August 9, 1990
Your Excellencies,
Distinguished Delegates,
We are here to salute those women in South Africa who, 34 years ago today, defied the oppressive and inhuman machinery of apartheid and publicly demonstrated their objection to and abhorrence of the pass laws.
It is a fitting tribute to the justness of their cause that in 1981 the General Assembly resolved that the world should observe 9 August as the International Day of Solidarity with the Struggle of Women in South Africa and Namibia. In June 1986 the specific legislation regulating the pass laws was abolished.
I take this occasion to salute the courage and bravery of the women in Namibia who have risked all and taken their rightful place in the struggle to ensure that their fathers, brothers and children may live in dignity in their land of birth. It is to their credit that the struggle has reached a historic landmark as independence came to their land, Namibia, on March 21, 1990.
The commemoration of this day is intended not as a mere ceremonial exercise, but as a test of our determination to see in South Africa peace, dignity, freedom and justice without distinction as to race, sex, language or religion.
The black women in South Africa and their children bear the brunt of the most extreme and harsh policies of apartheid, so it is not surprising that women have become prominent participants in the liberation struggle against the racist policies of South Africa. These women suffer under the triple yoke of national oppression, sex discrimination and exploitation as workers, and bear the full brunt of apartheid on all fronts - political, economic and social.
In spite of their suffering, the black women of South Africa have demonstrated a capacity for defiance and great power of endurance. Together with their men folk, they have continued in the struggle with ever increasing determination and consistency, actively participating in protests, boycotts and trade union activities. Since their men have to work far away from home for extended periods of time, they oftentimes have to single-handedly take care of and protect their families, earn a living and contribute to keep the liberation struggle alive.
In the past twelve months, we are witnessing an increased international attention being directed towards the political situation in South Africa. The march of the black people of South Africa to freedom is headed for ultimate victory in the near future. This could not have been done without the tremendous sacrifices the people of South Africa, particularly women and children, have made nor without the support of the international community. Indeed the combined forces of internal resistance and of international pressure gained momentum last year, marking a major victory last December at the Special Session of the General Assembly on Apartheid and its Destructive Consequences on Southern Africa.
The Declaration spelled out a number of measures to be taken by Pretoria in order to create a favourable climate conducive to negotiations and on the process and the objectives of such negotiations towards an early eradication of apartheid and the advent of a united, non-racial and democratic South Africa.
The South African authorities have shown recently some signs of realism, as evidenced by certain positive measures. These encouraging steps should be followed by the immediate implementation of the remaining measures required for the establishment of a climate conducive to negotiation as stated clearly in the UN Declaration.
The Declaration requested the Secretary-General to prepare a report on the progress made in the implementation of the Declaration and submit it to the Assembly by 1 July 1990. On 20 July 1990 the Secretary-General introduced his report to the General Assembly which decided to consider it between 12-14 September.
It is, therefore, on the basis of the UN Declaration and the Secretary-General's report that the Special Committee believes that the measures taken so far by the de Klerk government, significant as they are, meet only part of the conditions set out in the Declaration. Of the measures required by the Declaration to create a climate for negotiations, only the lifting of the ban on political parties and movements has been implemented. The other four required measures have been implemented only partially. Even so, normal political activity continues to be hindered by the provisions of repressive legislation, in particular the Internal Security Act which was used forcefully recently to arrest a number of ANC members including Mr. Maharaj, a senior member of the National Executive of the African National Congress. It shows once more that an atmosphere of free political activity does not exist yet in South Africa. It further raises doubts about the real intentions and tactics of the authorities in Pretoria. In this context, existing security legislation, as well as resistance to change on the part of the entrenched structures of the system, specifically at the local level, in the words of the Secretary-General, "serve as Democlean Swords over free political activity".
Yet some encouraging news came from Pretoria two days ago following the meeting between the South African authorities and the ANC. There is a promise that some provisions of the Internal Security Act will be repealed and that, in the words of the Pretoria Minute "the Government will continue reviewing security legislation and its applications in order to ensure free political activity and with the view to introducing amending legislation at the next session of Parliament". There is also the clear prospect that political prisoners will be released in the next few months and that exiles will be able to return after 1 October 1990. The Special Committee, concerned with the violence in Natal and with the terrorist activities of the extreme right, expects that these matters will be effectively addressed.
Even taking account of the latest developments, we cannot but conclude, as the Secretary-General has done in his report, that the process of change is still at an early stage. Therefore, it becomes evident that pressure should be fully maintained on the authorities in Pretoria, and that no relaxation of any measure should be contemplated at this stage.
It is the view of the Special Committee that the present situation in South Africa holds the promise for the dismantlement of apartheid through negotiations and for the creation of a non-racial democracy in that country. We, therefore, urge the international community to continue to assist the process towards a peaceful resolution of the conflict in South Africa by maintaining the required pressure as agreed in the Declaration.
In concluding and on behalf of the Special Committee against Apartheid, I wish to salute once again the struggle of the oppressed people of South Africa and to commend them for their remarkable dignity in the face of injustice at the hands of the apartheid regime. The perseverance and wisdom which they have shown are remarkable especially at the present stage when the dawn of a new era appears to be on the horizon. South Africa will soon be rid of the obnoxious system of apartheid.