Document 154

Letter dated 13 August 1992 from the Secretary-General to Mr. Abdou Diouf, Chairman of the Organization of African Unity.

Not issued as a United Nations document.

Translated from French

As you know, the Security Council met recently at the request of the Organization of African Unity to consider the situation in South Africa. Your Minister for Foreign Affairs, H.E. Mr. Djibo Laïty Ka, who headed a high-level OAU delegation, explained the position of OAU to the Council in a particularly effective way.

The Security Council concluded the debate by adopting resolution 765 (1992) of 16 July 1992, which invites the Secretary-General to appoint, as a matter of urgency, a Special Representative for South Africa in order to recommend measures which would assist in bringing an effective end to the violence and in creating conditions for negotiations leading towards a peaceful transition to a democratic, non-racial and united South Africa.

I immediately appointed as Special Representative Mr. Cyrus Vance, who visited South Africa from 21 to 31 July and met with as many of the interested parties as possible. On his return, and pursuant to the Security Council's request, I submitted a report to the latter on 7 August. The Council will meet in the next few days to consider and take action on the recommendations contained therein.

I have the honour, Sir, to attach herewith a copy of this report and should like to keep in close contact with you concerning it.

Accept, Sir, the assurances of my highest consideration.

(Signed) Boutros BOUTROS-GHALI

Document 155

Security Council resolution: The question of South Africa.

S/RES/772 (1992), 17 August 1992

The Security Council,

...

Determined to help the people of South Africa in their legitimate struggle for a non-racial, democratic society,

Cognizant of the expectations of the people of South Africa that the United Nations will assist with regard to the removal of all obstacles to the resumption of the process of negotiations,

Bearing in mind the areas of concern relevant to the question of violence in South Africa, including the issues of the hostels, dangerous weapons, the role of the security forces and other armed formations, the investigation and prosecution of criminal conduct, mass demonstrations and the conduct of political parties,

Also bearing in mind the need to strengthen and reinforce the indigenous mechanisms set up under the National Peace Accord, so as to enhance their capacity in the building of peace, both in the present and in the future,

Determined to assist the people of South Africa to end violence, the continuation of which would seriously jeopardize peace and security in the region,

Underlining, in this regard, the importance of all parties cooperating in the resumption of the negotiating process as speedily as possible,

1. Welcomes with appreciation the report of the Secretary-General of 7 August 1992 on the question of South Africa;

2. Expresses its appreciation to all relevant parties in South Africa for the cooperation they extended to the Special Representative of the Secretary-General for South Africa;

3. Calls upon the South African Government and all parties in South Africa to implement urgently the relevant recommendations contained in the report of the Secretary-General;

4. Authorizes the Secretary-General to deploy, as a matter of urgency, United Nations observers in South Africa, in such a manner and in such numbers as he determines necessary to address effectively the areas of concern noted in his report, in coordination with the structures set up under the National Peace Accord;

5. Invites the Secretary-General to assist in the strengthening of the structures set up under the National Peace Accord in consultation with the relevant parties;

...

8. Invites international organizations such as the Organization of African Unity, the Commonwealth and the European Community to consider deploying their own observers in South Africa in coordination with the United Nations and the structures set up under the National Peace Accord;

9. Decides to remain seized of the matter until a democratic, non-racial and united South Africa is established.

Document 156

Statement by the Spokesman for Secretary-General Boutros-Ghali concerning loss of life in Ciskei, and details on United Nations Observer Mission in South Africa (UNOMSA).

UN Press Release SG/SM/4807 - SAF/141, 9 September 1992

The Secretary-General deeply deplores the loss of life which occurred in Ciskei on 7 September during a demonstration organized by the African National Congress of South Africa (ANC).

The Secretary-General wishes to recall in that connection that by its resolution 772 (1992) of 17 August, the Security Council authorized the Secretary-General to deploy, as a matter of urgency, United Nations observers in South Africa, in such manner and in such numbers as he determines necessary to address effectively the areas of concern noted in his report (document S/24389), in coordination with the structures set up under the National Peace Accord, which was signed on 14 September 1991 to provide a framework and basis for putting an end to violence in the country.

The Council also invited the Secretary-General to assist in the strengthening of the structures set up under the National Peace Accord in consultation with the relevant parties. The Security Council further invited international organizations, such as the Organization of African Unity, the Commonwealth and the European Community, to consider deploying their own observers in South Africa in coordination with the United Nations and the structures set up under the National Peace Accord.

Following consultations with the Security Council, the Secretary-General has decided to deploy 50 United Nations observers in South Africa for the purposes indicated in Security Council resolution 772. Angela King of Jamaica has been appointed the Chief of Mission of the United Nations Observer Mission to South Africa. Ismat Steiner of the United Republic of Tanzania is the Deputy Chief of Mission.

Mr. Steiner will lead an advance party of 13 observers to South Africa on 11 September to establish the Mission. The 13 observers will be assigned to the Natal/KwaZulu area (Durban) and the Wits/Vaal Area (Johannesburg). The total of 50 United Nations observers will be stationed in the following 11 areas to cover the entire country:

Natal/KwaZulu Northern Cape

Border/Ciskei Far Northern Transvaal

Wits/Vaal Northern Transvaal

Western Cape Eastern Transvaal

Orange Free State Eastern Cape

Western Transvaal

The headquarters of the Mission will be in Johannesburg.

Document 157

Statement by the President of the Security Council, on behalf of the Council, on the shooting of demonstrators in Ciskei.

S/24541, 10 September 1992

The members of the Security Council deplore the killing of 28 demonstrators and the wounding of nearly 200 others by security elements in South Africa on 7 September 1992. They reiterate their grave concern at the continued escalation of the violence in South Africa. They emphasize once again the responsibility of the South African authorities for the maintenance of law and order and call on them to take all measures to end the violence and to protect the right of all South Africans to engage in peaceful political activity without fear of intimidation or violence. They urge all parties in South Africa to cooperate in combatting violence and to exercise maximum restraint in order to help break the spiralling cycle of violence.

The members of the Security Council emphasize the need to put an end to the violence and create conditions for negotiations leading to the establishment of a democratic, non-racial and united South Africa. They note in this regard that the Security Council, in its resolution 772 (1992) of 17 August 1992, authorized the Secretary-General to deploy United Nations observers in South Africa, in coordination with the structures set up under the National Peace Accord, to provide a framework and basis for putting an end to violence in the country. They welcome the Secretary-General's decision to deploy an advance party of 13 United Nations observers in South Africa on 11 September 1992 as part of the complement of 50 observers to be deployed within one month.

The members of the Council call upon the Government of South Africa, parties and organizations, and the structures set up under the National Peace Accord, to extend their full cooperation to the United Nations observers to enable them to carry out their tasks effectively. They reiterate their call to other relevant regional and intergovernmental organizations to consider deploying their own observers in South Africa in coordination with the United Nations and the structures set up under the National Peace Accord in order to facilitate the peace process.

Document 158

Letter dated 16 September 1992 from the Secretary-General to Justice R.J. Goldstone, Chairman of the Commission of Inquiry regarding the Prevention of Public Violence and Intimidation.

Not issued as a United Nations document.

Dear Justice Goldstone,

My Special Envoy, Mr. Cyrus Vance, has informed me of the useful discussions he had with you during his recent visit to South Africa. As you are aware, in my report to the Security Council, I stated that the international community should support the work of the Goldstone Commission and that its recommendations should be fully and speedily implemented by the Government and, when so required, by the parties in South Africa. In view of the fact that the Commission has welcomed suitable international assistance, I recommended that the international community and the United Nations respond positively and appropriately, as and when requested.

