Choose the Road of Tolerance

Two of South Africa’s most prominent black leaders are scheduled finally to meet today to address political and ethnic rivalries that have claimed as many as 5,000 lives. The peace talks between Nelson Mandela, deputy president of the African National Congress, and Mangosuthu Gatsha Buthelezi, the Zulu chief who heads the Inkatha Freedom Political Party, are long overdue.

Buthelezi sought this meeting nearly a year ago, shortly after Mandela was released from prison. Mandela agreed initially. He later deferred to ANC members who had lost relatives and friends in the battles, and others who rejected Buthelezi’s opposition to international sanctions and his accommodation with the white minority government.

Today’s summit has boosted hopes for a truce, but both men have cautioned against unrealistic hopes for an immediate end to the violence that began four years ago in Natal Province and spread last year to townships near Johannesburg. Their newly conciliatory mood, however, could lead their followers to lay down their weapons.

A truce could also boost reforms proposed by South African President Frederik W. de Klerk. When Parliament opens on Friday he is expected to call for the repeal of the Group Areas Act and the Lands Act, major laws that mandate residential segregation and restrict use of most land for the white minority.

De Klerk will have a better chance of success if he can convince his critics that black South Africans can live together peacefully despite different political allegiances and diverse backgrounds.

A truce could also pave the way for negotiations on a new constitution. The ANC has called for a multi-party political conference to include De Klerk’s ruling National Party, the pro-apartheid Conservative Party and black political groups including Inkatha to work out the preliminary details. Buthelezi initially refused to commit for fear the ANC would dominate the talks but has now accepted. That is a long-awaited and crucial compromise.

In the interest of ending apartheid, Mandela and Buthelezi must continue together down this promising road of tolerance.