A Big Stride--and a New Hurdle : De Klerk and Mandela end deadlock, but now Zulu chief plays the spoiler

South African President Frederik W. de Klerk and African National Congress President Nelson Mandela are finally talking again. Their important weekend meeting signals the probable resumption of the all-important constitutional negotiations, which have been stalled for three months by an ANC boycott.

Those multi-party talks, known as CODESA, offer the best route from vicious segregation to non-racial democracy. But the rapprochement between Pretoria and the ANC has created yet another hurdle. An angry Zulu Chief Mangosuthu Gatsha Buthelezi has pulled his Inkatha Freedom Party from the talks. Playing the obstructionist, Buthelezi objects to bilateral talks between De Klerk and Mandela although the Zulu chief has enjoyed a cozy relationship with the government, which bankrolled his Inkatha movement and his quest for power.

Buthelezi is also offended by the noteworthy compromises reached by Pretoria and the ANC. Although the ANC sought a total ban on traditional Zulu weapons, a compromise allows the spears and shields to be displayed during traditional gatherings.

Another compromise calls for the fencing and policing of several hostels, which are largely populated by Zulu migrant workers. One such dormitory was the flash point in a June massacre that left more than 40 ANC supporters dead and prompted the ANC to boycott the constitutional talks.

The ANC demanded that the government tear down the hostels, but the compromise preserves scarce housing for the rural men who come to the cities to work.

In another compromise, Pretoria agreed to free political prisoners.

Where is Buthelezi’s spirit of compromise? He and his 2-million-strong Inkatha party belong at the talks. But the egocentric Buthelezi cannot demand influence equal to that of De Klerk or of Mandela, a leader who can easily claim the loyalty of more than half of the 29 million black South Africans. Pretoria must rein in Buthelezi, who resembles so many dictatorial African leaders who put tribal loyalties over national interests. De Klerk must pressure his old friend to participate in the constitutional talks.