FEBRUARY 20-21, 1991
...events in South Africa are unfolding rapidly. It is imperative that, together with the liberation movements of South Africa, we work with well informed imagination in order to be in a position to respond appropriately to developments as they occur.
This year will be particularly challenging for the Special Committee against Apartheid and the Organization of African Unity. Developments in South Africa and their repercussions on the international response to apartheid need to be closely monitored and analyzed. With your assistance and cooperation, we will react responsibly to these developments and also anticipate them and express our position having always in mind the need to assist the process of genuine negotiations and the speedy adoption of a democratic and non-racial constitution in South Africa.
The promotion of the peaceful process of negotiations will thus be central to our task this year. Particular attention will be paid to the elimination of obstacles to this process related to the social and economic inequities of the country.
Our immediate concern is the level of violence that has prevailed in South Africa for some time now. There is no question that the profound source of violence is the apartheid system itself. The behaviour of some elements of the security forces has been repeatedly condemned by the General Assembly which in its two consensus resolutions called on South Africa to ensure effective and impartial action by all branches of government and all competent authorities against all those that are responsible for violence, those who opposed the democratic transformation of the country. The vigilante groups and the extreme right which is fully armed is the sole danger for the present and the future. It is very discouraging to see that the South African authorities have not yet addressed, either by desire or by international reasons, this serious matter which might have deleterious effect on the negotiating process. Another source of violence among anti-apartheid groups has been recently addressed. We strongly commend the initiatives of Mr. Nelson Mandela and the ANC in this regard. The meetings with the PAC and the Inkatha party will hopefully contribute not only to deal with the violent acts but also with bringing together the majority in facing the challenges ahead.
Open debate is essential as it can help define not only the basic aspect of the post-apartheid society but also the incipient element of what a true democratic system can be. At this stage, a democratic dialogue and cooperation amongst the oppressed people of South Africa is a sine qua non for a successful process that can lead to the adoption of a democratic non-racial constitution.
We hope that soon agreement will emerge among the parties concerned on the mechanism for the drawing up of a new constitution and the transitional arrangements and modalities for the transition to the democratic order, including the holding of elections as provided in the United Nations Declaration.
In this regard, I would like to recall that the historic United Nations Declaration on South Africa, adopted by consensus by the General Assembly, remains the basic guidelines for our activities. The Declaration spelled out the pre-conditions and measures to be taken in order to create a favourable climate conducive to negotiations and on the process and objectives of such negotiations towards an early eradication of apartheid, and delineated a Programme of Action for the international community. This Declaration reflected the world's support to the South African people in their determined effort to build a united, non-racial and democratic South Africa.
It is in the light of the Declaration that we assess developments in South Africa and the response of the international community to them. The announcement of February 1, 1991, by President de Klerk's Government to repeal the Land and Group Areas Acts, and the promise to introduce interim changes to the Population Registration Act, represents undoubtedly a step forward in the ongoing process of bringing about fundamental change in South Africa. However, the Special Committee hopes that they are accompanied by substantive policies which are necessary to redress the grave socio-economic inequities generated under the system of apartheid, and give indeed substance to the removal of these legislative structures. The repeal of laws is a necessary step and we commend it. But not sufficient. Access to land by the black majority has to become a reality.
The silence of Mr. de Klerk on a number of issues crucial to the creation of an appropriate atmosphere for negotiations such as the Internal Security Act, the implementation of other agreements made with the African National Congress (ANC), in particular concerning the release of political prisoners and the return of political exiles without restrictions, remains a source of serious concern to the Special Committee. The international community, our committee, the OAU and other organisations should, therefore, maintain vigilance and pressure on South Africa.
Against this background, the position of the Special Committee against Apartheid, in line with the United Nations Declaration and subsequent consensus resolutions, is that the international community should maintain measures aimed at applying pressure on the South African regime to eradicate apartheid and to promote profound and irreversible changes, having in mind the objectives of the Declaration, namely the speedy eradication of apartheid and the establishment of a united, democratic and non-racial South Africa.
It is foreseeable that in the coming months pressure will mount from some quarters, especially the European Community and the United States, to relax the sanctions imposed on South Africa.
You are also aware that some Eastern European States and even an increasing number of African States are proceeding to establish diplomatic, commercial and other links with South Africa.
In order to help the international community to reach hopefully a unified position on the issue of sanctions, we expect the national liberation movements and other anti-apartheid forces in South Africa to advise us, when and whether the time is ripe, to consider relaxation of some measures. I would like also to add that the report of the Secretary-General of the United Nations on the progress being made in the implementation of the UN Declaration to be issued in June 1991, and the conclusions that my Committee would reach after consulting with the relevant parties, both inside and outside South Africa, should help the international community to decide on its policies regarding sanctions.
What appears inescapable is that the international community has the duty to maintain pressure on South Africa during the whole process of negotiations and until a new Constitution establishing a non-racial democracy in South Africa is adopted. The question that will have to be answered is what should be the appropriate nature of that pressure. The Special Committee plans to contribute to this debate and hopes that the answer will be reached through another international consensus.
In this debate, full account will be taken on the position reached by the Sixth Ordinary session of the Ad Hoc Committee of Heads of State and Government of the Organisation of African Unity at its meeting held in Harare on 7th February, 1991, that while taking note of the fact that some positive changes had taken place in South Africa, there is a continuing need to maintain sanctions and all forms of pressure against the South African regime, until "transitional arrangements and modalities on the process of the drawing up and adoption of a new constitution, and of the transition to a democratic order, including the holding of elections," are agreed.
Against this backdrop, the Special Committee is, nevertheless, convinced that appropriate pressure on South Africa should be maintained during the process of future negotiations towards the preparation and adoption of a new constitution.
Ladies and Gentlemen,
The road ahead in South Africa might not be smooth. A rush to lift restrictive measures now would be not only contrary to the United Nations Declaration and subsequent consensus resolutions, but would also have the effect of prematurely depriving the international community of the possibility of applying effective pressure, if necessary, at a later stage.
For its part, the Special Committee intends to continue monitoring closely developments in South Africa and to be very active in promoting the speedy eradication of apartheid through peaceful means. We are also taking initiatives in dealing with the issue of assistance to the disadvantaged people of South Africa. This year the Special Committee will sponsor seminars and conferences on the educational needs of black South Africans, on economic issues that might create obstacles to negotiations and the need to address grave socio-economic inequalities and assistance in the cultural and academic fields for non-racial organizations in South Africa.
Ladies and Gentlemen,
On behalf of the Special Committee, I would like to reiterate the importance we assign to our consultations with the Liberation Committee of the OAU. It is crucial at this stage that we can act in concert and that we draw up together, in consultation with the South African people, a common strategy. I am looking forward to strengthening our cooperation with the OAU until our common purpose is achieved.