The report says, in recent weeks, a series of leaked documents, statements by former members of the South African security forces, and confessions by high-ranking South African government officials have exposed the depth of Pretoria's involvement in orchestrating political violence in the country's Black townships. These revelations document Pretoria's extensive campaign to discredit the African National Congress (ANC), to strengthen the ANC's opponents, and to delay substantive negotiations for a new constitution. During the past five years, the government diverted over $525 million to a "Secret Services Account" used to fund covert activities against its opponents. Officials have admitted...
The report says, in recent weeks, a series of leaked documents, statements by former members of the South African security forces, and confessions by high-ranking South African government officials have exposed the depth of Pretoria's involvement in orchestrating political violence in the country's Black townships. These revelations document Pretoria's extensive campaign to discredit the African National Congress (ANC), to strengthen the ANC's opponents, and to delay substantive negotiations for a new constitution. During the past five years, the government diverted over $525 million to a "Secret Services Account" used to fund covert activities against its opponents. Officials have admitted to financing the political activities of the Inkatha Freedom Party (IDF) and its trade union wing, the United Workers Union of South Africa (UWUSA); some of this money was used to hire vigilantes to attack and intimidate members of rival unions. Former security force members indicate that the government has been arming and training Inkatha members and that the police and army have facilitated Inkatha attacks on communities in Natal and around Johannesburg. South African Defence Force (SADF) units have also been involved in several attacks on townships, including one massacre on a train in which 26 people were killed and 137 injured, according to a former member of the Five Reconnaissance Regiment. These revelations have shattered President F.W. de Klerk's credibility as a reformer who is acting in good faith in negotiations. De Klerk and three other cabinet ministers signed an audit authorizing the transfer of state funds to Inkatha, actually increasing the funds available for "dirty tricks." Clearly, the highest levels of the government must have been aware of the security forces' involvement in perpetuating political violence. Although we recognize and appreciate changes which have occurred in South Africa over the past two years, we reject the logic which gives the bulk of the credit for those changes to President de Klerk. Rather, such change is the result of the extreme pressure applied to the South African government, both from domestic and international sources. The U.S. must retain and strengthen sanctions on South Africa and must link their cessation to concrete progress toward universal franchise.
