How much more blood must our people shed for the sins of apartheid?
How many more generations are to be born into a world of uncertainty, a tradition of intolerance, a life of violence, brutality and despair?
We say, no more.
The apartheid system has cultivated a culture of political intolerance that has made it very difficult for democratic forces to organise freely, and for the people express their will.
No less than 18 000 people have lost their lives in political violence nationally since 1984. More than 50% of this figure died after February 1990 when the ANC, the SACP and other political organisations were unbanned.
Most of these incidents of violence arose out of the two-pronged strategy of the government to destabilise the liberation movement whilst at the same time negotiating with it.
The statistics may tell us a lot about the nature and enormity of the chaos which is rife in our communities.
More difficult to assess, however, are the psychological effects that violence has on its victims. The losses through the carnage have been enormous, the suffering immeasurable. The ANC realises that the best recompense that it can offer, is the establishment of a peaceful harmonious society now. We are not interested in petty mud-slinging and finger pointing.
We are a party of peace and are committed to bringing about improved conditions in which all our people, black and white can feel secure.
We assert that:
The ANC has both the will and the ability to bring about peaceful change.
We recognise the violence for what it is. It is a culmination of socio-economic strife and political turmoil. We recognise the various elements of the violence and we recognise the potential avenues of peace.
Our country needs peace. We need an end to the violence against communities and to the abuse of women and children. We must end the culture of violence created by apartheid. This hope and prayer of the overwhelming majority must be realised.
As an organisation that represents the victims of apartheid we understand the difference between a government that intimidates and one that cares.
We care - And we have a plan.
We realise that in order to ensure peace and security for all in an open and tolerant society, South Africa needs:
Let me elaborate on the last point with regard to our security forces. An ANC government will ensure that all security forces will be reformed to reflect the national and gender character of our country. They will be non-partisan, professional, uphold the constitution and respect human rights.
A new volunteer army will deal with the defence of the country and not internal political matters.
Criminal behaviour will not be tolerated within any division of the security forces.
THE POLICE
The South African police will have a very important role to play during the transition because of the ever increasing spiral of violence.
Yet, the history of the SAP is deeply imbued in the corruption of the apartheid system.
The SAP motto, "protect and serve" has certainly not been an all encompassing one, but has fought well to "protect and serve" the interests of a white minority.
In addition, the homeland system which has brought with it supplementary policing structures, has compounded the crisis of corruption in policing, which is manifest in their failure to deliver even the minimum level of public safety and security.
We acknowledge that the crisis of the police force cannot be resolved overnight. However the ANC is committed to embarking on the restructuring and transformation of the South African police force.
We will work to create a single national force which will lay more emphasis on community or consensus' policing in line with developments taking place elsewhere in the world.
It is very important that demilitarisation of the police occurs and that they be seen as a civilian service.
Ultimately, the new service must ensure that the principle of minimum force and the value of life be instilled in its members.
NATIONAL DEFENCE
For several decades the apartheid regime has relied on its formidable police, defence and intelligence structures to maintain the system of apartheid and minority rule.
As a result of its Total strategy, the whole of the South African state and society became militarized.
The South African security institutions are racist, secretive, undemocratic and illegitimate in nature.
The ANC stresses that the process of democratization under way in our country will not be complete without addressing this problem.
As a crucial means of eradicating the current wave of violence, the ANC is devising measures to address the problems within our national defence force.
We in the ANC recognise the important role played by uMkhonto we Sizwe - the people's army -which represented the cutting edge in the struggle for a non-racial and democratic society.
Popular support for MK has been demonstrated at countless rallies, marches and demonstrations.
This support and the democratic culture which was the norm in the ranks of MK will assist in legitimising the new National Defence Force in the eyes of the entire population. The process of integration of the armed forces is already underway.
The ANC is committed to the formation of a new Defence Force which will be based on the following principles:
With an impartial defence force which strives for high professional standards at all times and in all spheres, and a police force which is accountable to the community it really does "protect and serve", an ANC government can confidently assure peace and security for all.
We are optimistic, but we are not naive. We are aware that the problem of violence extends beyond the problems situated within the security structures.
The Threat to Democracy
We recognise there are anti-democratic forces at work which aim to undermine the prospect of a future of peace and harmony.
We expect that in the run up to the elections, and after, there will be concerted efforts from elements opposed to the democratic process to disrupt the elections and the process of reconstruction that lies beyond, through violent means.
The ANC does not intend to turn a blind eye to these forces.
We must, as members of the ANC and the broad democratic movement, ensure that these elements are dissuaded from carrying out any subversive activities.
As we move towards April 27 we have to muster all our resources to ensure that the transition to democracy is a peaceful one. Any attempts to spread havoc will be dealt with decisively.
It is important that we are all clear as to who these groups which threaten peace are:
Anti-Democratic Forces
The right wing have made it clear on more than one occasion that failure to meet their demand of a volkstaat will be met with bloodshed. There have already been several attacks on several of our facilities by elements of the right-wing.
The IFP has declared its intention not to participate in and to openly oppose the elections. We have all d e consistent threats of a civil war from its leaders, including KwaZulu Chief Minister, Mangosuthu Buthelezi. Against this background we note the continuing attacks on ANC members in several areas of the country.
We are also disturbed by reports of an apparent emergence of hit squad activities aimed at the elimination of ANC leaders in some regions (e.g. the Ciskei).
This type of activity will not be tolerated. If the present government wishes to display its commitment to a peaceful transition it will deal strictly and effectively with such criminal elements.
The capacity of the forces constituting the Freedom Alliance to disrupt the elections and to perpetuate further instability and violence, cannot, and must not be underestimated.
The ANC will do everything in its power to prevent the election process being undermined and to ensue that its concrete plans for peace building are not thwarted.
I have told you of our future plans to bring peace. They are practical and I hope convincing. But we in the ANC do not simply engage in future planning and promising. We are the stalwarts of present action.
What is the ANC doing to curb the violence at present?
At the initiative of the ANC, community based Self Defence Units (SDUs) were formed to defend communities under attack from vigilante groups because of the incapacity of the state security forces to defend people, and their complicity and partiality in political violence.
There have, admittedly been problems surrounding some of the SDUs, but the ANC has taken decisive intervention to address these problems.
The process of restructuring in which the ANC has been involved in has made these units more effective and has shown that the SDUs have played a vital role in defending our people in many of the war- stricken townships.
We support and are party to the National Peacekeeping Force which will include members of the homeland armies and police forces, members of the state security forces and cadres of uMkhonto we Sizwe.
This force, which is already in the process of being established, will play a crucial role in protecting voters when they at last exercise their democratic right to national self determination.
For too long we have suffered under the violent system of apartheid. Peace is in our hands. We have to do everything in our power to ensure that this goal is not an elusive one. Through the established structures of the National Peace Committee we have already made great strides towards its achievement. We must all work hard to consolidate these gains.
Our country must know peace and harmony so that we can, as South Africans, join the rest of humankind as a proud and united people working together for a better world.
Peace in our land