The Security Council has authorized me to deploy the United Nations observers in coordination with the structures set up under the National Peace Accord. This mandate requires the United Nations mission to deal with all the relevant structures under the Accord, including your Commission. When fully deployed, the 50 United Nations observers would be in a position to undertake these important tasks.

As you know, the advance team of United Nations observers authorized by Security Council resolution 772 (1992) of 17 August 1992, arrived in South Africa on 13 September. The Head of the Mission, Ms. Angela King, is scheduled to arrive in Johannesburg on 23 September 1992. I am confident that you would wish to meet with Ms. King for a full discussion of the work of your Commission and the modalities for cooperation between it and the United Nations observer mission.

I deeply deplored the tragic loss of life which occurred in Ciskei on 7 September 1992. It is my fervent hope that the United Nations will contribute to a reduction of tensions and will serve as a catalyst for future positive developments.

I would like to commend you on the far-reaching work being undertaken by your Commission and to assure you of my readiness to consider in a positive light any request for assistance from the United Nations in support of the work of your Commission.

yours sincerely,

(signed)

Boutros Boutros-Ghali

Document 159

Letter dated 21 September 1992 from the Secretary-General to Mr. Roelof F. Botha, Minister for Foreign Affairs of the Republic of South Africa.

Not issued as a United Nations document.

Excellency,

I have the honour to refer to resolution 772 (1992) of 17 August 1992 by which the United Nations Security Council has, inter alia, welcomed with appreciation the report of the Secretary-General on the question of South Africa contained in document S/24389 and authorized the Secretary-General to deploy, as a matter of urgency, United Nations observers in South Africa in such a manner and in such numbers as he determines necessary to address effectively the areas of concern noted in the above-mentioned report, in coordination with the structures set up under the National Peace Accord of 14 September 1991 which established a comprehensive framework, agreed upon by all the major parties, organizations and groups of South Africa, to end violence and to facilitate socio-economic development and reconstruction.

In order to facilitate the fulfillment of the purposes of the mission of the United Nations observers in South Africa, I propose that your Government, in implementation of its obligations under Article 105 of the Charter of the United Nations, extend to this mission, its property, funds and assets and to its personnel the provisions of the Convention on the Privileges and immunities of the United Nations (the Convention).

In view of the importance of the functions which the mission of the United Nations observers will perform, I propose in particular that your Government extend to:

(i) the United Nations observers, including the Chief of mission, who are high-ranking officials of the Organization and whose names shall be communicated to your Government for this purpose, the privileges and immunities, exemptions and facilities which are enjoyed by diplomatic envoys in accordance with international law;

(ii) other officials of the United Nations assigned to serve with this mission, the privileges and immunities to which they are entitled under Articles V and VII of the Convention.

The privileges and immunities necessary for the fulfillment of the functions of the mission of the United Nations observers also include: freedom of entry and exit, without delay or hindrance of personnel, property, supplies, equipment and spare parts; complete freedom of movement on land, sea and in the air of personnel, equipment and means of transport; the acceptance of the Untied Nations registration of means of transport (on land, sea and in the air) and United Nations licensing of the operators thereof; the right to fly the United nations flag on premises, observation posts, vehicles, aircraft and vessels; and the right of unrestricted communication by radio or be satellite, as well as by telephone, telegraph or other means.

It is understood that the Government of South Africa shall provide at no cost to the United Nations, all such premises as may be necessary for the accommodation and fulfillment of the functions of the Untied Nations observers, including office space. All such premises shall be inviolable and subject to the exclusive control and authority of the United Nations. Without prejudice to the use by the United Nations of its own means of transport and communication, it is understood that your Government shall, upon request of the Chief of mission provide at its own expense, any necessary means of transport and communication. The Government of South Africa shall further ensure the security and safety of the United Nations observers.

If these proposals meet with your approval, I would suggest that this letter and your reply should constitute an agreement between the United Nations and the Republic of South Africa to take effect immediately.

Accept, Excellency, the assurances of my highest consideration.

Document 160

Letter dated 23 September 1992 from the Secretary-General to

Mr. Frederik Willem de Klerk, President of South Africa.

Not issued as a United Nations document.

Dear Mr. President,

My Special Envoy, Mr. Virendra Dayal, has informed me of the critical stage that the talks have reached seeking to arrange a meeting between you and Mr. Mandela.

I am fully aware of the complexity of the issues involved. May I, however, urge you to ensure that the present obstacles are overcome and that the momentum created for the meeting is not allowed to dissipate. The announcement of an early date for a meeting would, I am sure, be received with the greatest satisfaction here in New York, where leaders from all over the world have gathered for the General Assembly. It would no less be a source of immense relief to all the peoples of South Africa whose destiny lies in the hands of their leaders.

With warmest personal regards.

Yours sincerely,

(signed)

Boutros Boutros-Ghali

Document 161

Statement by the Spokesman for Secretary-General Boutros-Ghali concerning the arrival of Ms. Angela King, the Chief of UNOMSA, in Johannesburg.

UN Press Release SG/SM/4821 - SAF/145, 23 September 1992

Following the Secretary-General's announcement of 9 September, of his decision to deploy a mission of 50 United Nations observers in South Africa, Angela King, who is heading the Mission, has arrived in Johannesburg today, 23 September, to assume her duties as head of the United Nations Observer Mission in South Africa (UNOMSA).

A second group of six observers travelled with the Chief of the Mission, bringing the total number of observers in South Africa to 20. It will be recalled that an advance team of 14 United Nations observers, headed by Ismat Steiner, has been in South Africa since 13 September to make the necessary arrangements for the deployment of UNOMSA. The full contingent of observers is expected to be deployed in October.

By its resolution 772 (1992) of 17 August, the Security Council authorized the Secretary-General to deploy, as a matter of urgency, United Nations observers in South Africa, in such a manner and in such numbers as he determined necessary to address effectively the areas of concern noted in his report (S/24389), in coordination with the structures set up under the National Peace Accord.

The Observer Mission will cooperate, and coordinate its work, as appropriate, with the structures set up under the Accord, particularly the National Peace Committee, the National Peace Secretariat and the Commission of Inquiry regarding the Prevention of Public Violence and Intimidation. Arrangements are being made to ensure coordination between the United Nations observer team and those of the Commonwealth Secretariat, the European Community and the Organization of African Unity.

Document 162

Statement by the Spokesman for Secretary-General Boutros-Ghali concerning forthcoming meeting between President de Klerk and

Mr. Nelson Mandela, President of the African National Congress.

UN Press Release SG/SM/4822 - SAF/146, 24 September 1992

The Secretary-General has just been informed by Nelson Mandela that the obstacles preventing a meeting between President de Klerk and Mr. Mandela have been overcome and that a meeting between them is being arranged imminently.

The Secretary-General warmly welcomes this development and wishes to express his sincere appreciation to Messrs. de Klerk and Mandela for the perseverance and leadership they have shown in resolving the difficulties that had arisen. He trusts that their meeting will help to transform the political atmosphere in South Africa in a positive way and lead rapidly to the resumption of multilateral negotiations involving all parties concerned.

The early attainment of a democratic, non-racial and united South Africa is a goal of the utmost importance to the United Nations. The Organization will continue to make every effort to further this objective in a constructive and understanding manner.

Document 163

Letter dated 29 September 1992 from the Secretary-General to Chief Mangosuthu Buthelezi, President of the Inkatha Freedom Party of South Africa.

Not issued as a United Nations document.

Dear Chief Buthelezi,

I should like to recall our meeting at the end of July in New York, when we had the opportunity to exchange views on the situation in South Africa during the period of the Security Council debate. I found those discussions most useful. The participation of all interested parties in the debate in the Security Council, as well as the depth and scope of resolutions 765 (1992) and 772 (1992), underscore the central role of the United Nations on the issue and its readiness to work with all parties to facilitate the peace process.

