S. Africa Sanctions Amnesty for ANC Exiles

After meeting with Nelson Mandela today, President Frederik W. de Klerk activated a plan that could allow 20,000 African National Congress exiles to return home.

The move may help resolve one of the major stumbling blocks that has slowed peace talks between the white-led government and Mandela’s ANC, the largest black opposition movement.

De Klerk said in a statement that exiles, many based in Zambia and other southern African nations, could immediately begin applying for amnesty for “political offenses.”

But he cautioned that “no indemnity for anyone, or for any event or offense, is granted automatically.”

He said any possible indemnity would apply only to acts committed before today’s meeting.

The ANC has demanded the return of its estimated 20,000 exiles before beginning full-scale negotiations on black-white power sharing and ending apartheid. The government previously had agreed in principle but had not announced the procedure until today.

The government also agreed to release 15 more political prisoners this week. Dozens have been freed in recent months, but up to 3,000 remain imprisoned, according to the ANC.

De Klerk and Mandela met for three hours to discuss the factional fighting in black townships around Johannesburg that has claimed about 800 lives since early August.

“All sides must do their utmost to bring this violence to an end,” said a joint statement read by Mandela after the meeting. “Both sides reaffirmed the need to keep the negotiating process on course.”