ANC Youth Leader’s Fiery Rhetoric Ignites Controversy
Criticism mounted Friday over an African National Congress leader’s call for militant youths to direct their gunfire at President Frederik W. de Klerk.
Peter Mokaba, the fiery leader of the ANC Youth League, told mourners at a funeral service Thursday for victims of a recent massacre that people in black townships should drive out government security forces and take their struggle to white areas.
When people in the crowd fired shots in the air, Mokaba told them to stop wasting bullets.
“Direct them against De Klerk. We don’t have enough ammunition,” said Mokaba, whose militant rhetoric has stirred up repeated controversies.
The government and ruling National Party immediately complained the statements would cause more violence in black townships, where more than 200 people have been killed in the past two weeks.
In a statement Friday, the ANC leadership said it “completely dissociates itself from any statement . . . that may indicate that we will condone attacks on President De Klerk.” It added that Mokaba said he never intended the comments to be taken literally.
Mokaba’s remarks put ANC leaders in an awkward position and are sure to increase tensions between the black group and De Klerk’s white-led government.
With multiracial elections due in April, leader Nelson Mandela is campaigning to portray the ANC as a peaceful party that welcomes whites.
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