As part of the effort to advance the peace process, we have been urging President de Klerk and Mr. Mandela to reach early agreement for a resumption of multilateral negotiations. My Special Envoy, Mr. Virendra Dayal, who visited South Africa from 16 to 26 September, met with a delegation of the Inkatha Freedom Party led by Inkosi S. H. Gumede, Deputy Secretary-General, on 19 September 1992, to discuss this and other related developments. However, despite several attempts, it was not possible for Mr. Dayal to establish contact with you personally by telephone before his departure.

Following the meeting of 26 September 1992 between President de Klerk and Mr. Mandela which resulted in the Record of Understanding, it is now essential that all South African leaders make every effort, as a matter of urgency, to put an end to the violence and to facilitate the resumption of multilateral negotiations, which must necessarily include the Inkatha Freedom Party. Further efforts will be required to accelerate the momentum for constructive change which should lead to progress on the constitutional questions and also reduce the volatility of the political atmosphere.

In order to move the peace process forward and to achieve a lasting settlement, I should like to appeal to you, as President of the Inkatha Freedom Party, to make a renewed effort to meet y with Mr. Nelson Mandela, President of the African National Congress, in order to consider ways and means of putting an end to the violence and to spur the negotiation process. As you are no doubt aware, the situation in South Africa today is followed very closely here in New York, where leaders from all over the world have gathered for the General Assembly. I believe that they and the people of South Africa as a whole would welcome any initiative emanating from a meeting between yourself and Mr. Mandela, which should set the tone for national reconciliation and cooperation.

Your urgent attention to this matter will be highly appreciated.

With warmest personal regards,

(signed)

Boutros Boutros-Ghali

Document 164

Letter dated 29 September 1992 from the Secretary-General to

Mr. Nelson Mandela, President of the African National Congress.

Not issued as a United Nations document.

Dear Mr. Mandela,

I should like to refer to our most useful conversation of this morning in regard to action to follow up your meeting of 26 September with President de Klerk. I have taken particular note of your suggestion that there should be a meeting of the 21 South African parties.

I wish to inform you in this connection that I have appealed to Chief Buthelezi to make a renewed effort to meet urgently with you in order to consider ways and means of putting and end to the violence and to move the peace process forward. I believe that the people of South Africa as a whole would welcome any initiative emanating from such a meeting, which should set the tone for national reconciliation and cooperation. Such a meeting between the two of you should also prepare the ground for a meeting of the 21 South African parties.

I very much hope that you will find it possible to respond promptly to an invitation to meet Chief Buthelezi.

With warmest personal regards,

(signed)

Boutros Boutros-Ghali

Document 165

Statement by Secretary-General Boutros-Ghali at meeting of the Special Committee against Apartheid for the observance of the International Day of Solidarity with South African Political Prisoners.

UN Press Release SG/SM/4832 - GA/AP/2095, 12 October 1992

Today we remember South Africans who have suffered, or who are suffering, imprisonment for their political beliefs. Their struggle has not been in vain. The ideology of apartheid has been defeated, its evils recognized.

The South African Government now accepts that apartheid is discredited and unsustainable. South African authorities have decided to set free those who remain in prison on political grounds.

This is a welcome decision.

But the struggle is not yet over. The structures of apartheid have not yet been wholly dismantled.

The cruelties of apartheid have left a bitter legacy of violence, economic repression, distrust and anguish.

We remember with gratitude the sufferings of those who fought against apartheid. We are inspired by them in our determination to press ahead in helping to build a democratic, non-racial and united South Africa, which is the aim of the international community and of the Convention for a Democratic South Africa (CODESA) process.

To bring apartheid to a peaceful end through negotiations is the obligation placed on us by the United Nations Declaration on Apartheid, adopted by consensus in 1989. The United Nations is working hard to that end.

My Special Envoy, Virendra Dayal, visited South Africa from 16 to 26 September to hold follow-up discussions on Security Council resolution 772 (1992). He met State President de Klerk, senior officials of the Government of South Africa, and the various political parties, including the African National Congress of South Africa (ANC), the Inkatha Freedom Party (IFP) and the Pan Africanist Congress of Azania (PAC).

The discussions focused on my last report to the Security Council as well as on recent political developments in the country. Following bilateral discussions between officials of the Government and ANC, President de Klerk met Mr. Mandela on 26 September.

It was agreed that all prisoners whose imprisonment is related to past political conflicts, and whose release can make a contribution to reconciliation, should be released by 15 November. The release of political prisoners is, I understand, proceeding according to schedule. This is a hopeful sign.

The United Nations is doing all it can to assist the peace process. For example, following resolution 772, I sent a group of observers to South Africa. Twenty-eight United Nations observers are now in South Africa, deployed, in particular, in those areas where political violence is most severe. They will be working alongside observers from other intergovernmental bodies.

I am happy that the United Nations has not only condemned apartheid, but is taking concrete, constructive steps to assist the process of peaceful transition in South Africa.

Our efforts can of course only be complementary to those of the various political groups in South Africa. Their participation, goodwill and political courage are essential for success. Responsibility for achieving a just and long-lasting agreement through negotiation must rest with the South Africans themselves.

Sadly, outbreaks of violence continue in South Africa. Apartheid and violence are blood brothers. Eliminating apartheid and eliminating violence are part of the same process. Apartheid creates a special desperation. Replacing its legacy of violence with a new spirit of trust and cooperation must be our main challenge now.

I know I speak for all the membership of the United Nations: I urge those in positions of leadership in South Africa to redouble their efforts to end the agony which apartheid has produced; and to join in creating a new future for South Africa.

Document 166

Third report of the Secretary-General on progress made on the Implementation of the Declaration of Apartheid and its Destructive Consequences in Southern Africa.

A/47/574, 6 November 1992

5. Despite progress made in the negotiations initiated at CODESA I in December 1991, CODESA II ended in a stalemate as no agreement could be reached on transitional arrangements including the establishment of an interim government. Following the break in the multilateral negotiations, the escalation in political violence further aggravated the situation. The massacre in Boipatong township on 17 June 1992, as well as subsequent incidents of violence, including the tragedy at Bisho, Ciskei, on 7 September 1992, focused attention on the imperative need to put an end to the violence, and to facilitate a peaceful transition to a democratic, non-racial and united South Africa.

6. After the visit to South Africa of my Special Representative, Mr. Cyrus Vance, at the end of July 1992, pursuant to Security Council resolution 765 (1992), I made specific recommendations,1/ in the context of the resolution, to assist in bringing an effective end to the violence and to create conditions for the resumption of the multilateral negotiations. Subsequently, in its resolution 772 (1992), the Security Council, inter alia, called upon the Government of South Africa and all parties in South Africa to implement urgently the relevant recommendations contained in my report, and authorized me to deploy United Nations observers in South Africa. My Special Envoy, Mr. Virendra Dayal, visited South Africa from 16 to 26 September 1992 to hold follow-up discussions with the parties concerned on the above resolution as well as on recent political developments in the country.

7. At the request of the parties, 10 United Nations observers were deployed in South Africa in the first week of August 1992 to observe mass action organized by ANC. It is generally agreed that the presence of the 10 United Nations observers had an overall salutary effect on the political situation during that period. By the end of October 1992, 44 United Nations observers had been deployed in South Africa in accordance with relevant decisions of the Security Council. They have been well received by the structures established under the National Peace Accord with which they are working in coordination to address effectively the areas of concern noted in my report to the Security Council.1/ The Government of South Africa, as well as the parties concerned, has welcomed the presence and contribution of the observers to the peace process. The United Nations Observer Mission is proceeding expeditiously to fulfil the mandate entrusted to it, in close cooperation with observers from the Commonwealth and the European Community, as well as the Organization of African Unity (OAU).

