African Activist Archive

A funding appeal soon after the release of Nelson Mandela, which discusses the tasks ahead. Despite Mandela's joyous release, the promise of a democratic South Africa is still not fulfilled. Negotiations between the African National Congress (ANC) and the de Klerk regime have not begun, and a constitutional convention process has yet to be established. The immediate task is to mobilize Americans to demand that Congress recognize that the release of Mandela and his colleagues happened because of the economic pressures being exerted on South Africa by international sanctions. It could be disastrous to the fight to end apartheid if these sanctions were prematurely lifted or even relaxed. However, powerful right-wing forces in Congress are seizing upon the release of Mandela as "positive proof" that the government of South Africa has suddenly changed. Mandela's release and the legalization of the ANC are significant, but, as Senator Ted Kennedy points out in the enclosed letter, they are only first steps. A Citizen Petition is enclosed addressed to President Bush and Members of Congress urging that they keep sanctions in place until after a one-person, one-vote democracy is firmly established. People are asked to sign and return the petitions along with a contribution to TransAfrica's FINAL ROAD TO FREEDOM FUND.

African Activist Archive

[Dear Friend of a Free South Africa, When Nelson Mandela was finally released ...]

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