South Africa Blunting the Spear

By Scott MacLeod/Johannesburg

The leaders of the African National Congress argued vehemently among themselves before reaching their historic decision. But in the end, Nelson Mandela, co-founder of the movement's military wing Umkonto we Sizwe, or Spear of the Nation, overcame the objections of militants, and the A.N.C. announced that it would suspend the 29-year-old armed struggle, effective immediately.

With that announcement, the drive for political change in South Africa took on fresh life. Following 15 hours of talks last week between delegations led by Mandela and President F.W. de Klerk, the Pretoria government agreed to the gradual release of as many as 1,500 political prisoners and the return of more than 20,000 political exiles. Both sides have now met most of the conditions each had demanded before formal negotiations over a new constitution could begin. Challenged by militant followers who thought Mandela gave away too much for too little, A.N.C. officials said they felt compelled to break the logjam so that discussions could move on to more important issues.

But many obstacles still stand in the way of settling on a new political system for the country. Mandela will continue to press De Klerk to abolish draconian police powers, which the A.N.C. has demanded as a condition for constitutional talks. The President will continue to resist A.N.C. proposals that he give up power in favor of an interim government.

However, neither side's concessions will end the violence that racks the country. In the latest spasm of unrest last week, more than 40 people were killed when rival black groups fought in the township of Kagiso and mixed-race rioters clashed with police in the coastal city of Port Elizabeth. Some black groups, notably the Pan Africanist Congress, say they will not abide by the A.N.C.'s cease-fire.

But the root of the problem remains Natal province, where bloodletting between A.N.C. supporters and the largely Zulu following of Chief Mangosuthu Buthelezi has claimed nearly 4,000 lives in the past few years. At a joint press conference with De Klerk last week, Mandela charged that police violence against blacks continues -- especially in Natal, where security forces allegedly collaborate with Buthelezi's Inkatha movement -- and complained that key elements of the police force may simply be outside the President's control. Buthelezi again called for a face-to-face meeting with Mandela, a development that many believe would cool off the tensions in Natal. A.N.C. officials refused to respond publicly but said privately that peace talks with the Zulu chief were "not in the cards."

The danger is that A.N.C. supporters may ignite even more trouble in Natal, where local leaders had argued against suspending the armed struggle. That would invite De Klerk to charge the A.N.C. with violating the spirit of the Pretoria Minute, in which the A.N.C. cease-fire was announced, and threaten to put the peace process on hold. As an A.N.C. leader conceded last week, "There probably won't be real negotiations until the war is over in Natal." But with their compromise in Pretoria, both sides have probably gone too far now for either to turn back.