8. The meeting between President de Klerk and Mr. Nelson Mandela, President of ANC, on 26 September 1992, constitutes an important step forward towards breaking the CODESA II deadlock. Agreement was reached at the meeting on the key issues relating to the securing of hostels, the release of all remaining political prisoners and the prohibition of the carrying and display of dangerous weapons. Agreement was also reached on the need for a democratic constituent assembly constitution-making body and constitutional continuity during the interim transitional period. These agreements are a most welcome development and should provide a basis for moving the negotiation process forward. However, I remain particularly concerned by the rejection of these agreements by Chief Mangosuthu Buthelezi, President of the Inkatha Freedom Party (IFP). Taking these factors into account, I have emphasized to all concerned the need for a renewed and determined effort to put an end to the violence and to remove any remaining obstacles that might impede the resumption of negotiations.

9. The agreement reached between President de Klerk and Mr. Mandela should accelerate the momentum for constructive change and lead to progress on the constitutional front. However, great perils persist, not least in the volatility of the political atmosphere and the tendency to resort to intimidation and violence. It is imperative that political parties honour the commitments they have made as signatories to the National Peace Accord, as well as to the interim agreement reached between the parties on the conduct of public demonstrations based on proposals made by the Goldstone Commission. Here, I should also like to stress once again the responsibility of the South African authorities for the maintenance of law and order, and the need for them to take all measures to end the violence and to protect the rights of all South Africans to engage in peaceful political activity without fear of intimidation or violence. All parties in South Africa should cooperate in combating violence and exercise maximum restraint in order to help break the cycle of violence.

10. The United Nations has been active, through the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, through its Trust Funds for Southern Africa and the network of specialized agencies, in facilitating, respectively, the return of South African exiles, the reintegration of former political prisoners into South African society, and in providing educational and training assistance to disadvantaged South Africans. In addition, the United Nations stands ready to provide a concerted system-wide response to address the economic and social disparities resulting from the long practice of institutionalized racism.

11. The role of the international community in the establishment of a democratic, non-racial South Africa, can, of course, only be complementary to those of the various political groups in the country. Their participation, goodwill and political courage are essential for success. Responsibility for achieving a just and long-lasting agreement through negotiation must rest with the South Africans themselves. For its part, the United Nations will continue to seek creative ways to assist the people of South Africa as a whole to attain the goals that they have set for themselves and to which the General Assembly committed itself in its 1989 Declaration on Apartheid and its Destructive Consequences in Southern Africa.

Document 167

Report of the Special Committee against Apartheid.

A/47/22-S/24663, 6 November 1992

...

175. With the creation of a negotiating framework in December 1991, the political process in South Africa reached a new stage. Despite wide political differences, these first broad-based negotiations, moving ahead for several months, brought hopes for an early political settlement in South Africa. But developments since May 1992 have demonstrated that the political process in that country is fragile and vulnerable, and that a sustained process to reach a peaceful, negotiated solution needs not only political will and tolerance among the leadership involved in the negotiations, but also a climate of domestic peace in the society as a whole.

176. Violence which has continued to bring fear and horror to the South African society and has constantly aggravated a lack of trust between the main political actors, culminated on the night of 17 June. The Boipatong massacre shocked the international community and highlighted the necessity of its urgent involvement in assisting to contain and bring the violence to an end. The decision of the Security Council, OAU, the Commonwealth and the European Community to send observers to monitor the political violence has been welcomed by all major political parties and organizations in South Africa and outside. There is a strong expectation that neutral observers would also help to defuse the political tension and promote an environment in which serious and constructive negotiations could bring about a long-lasting solution in South Africa.

177. Socio-economic inequalities, deeply rooted in decades of apartheid, continue to plague the majority of the South African population and could threaten to undermine a peaceful and stable development through a transition period and beyond. A United Nations seminar organized by the Special Committee and the Centre Against Apartheid at Windhoek in May 1992 (see paras./160-163) demonstrated the will of the international community to help address the socio-economic problems facing South Africa. Now, as the socio-economic dimensions of South Africa's transition are moving into focus, the Special Committee and the Centre are ready to concentrate their attention on the requirements of the disadvantaged sectors of the South African society and to promote appropriate and coordinated responses from the international community. The Special Committee fully supports the establishment in South Africa of an economic negotiating forum which would seek an accord between government, business and labour. It is hoped that the forum will address, inter alia, the problem of resetting economic priorities towards the correction of socio-economic imbalances engendered by decades of apartheid and an economic growth process capable of sustaining a considerable widening of services, human resources development and economic participation.

178. The referendum of the White electorate on 17 March 1992, which clearly demonstrated that the overwhelming majority of White South Africans support the process of change, had an important impact on the political situation in South Africa. However, the Special Committee expressed its concern about the referendum's lack of universality, since it had involved only about 15/per/cent of the total population of South Africa. The Special Committee hoped that this referendum would be the last in the history of the country to be conducted by only a segment of the South African population.

179. Unfulfilled expectations of the Black majority, violence, deprivation and decay in the townships and huge unemployment may threaten to bring the country to the edge of a civil war. Under these circumstances, any delay in bringing about a political settlement could be disastrous. The economic price of delaying a settlement is also growing rapidly. These are powerful factors which should move all parties in South Africa to reach an agreement as soon as possible. Time is on no one's side. South Africa urgently needs an interim government of national unity to prepare elections for a constitution-making body and to administer the country until a new government has been elected on the basis of an agreed democratic and non-racial constitution. This cannot come about unless negotiations are resumed in some form or other. The Special Committee has confidence that common sense will prevail and that the parties will be able to reach the consensus necessary for a new South Africa to emerge.

180. Apartheid will have been eradicated only when a new constitution has been adopted, and a new government has been installed as a result of a free and fair election based on this constitution. The Special Committee cannot, therefore, support the view that apartheid is a closed page in the history of South Africa. Old legislative and executive structures of an apartheid nature are still in place and the majority of the population has not yet been able to exercise the right to vote. While many apartheid laws have been dismantled in the past two years, the legacy of apartheid continues to pose a threat to the process of democratization. Apartheid has not only bitterly divided a nation but has also resulted in glaring disparities in the socio-economic situation. Even after the adoption of a new constitution, the dismantling of a system which has been so deeply embedded in the structure and everyday life of the country will not be without difficulties and pain. The legacy left behind by apartheid will be complex and will take long years to overcome.

