an interface between parliamentary and extra- parliamentary" groups, being 'one of the few people who can communicate ideas between the two groups. His idea runs along these lines: extra-parliamentary groups need a fundamental rethink of strategy to cope with the setbacks they have suffered as a result of the Emergency and the limitation of both international pressure and the "armed struggle".
Parliamentary groups are extremely limited in their scope, in Slabbert's view. Anti-apartheid groups that identify with the "democratic movement" have no presence in the houses of delegates and representatives and only a limited potential for gaining seats in the house of assembly. A party like the NDM, which currently has three white MPs, needs to look elsewhere if it is to expand its constituency. The Progressive Federal Party is also floundering. Therefore, the suggestion is the formation of an alliance involving both parliamentary and extra-parliamentary groups.
However, the key player in such a move would be the UDF – and this organisation is far from ready to change its strategy of non- participation in government structures. There have always been elements of the UDF that have argued for selection. There are strong elements, in the UDF who want a participation strategy to receive serious consideration, but restrictions make rigorous discussion extremely difficult. Sources close to the UDF say it would be impossible under Emergency conditions for the organization to conduct the necessary discussions and consultations for any major change of strategy. Any debate over such change would be gradual and long-term – and wouldn't affect attitudes to the October municipal elections.
ANC to talk again, says Wynand
Wynand Malan, leader of the National Democratic Movements emerged from his meeting with the African National Congress last night saying the two parties had agreed to further talks but had sharply disagreed over the use of violence. Malan, who led an eight-member delegation, met with four senior ANC members in Frankfurt. They were Thabo Mbeki, Tony Seedat, Aziz Pahad and Jacob Zuma. In a joint statement afterwards, they said: "Common ground was found in relation to the kind of South Africa we would like to see. "However, there were important differences with respect to some aspects of the strategy through which this could be achieved." Earlier in the day, Malan issued a statement condemning "violence and terrorism" after two bombs exploded in Pretoria.
This article originally appeared in the Weekly Mail.
