Prolonging Apartheid’s Agony

The African National Congress must end its internal power struggles and get the peace talks back on track. That’s one way to speed the transition from apartheid to a non-racial democracy in South Africa. Why prolong the poverty and misery for 30 million black and mixed-race people while renewing the lease on the life of privilege for the white minority?

The ANC is holding its first national conference in South Africa in more than three decades. There’s a chance that it will be a historic one. As Nelson Mandela, the ANC’s deputy president, told the delegates: “It can never be in our interest that we prolong the agony of the apartheid system. It does not serve the interests of the masses we represent and the country as a whole.”

Mandela’s commitment to swift negotiations is certain to be welcomed not only by a white regime eager to be rewarded with new international investments for its steps toward progress but by the world. Mandela’s job now is to bring the many former political prisoners, exiles and young militant delegates who do not have his patience around to his wisdom. They are not eager to reward Pretoria for having taken long overdue steps such as freeing Mandela from prison and legalizing the ANC. They are naturally impatient to vote and enjoy equality.

The ANC delegates are also expected to elect new, younger leaders to strengthen the party’s hand in the negotiations. Fine, but no transition to democracy can take place until the peace talks with the government proceed.

The release of political prisoners remains a stumbling block. Compromise will quicken the pace of progress.

The factional violence also remains problematic. It is worth nothing that the ANC conference is meeting in what many delegates must surely consider hostile territory--Natal, the home province of Zulu chief Mangosuthu Gatsha Buthelezi and his Inkatha Freedom Party, a rival to the ANC. Inkatha has promised no violence during the conference. That pledge must be honored and should remain in place. Clashes between Inkatha and the ANC have claimed too many lives.

For now, the ANC must do internal healing. It must draw its members together to work toward a united and multiracial South Africa.