181. The Special Committee, therefore, recommends that the General Assembly should:

(a) Reaffirm its determination to support the South African people in their legitimate struggle for the total elimination of apartheid through peaceful means and in their efforts to build together a non-racial and democratic society;

(b) Reaffirm the principles and goals envisaged in the consensus Declaration on Apartheid and its Destructive Consequences in Southern Africa, contained in the annex to its resolution S-16/1 of 14/December/1989, which inter/alia called for negotiations in a climate free of violence;

(c) Reiterate its conviction that broad-based negotiations resulting in a new non-racial and democratic constitution and its early entry into force will lead to the total elimination of apartheid through peaceful means;

(d) Reiterate its strong support for the peaceful negotiations process in South Africa;

(e) Note that while positive measures have been taken by the South African authorities towards the creation of a better climate for negotiations, including the repeal of key apartheid laws, the revision of major security legislation and the release of remaining political prisoners, serious obstacles to achieving a climate conducive to free political activity still remain;

(f) Welcome the decisions taken by the Security Council on 16/July and 17/August/1992, its statement on the spiralling cycle of violence on 10/September/1992, the Secretary-General's report on the mission to South Africa of his Special Representative, the recommendations contained in his report of 7/August/1992, and the measures taken by the Secretary-General to assist the process in South Africa in strengthening the structures set up under the National Peace Accord, including the deployment there of United Nations observers;

(g) Urge the South African authorities to fully and impartially exercise the primary responsiblity of government to bring to an end the ongoing violence, to protect the lives, security and property of all South Africans in all of South Africa, and to bring to justice those responsible for acts of violence;

(h) Urge the South African authorities to assume fully the responsibility to respect and protect the right of South Africans to demonstrate peacefully in public in order to convey their views effectively;

(i) Call upon the signatories to the National Peace Accord to recommit themselves to the process of peaceful change by fully and effectively implementing its provisions, by cooperating with each other to that end, and upon all parties in South Africa to refrain from acts of violence;

(j) Note with satisfaction the release of prisoners held for their political beliefs or activities, and the agreements reflected in the Record of Understanding of 26/September/1992, which paved the way for the negotiations;

(k) Urge the representatives of the people of South Africa to resume, without further delay, broad-based negotiations on transitional arrangements and basic principles for a process of reaching agreement on a new constitution and for its speedy entering into force;

(l) Call upon the international community to support the process in South Africa through a phased application of appropriate measures with regard to the South African authorities, as warranted by ongoing developments, and, within the context of the need to respond appropriately to them, to review existing restrictive measures as warranted by positive developments, such as agreement by the parties on transitional arrangements, including the election of a constitution-meeting structure, and agreement on a new, non-racial and democratic constitution;

(m) Urge the international community to respect the existing measures imposed by the Security Council for the purpose of bringing an early end to apartheid in South Africa, and request the Security Council to continue to monitor its effective implementation;

(n) Appeal to the international community to incrase humanitarian and legal assistance to the victims of apartheid, in particular, to the returning refugees and exiles, and to released political prisoners;

(o) Appeal also to the international community to help create stable conditions for the rapid and peaceful attainment of a new South Africa based on a negotiated, democratic and non-racial constitution by providing appropriate material, financial and other assistance to South Africans in their efforts to address the serious socio-economic problems, particularly in the areas of human resources development and employment, health and housing;

(p) Request the Secretary-General to continue to ensure the coordination of activities of the United Nations and its agencies with regard to, and, as appropriate, inside South Africa, and to report to the General Assembly at its forty-eighth session on measures taken to facilitate the peaceful elimination of apartheid and the transition of South Africa to a non-racial and democratic society as envisaged in the Declaration on Apartheid;

(q) Authorize the Special Committee against Apartheid, in accordance with its mandate, to mobilize international support for the elimination of apartheid through the early establishment in South Africa of a society based on a peacefully negotiated democratic and non-racial constitution, and to this end (i)/to continue to monitor the complex developments in South Africa, and to collect, analyse and disseminate factual information in this regard; (ii)/to facilitate a peaceful and stable transition in South Africa by promoting international assistance in helping South Africans to overcome the negative social and economic consequences of the policies of apartheid, inter/alia, by organizing seminars on well-defined and specific topics with the participation of experts in the relevant fields and in cooperation with relevant offices and agencies in the United Nations system and other intergovernmental organizations, institutions and non-governmental organizations; (iii)/to conduct liaison and consult with Governments, intergovernmental and non-governmental organizations, foundations and institutions, as well as other relevant groups, both inside and outside South Africa; and (iv)/to undertake other relevant activities aimed at supporting the political process of peaceful change in South Africa;

(r) Appeal to Governments, intergovernmental and non-governmental organizations to continue their cooperation with the Special Committee against Apartheid, and also request all relevant components of the United Nations system to continue to cooperate with the Special Committee and the United Nations Centre Against Apartheid in their activities in support of the ongoing process of peaceful elimination of apartheid in South Africa.

Document 168

Letter dated 20 November 1992 from the Secretary-General to Mr. Nelson Mandela, President of the African National Congress.

Not issued as a United Nations document.

I wish to thank you for your very informative reply of 13 October 1992 to my letter of 29 September 1992 in regard to my appeal to Chief Buthelezi to make a renewed effort to meet with you urgently.

As you have so clearly stated, the violence that continues unabated in the country has exacted a heavy and unacceptable toll. It has also threatened to scuttle the peace process to which you have made a significant contribution and has cast a dark cloud on the hopes and aspirations of the people of South Africa for a democratic, non-racial and united country.

I strongly believe that the momentum for reconciliation and peace that has driven politics and society in South Africa during the recent past must not be allowed to lapse. I therefore consider it extremely important to reiterate that in order to move the peace process forward without further delay, it would be necessary for you and Chief Buthelezi to meet urgently. As you yourself have noted, various matters of the utmost importance to the people of South Africa, including in particular agreement on transitional arrangements leading to the establishment of an interim government, await to be concluded in order to pave the way for a lasting, democratic solution to the problems of the country.

(Signed) Boutros BOUTROS-GHALI

Document 169

Letter dated 20 November 1992 from the Secretary-General to Chief Mangosuthu Buthelezi, President of the Inkatha Freedom Party of South Africa.

Not issued as a United Nations document.

Dear Chief Buthelezi,

I should like to refer to my letter of 29 September 1992 in which I appealed to you to make a renewed effort jointly with Mr. Nelson Mandela in order to consider ways and means of putting an end to the violence and to facilitate the resumption of multilateral negotiations.

The violence that continues unabated in the country has exacted a heavy and unacceptable toll and has threatened to scuttle the peace process to which you have made a significant contribution. It has also cast a dark cloud on the hopes and aspirations of the people of South Africa for a democratic, non-racial and united country.

I strongly believe that the momentum for reconciliation and peace that has driven politics and society in South Africa during the recent past must not be allowed to lapse. I therefore consider it extremely important to reiterate that in order to move the peace process forward without further delay, it would be necessary for you and Mr. Mandela, as two of the most important leaders in the country, to meet urgently to address the issues in question.

As you are well aware, various matters of the utmost importance to the people of South Africa, including in particular agreement on transitional arrangements leading to the establishment of an interim government, await to be concluded in order to pave the way for a lasting, democratic solution to the problems of the country.

I should like to avail myself of this opportunity to thank you for meeting with Ms. Angela King, Chief of the United Nations Observer Mission in South Africa (UNOMSA), on more than one occasion, to exchange views on the role of UNOMSA on how best it could facilitate an end to the violence in the country. As you know, UNOMSA established a regional office in Durban soon after the advance team arrived in the country two months ago. About a third of the observers are deployed in Natal/KwaZulu and have been working in close cooperation with the dispute resolution committees in the region.

Your urgent attention to this matter would be highly appreciated.

Yours sincerely,

(signed)

Boutros Boutros-Ghali

Document 170

General Assembly resolution: Policies of apartheid of the Government of South Africa - International efforts towards the total eradication of apartheid and support for the establishment of a united, non-racial and democratic South Africa.

A/RES/47/116 A, 18 December 1992

The General Assembly,

...

