Peace Still Elusive, ANC Aide Says : South Africa: The African National Congress delegate to the U.S. tells a Chapman College audience of reforms still needed in her homeland.

Stressing that the release of Nelson Mandela and the lifting of the 30-year ban on the African National Congress do not go far enough, the ANC’s representative to the United States called Tuesday for swift reforms by the South African government.

Lindiwe Mabuza, who recently returned from meeting with Mandela at an ANC summit in Lusaka, Zambia, told about 100 students at Chapman College that South Africa would not have peace until five of the ANC’s requests were granted by President F. W. de Klerk and his white-ruled regime. Mabuza appeared as a part of the college’s salute to Women’s History Month.

“We (ANC) will not negotiate with the South African government until we feel that a climate suitable to negotiate in has been created,” said Mabuza, who came from South Africa to this country seeking an education in 1963. She holds a master of arts degree in English literature from Stanford University.

Among the organization’s five demands is the immediate release of more than 3,000 political prisoners.

“Though Mandela told us that he was glad to be free, he also spoke of how greatly he regretted leaving the others who fought beside him behind bars,” said Mabuza, a member of the ANC for 17 years. “From his actions, de Klerk seems to feel that apartheid is wrong, so why not release those who realized that long ago and fought against it?”

Mabuza added that the ANC ban had been lifted in spirit by South African blacks at a rally months before de Klerk formalized it in February.

“He unbanned the 78-year-old organization because his hands were forced,” Mabuza said. “Africans had begun waving the flags and colors months before. He had no choice.”

Other ANC requests include the removal of all guards and police from the black townships, along with elimination of detention centers.

The former professor of African studies at Ohio University said she joined the ANC after living in the United States and witnessing the struggle of American blacks and women.

“Being here to see the civil rights movement and the women’s rights movement gave me courage to go back to my country to try to help my people struggle for what is rightfully theirs,” she said. “That was the one thing Mandela asked me to tell the American people--that he loved and respected them for what they have done over the years.”

When she spoke of Mandela, Mabuza’s eyes danced as she described the legendary figure and what she thought of the American response to his release after 27 years of imprisonment.

“To see white Americans’ eyes fill with tears when he walked through the prison gates filled my heart,” Mabuza said. “He is looked upon here as a leader and with great respect, just as South Africans look up to many American leaders with respect and admiration.”

Mabuza also stressed that U.S. government sanctions toward South Africa would continue to be an important factor in the struggle for freedom, and urged Chapman students to boycott businesses that invest in South Africa.

“Sanctions work and so do boycotts,” she stressed.