De Klerk, Mandela Make Progress on Major Issues

The African National Congress will rethink its guerrilla war against the government, which in turn will “work toward” lifting a state of emergency, black nationalist Nelson Mandela and President Frederik de Klerk announced today.

The two issues have been considered major stumbling blocks in attempts to pave the way for formal power-sharing negotiations to end the country’s grinding racial conflict.

The announcement came at the end of three days of crucial talks between delegations led by De Klerk and ANC chief Mandela, the first formal meeting between South Africa’s largest black political movement and the white government.

“We are going to look into the entire question of the armed struggle,” Mandela said during a joint news conference at a government building with De Klerk, who hailed “an important breakthrough” and a “great step forward.”

Mandela said the national executive committee of the ANC will study the armed struggle issue and “take appropriate decisions.”

His comments raised the possibility of the first formal suspension of the armed struggle since the ANC launched a guerrilla wing in 1961. De Klerk has insisted that the ANC halt its limited guerrilla warfare against white rule in order to further negotiations.

ANC demands, meanwhile, have included the lifting of a 4-year-old state of emergency, the release of all political prisoners, the return of thousands of ANC exiles and the withdrawal of troops from the nation’s black townships.

A joint statement issued by the two sides said the government will review existing security legislation and “work toward lifting the state of emergency.”

The statement said the two sides also agreed to set up a working group on the release of political prisoners and to report before May 21 on its recommendations.

In addition, the government agreed to consider temporary immunity for members of the ANC’s policy-making body and for other selected ANC members outside the country to “enable them to return and help with the establishment and management of political activities, to assist in bringing violence to an end and to take part in peaceful political negotiations.”