Welcoming the initiative of the Organization of African Unity to place before the Security Council the question of violence in South Africa, and welcoming Security Council resolutions 765 (1992) of 16 July 1992 and 772 (1992) of 17 August 1992 and especially the decision to deploy United Nations observers to further the purposes of the National Peace Accord signed on 14 September 1991,

Welcoming also the deployment of observers from the Organization of African Unity, the Commonwealth and the European Community in South Africa in response to Security Council resolution 772 (1992),

Taking note of the report of the Secretary-General of 7 August 1992 on the mission of his Special Representative to South Africa,

Also taking note of the report of the Special Committee against Apartheid, and the third progress report of the Secretary-General on the implementation of the Declaration, as well as the report of the Secretary-General on the coordinated approach by the United Nations system on questions relating to South Africa,

Welcoming the safeguards agreement of 16 September 1991 between the International Atomic Energy Agency and the Government of South Africa and the report of the Director General of the International Atomic Energy Agency of 4 September 1992, on the completeness of the inventory of South Africa's nuclear installations and materials, under the terms of the safeguards agreement,

Reiterating its conviction that broad-based negotiations, initially undertaken by the Convention for a Democratic South Africa, resulting in a new non-racial and democratic constitution and its early entry into force will lead to the total elimination of apartheid through peaceful means,

Noting that while positive measures have been taken by the South African authorities, including the repeal of key apartheid laws and the revision of major security legislation, important obstacles to achieving a climate conducive to free political activity remain,

Recognizing the responsibility of the United Nations and the international community, as envisaged in the Declaration, to help the South African people in their legitimate struggle for the total elimination of apartheid through peaceful means,

Gravely concerned that continued and escalating violence

threatens to undermine the process of peaceful change, through negotiations, to a united, non-racial and democratic South Africa,

Deeply concerned at revelations of illegal covert activities carried out by military intelligence with a view to undermining a major party to the political process of peaceful change in South Africa,

Noting with concern that, despite the signing of the National Peace Accord, the tragic bloodshed in South Africa has not ended,

Bearing in mind the need to strengthen and reinforce the

mechanisms set up in South Africa under the National Peace Accord and emphasizing the need for all parties to cooperate in combating violence and to exercise restraint,

Encouraging the efforts of all parties, including ongoing talks among them, aimed at facilitating the resumption of substantive broad-based negotiations towards a new constitution and arrangements on the transition to a democratic order,

Taking note with satisfaction of recent agreements between parties aimed at removing many obstacles to resuming broad-based negotiations and also noting with satisfaction the release of prisoners held for their political beliefs or activities,

Noting with concern the remaining effects of the acts of

destabilization that were committed by South Africa against the neighbouring African States,

1. Strongly urges the South African authorities to exercise fully and impartially the primary responsibility of government to bring to an end the ongoing violence, to protect the lives, security and property of all South Africans in all of South Africa, and to bring to justice those responsible for acts of violence;

2. Calls upon all parties to refrain from acts of violence and to cooperate in combating violence;

3. Strongly urges the South African authorities to assume the full responsibility to respect and protect the right of South Africans to demonstrate peacefully in public in order to convey their views effectively;

4. Urgently calls upon all signatories to the National Peace Accord to recommit themselves to the process of peaceful change by fully and effectively implementing its provisions and by cooperating with each other to that end;

5. Calls upon all other parties to contribute to the achievement of the aims of the National Peace Accord;

6. Takes note with approval of the recommendations contained in the report of the Secretary-General and calls upon the Government of South Africa and all parties in South Africa to implement urgently those recommendations;

7. Commends the Secretary-General for those measures taken to address areas of concern noted in his report and particularly to assist in strengthening the structures set up under the National Peace Accord, including the deployment of United Nations observers in South Africa, and urges the Secretary-General to continue to address all the areas of concern noted in his report which fall within the purview of the United Nations;

8. Welcomes the deployment in South Africa of the observers of the Organization of African Unity, the Commonwealth and the European Community;

9. Strongly urges the Government of South Africa, as well as the other parties and movements, to lend their full cooperation to the Commission of Inquiry regarding the Prevention of Public Violence and Intimidation (Goldstone Commission) and to permit the Commission urgently and fully to carry out investigations into the functioning and operations of security forces and armed formations, as recommended by the Secretary-General in his report;

10. Requests the Secretary-General to respond positively and appropriately, as envisaged in his report, to requests for assistance from the Goldstone Commission in the context of the National Peace Accord;

11. Urges the representatives of the people of South Africa to resume, without further delay, broad-based negotiations on transitional arrangements and basic principles for a process of reaching agreement on a new democratic and non-racial constitution and for its speedy entry into force;

12. Calls upon the international community to support the vulnerable and critical process still under way in South Africa through a phased application of appropriate measures with regard to the South African authorities, as warranted by ongoing developments, and, within the context of the need to respond appropriately to them, to review existing restrictive measures as warranted by positive developments, such as agreement by the parties on transitional arrangements and agreement on a new, non-racial and democratic constitution;

13. Calls upon all Governments to observe fully the mandatory arms embargo, requests the Security Council to continue to monitor effectively its strict implementation and urges States to adhere to the provisions of other Council resolutions on the import of arms from South Africa and the export of equipment and technology destined for military or police purposes in that country;

14. Appeals to the international community to increase humanitarian and legal assistance to the victims of apartheid, returning refugees and exiles and released political prisoners;

15. Calls upon the international community to assist disadvantaged South African democratic anti-apartheid organizations and individuals in the academic, scientific and cultural fields;

16. Also calls upon the international community to assist the non-racial sports bodies which have been endorsed by representative anti-apartheid sports organizations in South Africa in redressing the continuing structural inequalities in sports;

17. Appeals to the international community to help create stable conditions for the rapid and peaceful attainment of a new South Africa, based on an agreed, democratic and non-racial constitution, by providing and increasing its material, financial and other assistance to South Africans in their efforts to address the serious socio-economic problems of the disadvantaged people of South Africa, particularly in the areas of education, employment, health and housing;

18. Also appeals to the international community to render all possible assistance to States neighbouring South Africa to enable them to recover from the effects of destabilization and thereby to contribute to the stability and prosperity of the subregion;

19. Requests the Secretary-General, in consultation with the parties concerned, to undertake preliminary examination of the assistance which the United Nations might provide in the electoral process leading to a united, non-racial and democratic South Africa;

20. Also requests the Secretary-General to continue to ensure the coordination of activities of the United Nations and its agencies with regard to South Africa and, as appropriate, inside that country, and to report to the General Assembly at its forty-eighth session on measures taken to facilitate the peaceful elimination of apartheid and the transition of South Africa to a non-racial and democratic society as envisaged in the Declaration on Apartheid and its Destructive Consequences in Southern Africa.

Document 171

Report of the Secretary-General on the question of South Africa.

S/25004, 22 December 1992

1. The Security Council considered the question of South Africa at its 3107th meeting on 17 August 1992, having before it the report of the Secretary-General (S/24389). At the same meeting, the Security Council adopted resolution 772 (1992).

2. The resolution, inter alia, authorized the Secretary-General to deploy United Nations observers in South Africa, called upon the Government of South Africa, parties and organizations to extend their full cooperation to the observers and invited international organizations to also consider deploying observers in South Africa. In resolution 772 (1992), the Council also decided to remain seized of the matter until a democratic, non-racial and united South Africa is established.

3. The present report is submitted pursuant to paragraph 6 of Security Council resolution 772 (1992).

4. Following the adoption of the resolution, the President of the Security Council made the following statement (S/24456) on behalf of the Council:

"It is the understanding of the members of the Council that the Secretary-General will consult the Council on the number of observers he has the intention to deploy from time to time".

5. On 10 September 1992, I informed members of the Security Council of my decision to dispatch an advance party of 13 United Nations observers to South Africa on 11 September 1992 as part of the complement of 50 observers to be deployed in the country within a month.

