Even though the leaders are proceeding with caution in order not to jeopardise release of Nelson Mandela, their presence – without restrictions – is galvanising resistance activity. They are expected to address a massive ”welcome home” rally in Johannesburg next Sunday, in what could be largest display of support in the 77 history of the organisation. It is even possible that the six – Walter Sisulu, Wilton Mkwayi, Raymond Mhlaba, Ahmed Kathrada, Elias Motsoaledi and Andrew Mlangeni – will be joined at the rally by their restricted colleague Govan Mbeki.
Regional, rallies are expected to follow if the Johannesburg meeting goes off smoothly. The leaders have stressed that any actions they undertake will be with the sanction of the ANC, and of internally-based structures. In a wide-ranging series of interviews with the Weekly Mail, the men indicated that their priority is to consult their organisations and inform themselves fully of political developments. They said they suspected the government was attempting to create division by creating ”two ANC’s.
”There is no question of separating the ANC said Sisulu. We have structures existing inside the country through the underground machinery.” Kathrada said he had no doubt that President FW de Klerk was attempting to divide the ANC into two wings, ”one supposedly led by Mr Nelson Mandela, and one externally”, but said this attempt would fail. ”There is only one ANC. It’s headquarters are in Lusaka and we have every reason to believe it exists with in South Africa. Our leadership is absolutely united, and we owe our allegiance to the one ANC”.
However, while the ANC and PAC remain banned organisations, the releases have provided both with a far more visible internal presence. The six stressed they were not themselves ”the ANC leadership”, and have underplayed the importance of their own role. ”I am not a member of the National Executive of the ANC,†said Mlangeni. ”When we talk of the leadership of the ANC, we are really talking of the NEC.” When it was suggested to Sisulu that it might be most appropriate to refer to the six as ”extraordinary” rather than ”ordinary” members, he readily agreed. Kathrada stressed that the six were subject to the discipline of the movement’s Lusaka-based leadership. ”We are just symbols that are being effectively mobilised as part of the struggle.”
However, in a statement from Lusaka late yesterday, the ANC NEC said it regarded the men as being more than symbolically significant. ”We are certain that they will assume their rightful leadership role and promote the advance of our liberation struggle. Their experience and maturity will lend new quality to the burgeoning revolt for the eradication of the basic causes that called our struggle into being” object to entering into discussions with government representatives.
”If Mr Viljoen would like to have talks with the ANC to discuss the question of meeting the conditions for negotiation,” said Sisulu, ”I can’t answer directly – but I can’t see how the ANC would refuse to have talks about talks.” Sisulu emphasised that there was no question of entering into negotiations on the government’s terms, or of participating in the proposed ”Great Indaba”. ”We can never accept that type of thing, but there’s nothing wrong with meeting various groups and exchanging views, with the ultimate aim of (convening) a constituent assembly”. He said Dr Zach de Beer of the Democratic Party had put in a request to meet him in a fortnight’s time. The six said their releases were a consequence of international and local pressures which the government found impossible to resist.
But asked whether he believed negotiations were about to begin, Sisulu said: ”No, I don’t think soon. There have been a lot of difficulties between the government and the ANC, but I do believe the government has no alternative but to work towards negotiations. ”This is why government officials have said they are considering some of the conditions that have been put forward- it’s because the situation demands that they should do this.” Each of the men expressed the view that the international sanctions campaign had contributed to their releases and rejected suggestions that sanctions should be eased in any way.
”We feel that if economic sanctions are intensified this might have an effect on the government and perhaps it will meet our demands. Unless the government is prepared to do this, the country will go bankrupt,” said Mlangeni. But the men said sanctions were ”one factor only” and should be combined with a variety of internal pressures. Each stressed that they had never renounced armed struggle and continued to support the ANC’s military strategy. Asked if they intended to meet with non-MDM groups like Inkatha and business leaders, Sisulu said ”we will meet anybody”. – Gavin Evans & Shaun Johnson
This article originally appeared in the Weekly Mail.
