The ANC's National Executive Committee (NEC) warned in September that 'an immediate threat to the entire process of peaceful negotiations' was posed by ongoing violence involving the Kwazulu bantustan organisation Inkatha and the police and army. The violence had spread since the end of July from Natal to the Witwatersrand.
Noting the extensive evidence of police and military support for Inkatha attacks, the NEC declared on 20 September that the government, while accepting the need to negotiate a settlement, was simultaneously 'devising stratagems to weaken the ANC and other democratic formations'.
After repeated requests from the ANC for a meeting with the government to discuss the violence, talks were held on 8 October. The ANC delegation, headed by Nelson Mandela, made detailed submissions on the cause of the violence and also on the issue of the detention of ANC members. While both sides agreed on 'the need to keep the negotiation process on course' and 'to do their utmost to bring this violence to an end', they could not agree on 'the causes and handling' of the violence.
The ANC later released details of its submissions, explaining that it had been forced to do so because of misrepresentations about the meeting by the State President. The movement said that the government was waging a 'concerted propaganda offensive' and had a 'strategy of talking peace and waging war'.
Armed actions were suspended by the ANC after talks with the government in Pretoria on 6 August resulted in an agreement for dealing with the remaining obstacles to negotiations. However, the ANC made it clear in a message explaining the agreement that its armed wing Umkhonto we Sizwe had not been dissolved: the movement retained its right to self-defence, and the suspension of armed struggle was 'conditional on the behaviour of the South African Police and Defence Force'.
The Pretoria agreement set target dates for the release of political prisoners and the return of exiles, and agreed the basis of guidelines to be used in considering pardons or amnesties. The target dates were as follows: 31 August A working group, set up earlier to define political offences, to report on 'a plan for the release of ANC-related prisoners and the granting of indemnity to people in a phased manner'. 1 September Start of 'the further release of prisoners which can be dealt with administratively'. 15 September Report of a working group set up to resolve 'all outstanding questions' arising out of the ANC's suspension of armed struggle. 1 October Start of indemnification of people who fall into defined categories and do not have to be dealt with on an individual basis. This process to be completed by the end of the year. 30 April 1991 Latest date envisaged for completion of release of political prisoners and amnesty for exiles.
The government also undertook to 'give immediate consideration' to repealing some provisions of the Internal Security Act, and to amend it in the next session of parliament (early 1991). It would also consider lifting the State of Emergency in Natal 'as early as possible'. It was further agreed that exploratory talks on the question of how 'to proceed towards negotiations on a new constitution' would soon be held.
Talks progress: The working group set up to examine issues related to the suspension of the armed struggle made a report on 15 September, but without the participation of Umkhonto Chief of Staff Chris Hani. He was unable to attend the group's meetings because his temporary immunity from prosecution had not been renewed. The government offered a 41-hour immunity, which was rejected, but finally gave him immunity at the end of September. The report of the group was not made public.
The government called for representations on the amendment of security legislation, and on 18 October lifted the State of Emergency in Natal. However, new measures, amounting to a partial state of emergency, were imposed on Witwatersrand townships in August.
The government extended formal invitations to the Pan-Africanist Congress (PAC) and the Azanian Peoples Organisation (AZAPO) to enter talks. AZAPO said that it was committed to a constituent assembly as a starting point for negotiations and could not participate until one had been elected. The PAC decided to postpone a decision until a national conference scheduled for November.
Discussions were held during August between the ANC and the government on how to structure the constitutional negotiations. The movement reaffirmed its commitment to the establishment of an interim government and then an elected constituent assembly, but the government continued to reject this. The government also met with the six leaders of the non-'independent' bantustans, provincial administrators and senior representatives of the Coloured and Indian chambers of parliament to set up another constitutional working group. President De Klerk said they had examined the prospects for federal or regional government and agreed on 'fundamental restructuring' of the bantustan system after a new constitution had been negotiated.
With the exception of Bophuthatswana and Kwazulu, all the bantustan administrations have been in touch with the ANC and to varying degrees endorsed its stance on negotiations.