6. On the same day, following consultations held by the Security Council, the President of the Council read a statement to the press (S/24541), in which he stated, inter alia, that the members of the Security Council deplored the killing of 28 demonstrators and the wounding of nearly 200 others by security elements at Bisho, Ciskei, in South Africa on 7 September 1992. The members reiterated their grave concern at the continued escalation of the violence in South Africa. They emphasized once again the responsibility of the South African authorities for the maintenance of law and order and called on them to take all measures to end the violence and to protect the right of all South Africans to engage in peaceful political activity without fear of intimidation or violence. The members of the Council urged all parties in South Africa to cooperate in combating violence and to exercise maximum restraint in order to help break the spiralling cycle of violence.

7. The President of the Security Council also stated that the members of the Council emphasized the need to put an end to the violence and create conditions for negotiations leading to the establishment of a democratic, non-racial and united South Africa. They welcomed the Secretary-General's decision to deploy an advance party of 13 United Nations observers in South Africa.

8. The President further stated that the members of the Security Council called upon the Government of South Africa, parties and organizations, and the structures set up under the National Peace Accord, to extend their full cooperation to the United Nations observers to enable them to carry out their tasks effectively. They reiterated their call to other relevant regional and intergovernmental organizations to consider deploying their own observers in South Africa in coordination with the United Nations and the structures set up under the National Peace Accord in order to facilitate the peace process.

9. In a communication addressed to me, dated 4 September 1992 (S/24526), the Permanent Representative of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland to the United Nations informed me that the European Community Troika of Foreign Ministers, composed of the Foreign and Commonwealth Secretary of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and the Foreign Ministers of Portugal and Denmark, visited South Africa on 2 and 3 September 1992. Mr. Hurd had announced at a press conference in Pretoria on 3 September that the parties had accepted the European Community's offer to send observers to South Africa to be associated with the structures of the National Peace Accord, as part of efforts to end the violence. He indicated that initially, approximately 15 European Community observers were expected to be sent and that they would work in close coordination with the United Nations and with other international organizations.

10. In a communication addressed to me, dated 9 September 1992 (S/24544), the Permanent Representative of South Africa to the United Nations transmitted a memorandum submitted by the South African Government on the events which took place at Bisho, Ciskei, on 7 September 1992.

11. Taking into account ongoing developments in South Africa, and following consultations with the Government of South Africa and the parties after the adoption of resolution 772 (1992), I designated two Special Envoys who carried out separate missions to South Africa. Mr. Virendra Dayal, former United Nations Under-Secretary-General, visited South Africa from 16 to 27 September 1992. Ambassador Tom Vraalsen, Assistant Secretary-General of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Norway and former Permanent Representative of Norway to the United Nations, carried out a mission to South Africa from 22 November to 9 December 1992.

12. During the course of their respective visits, the Special Envoys held discussions with State President F. W. de Klerk and senior officials of the Government. They also had meetings with Mr. Nelson Mandela, President of the African National Congress (ANC) and Chief Mangosuthu Buthelezi, President of the Inkatha Freedom Party (IFP), as well as with leaders of other relevant parties in regard to the latest developments. Similar meetings were held with the senior officials of the National Peace Committee and National Peace Secretariat, and the Commission of Enquiry regarding the Prevention of Public Violence and Intimidation (Goldstone Commission). In addition, discussions were held with representatives of non-governmental organizations, as well as with the business, religious, human rights and development communities, along with civic associations. Discussions were also held with the leaders of the international observer teams that have been deployed in South Africa by the Commonwealth, the European Community and the Organization of African Unity.

13. Following these wide-ranging consultations, each of the Special Envoys reported his findings to me. Their findings are reflected below.

14. In contrast with the relatively minimal contact between the parties immediately following the stalemate in CODESA II, the current period is marked by a series of high-level contacts between nearly all parties in South Africa, including some of the parties not involved in the earlier CODESA process.

15. All parties appear to agree, in principle, that multi-party negotiations offer the only way forward to resolving South Africa's political problems. However, agreement has yet to be reached on the form a multi-party forum should take and its desired outcome. These issues, along with questions regarding participation, the agenda and timing of such a meeting, are among the topics being addressed in bilateral meetings.

16. In bilateral talks in the first week of December 1992, the Government and ANC appear to have made considerable progress in narrowing differences. The talks took place against the background of the Government's proposed timetable for the transition, and the November 1992 meeting of the ANC's National Executive Committee which considered the establishment of interim governmental structures.

17. Although there are fundamental differences yet to be bridged between these two parties, there appears to be a convergence of positions and a willingness on both sides to negotiate with one another and with others. A continuation of bilateral talks between the Government and ANC is expected shortly. Both parties have strongly emphasized that their positions are to be considered as proposals, and that they are determined not to exclude other parties from the process. They have, nonetheless, also expressed the strong feeling that no party should be permitted to block progress towards a negotiated transition.

18. Attempts are being made to arrange a meeting between the State President, Mr. F. W. de Klerk, and Chief Mangosuthu Buthelezi in order to address the question of the resumption of multi-party talks. A meeting between President de Klerk, Chief Buthelezi and the leaders of Bophuthatswana and Ciskei was held on 10 December 1992 to discuss the resumption of multi-party talks.

19. Following the agreement reached between ANC and IFP at the 24 November 1992 meeting of the National Peace Committee, preparations have begun for a meeting between Chief Buthelezi and Mr. Nelson Mandela. Both organizations have appointed subcommittees of their senior leadership to prepare for the meeting. It is hoped that the preparations would expedite arrangements for an early meeting of the two leaders.

20. The Government and the Pan Africanist Congress of Azania (PAC) held bilateral discussions in Gaborone in early November 1992, and agreed to meet again in South Africa on 9 December 1992 to discuss the convening of a multi-party forum. Subsequently, the Government has reacted strongly to the position taken by the PAC political leadership with regard to reports that its armed wing, the Azanian Peoples' Liberation Army (APLA), claimed responsibility for recent armed attacks at King William's Town and Queens Town and that APLA planned a campaign of attacks on "soft targets". Following this, arrangements for further meetings with PAC were cancelled.

21. Further political developments include the emergence in October of a loose coalition composed of the Conservative Party and other groups on the right, and the leaders of Bophuthatswana, Ciskei and KwaZulu. This "Concerned South Africans Group" (COSAG) is aimed at galvanizing opposition to what its members perceive as an alliance between ANC and the Government. Other organizations and entities across the entire political spectrum are also pursuing contacts with one another.

22. Bilateral talks between the parties have focused on serious constitutional discussions about regional structures and the devolution of powers, power-sharing provisions, and the constitutional provisions related thereto. The regional structure of a new South Africa, and the relationship of the regions to the central government, remains a major preoccupation with all the parties. Agreement on effective multi-party machinery based on the principle of inclusiveness remains an essential first step for a resumption of multi-party negotiations.

23. At CODESA II there was wide agreement in principle on the reincorporation of the homelands into South Africa, their participation in the transitional arrangements, provisions for testing the will of their people regarding their reincorporation, and the "restoration" of South African citizenship to those who chose reincorporation.

24. The leader of Ciskei has subsequently indicated his outright opposition to reincorporation, and Bophuthatswana continues to reject suggestions of reincorporation. On 1 December, Chief Buthelezi presented a new draft constitution for a "federal state of Natal/KwaZulu" which was ratified that same day by the KwaZulu Legislative Assembly.

25. Since the stalemate at CODESA II, the National Peace Committee has been the focal point for efforts to bring the major parties together to facilitate the peace process. A meeting of signatories of the Peace Accord, called for by the National Peace Committee on 24 November 1992, will provide an opportunity for the parties to review developments and to consider ways of strengthening the peace structures.

26. The National Peace Accord and the structures established under it are among South Africa's most valuable tools for assisting in reducing violence and bringing about a peaceful transition to democracy. A series of contacts between the parties have been made at all levels through the National Peace Committee and the network of Regional and Local Dispute Resolution Committees. These bodies offer open channels of communication essential to building a culture of political tolerance in the country. In this regard, virtually all parties have expressed the view that the presence in South Africa of United Nations Observers has significantly enhanced and reinforced the structures under the National Peace Accord.

27. A matter of particular concern is that some of the homelands are not signatories to the Accord, and some of those which are parties to it have withdrawn from the peace structures. The homelands continue to be major flashpoints of violence, largely due to conflicts arising over the lack of free political expression. They retain on their statute books repressive legislation such as the Internal Security Act, whose provisions have the practical effect of prohibiting public gatherings and other forms of political activity. There is also evidence that the security forces of the homelands are involved in violence. The result of these repressive practices and violence are increased tension and rising numbers of dead, injured and displaced, both inside the homelands themselves and in border areas. The responsibility of the Government of South Africa to redress this situation cannot be overemphasized.

28. Some 13,000 returnees are receiving protection and assistance from the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) in South Africa and another 5,000 refugees have applied to return. UNHCR's mandate in the country has been extended for another year in order to address problems of reintegration and to facilitate the return of exiles. UNHCR has reached agreement with the South African Government for the involvement of the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) in reintegration, focusing on the needs of women and children. A recent United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) mission to South Africa recommended that since rehabilitation programmes are not normally within the mandate of UNHCR, consideration should be given to establishing a modest UNDP presence in South Africa, within UNHCR, to assist with the rehabilitation aspects of resettling returnees.

Areas of concern identified in the previous report of

the Secretary-General (S/24389) and Security Council

resolution 772 (1992)

Violence

29. Fear of violence and violence itself continue to be features of daily life in South Africa, particularly in the Witwatersrand/Vaal and Natal/KwaZulu regions. These regions account for most of the politically motivated violence in the country, which has been attributed to conflict between supporters of ANC and IFP. This conflict often manifests itself at the local or regional level where parties engage in violence and intimidation to establish and secure claims to a specific geographical area as their political base.

30. Hostility between ANC and IFP supporters in many areas is openly acknowledged, but there is a growing sentiment that it fails to explain a significant proportion of the violence. There is strong evidence of conspiracy in some quarters and the use of agents provocateurs to incite and direct violence calculated to discredit and disrupt the peace process. Here it should be emphasized that grave concern continues to be expressed regarding the existence of covert operations, apparently sanctioned at high levels of Military Intelligence, as recently as December 1992.

31. Socio-economic factors and crime often trigger political violence. "Commercial" violence often becomes politicized, destabilizing entire communities. High unemployment, inadequate housing and the lack of basic services such as water and sanitation pit groups against one another. To this volatile mix must be added the existence in the townships of certain "self- defence units" of dubious legitimacy, and right-wing "commandos" in some mostly rural areas of the country. Another critical element is the apparently growing cross-border traffic in weaponry, particularly from Mozambique. Indications are that the senior political leadership lacks political control over groups that engage in violence.

32. Despite continued violence, there is wide agreement that without the deployment of international observers in the country the level of violence would be higher. The presence of the observers is viewed as having a salutary effect on the situation.

Measures to reduce violence

33. While the primary responsibility of the South African Government for maintaining law and order is not questioned, there is a growing recognition that political leaders across the spectrum also have a responsibility to actively discourage violence on the part of their supporters.

Investigations and prosecutions of criminal activity

34. In South Africa's current political context, there is troubling evidence of serious deficiencies in the law enforcement establishment's ability to promptly investigate violent crimes and prosecute offenders. At worst, these deficiencies translate into public perceptions of security force conspiracy or complicity in such crimes, which has frequently contributed to further violence, often directed at individual policemen. At best, such deficiencies are viewed as proof that the number of competent police personnel is inadequate.

Efforts at police reform

35. There is a pervasive public sense of disbelief at the failure of the South African police (SAP) to maintain law and order and a widely held perception that the Government has failed to make full use of its law enforcement powers to stop violence. However, there appears to be an ongoing effort on its part to improve the image and methods of work of SAP. Organizational change in SAP is to be welcomed and encouraged. International exchange of expertise and training is being sought. Particular emphasis is being placed on community policing with the stated intention of moving away from the concept of a police "force" to that of a police "service". Reform of this kind demands political guidance and support from the highest levels of government, as well as consistency, perseverance and mobilization of resources. This level of commitment is indispensable.

Investigations into the security forces and other armed formations

36. Evidence of conspiracy by at least some elements in the security establishment, recent armed attacks, the continued recruitment and training of individuals for service in non-governmental armed formations, the presence of arms caches and the cross-border flow of weapons all contribute to the level of violence and risk jeopardizing the transition to democracy. In his statement to the press on 16 November 1992, Justice Goldstone referred to the Secretary-General's recommendation that the Goldstone Commission undertake a series of investigations into the security forces and other armed formations. Justice Goldstone called on "all political parties and groups in South Africa, and particularly the Government, to authorize and empower the Commission, or any other independent body, to carry out urgently and fully the recommendations of the Secretary-General". He also called on the international community to assist in this regard.

37. Justice Goldstone assured the Special Envoys that the Commission has all the legal powers needed to carry out its mandate. He stressed that he was entirely satisfied with the response that he had received from the State President regarding the resources which would be put at the Commission's disposal to conduct the necessary investigations. He also expressed satisfaction with the Government officials designated to work with him, and the principles agreed with the Government concerning access to information. The Government's commitments to Justice Goldstone were subsequently confirmed at the highest level.

38. The highest levels of the ANC have also pledged to cooperate with the Goldstone Commission and facilitate its work. Such cooperation is not forthcoming from PAC with regard to APLA, or the Chief Minister of KwaZulu, who has refused to cooperate in investigations of the KwaZulu police. Justice Goldstone indicated that in his investigation, he would welcome assistance from the international community and the United Nations in particular, in order to secure the cooperation of Governments which served as hosts to training camps and bases for armed formations operating in South Africa.

Status of Battalions 31, 32 and Koevoet

39. The status of Battalions 31 and 32 continue to be a source of concern. The South African Minister of Defence and Public Works confirmed to my Special Envoy, Ambassador Vraalsen, the Government's intention to disband Battalion 32 and transfer its members to existing units around the country by 30 November 1993. With regard to Battalion 31, the Minister stated that "it is regarded as essential" that "the whole San community ... with its unique characteristics should be accommodated in one place .... The military members within the community will be deployed in existing military units in the vicinity of Schmidtsdrift." He added that "It is, however possible that some members presently at Schmidtsdrift may in due course prefer to return to their countries of origin. Should this be the case liaison will be established with the international community."

40. To date Battalions 31, 32 and Koevoet have not been disbanded as indicated by the Government of South Africa. There is a strong feeling in South Africa that merely dispersing their personnel among other military units is unsatisfactory. In this connection, it is believed that their continued existence, in whatever formation or form, does not have a place in a new South African dispensation.

Question of hostels

41. Violence between hostel dwellers and the surrounding communities is the result of a complex mix of factors including overcrowding, unemployment, competition over scarce resources and ethnic differences. Key among these factors is the rivalry between supporters of IFP and ANC. Violence between hostel dwellers and surrounding communities is widely perceived as an extension of the "turf battles" between these two groups elsewhere in the country, particularly in Natal/KwaZulu.

42. The urgency of improving security at the hostels in line with the recommendations of the Goldstone Commission, which called for the fencing of hostels, has been noted (see S/24389). The securing of hostels was one of three main issues discussed at the meeting between the State President, F. W. de Klerk and Mr. Nelson Mandela, President of ANC, on 26 September 1992, at which time it was agreed that further measures would be taken, including fencing and policing to prevent criminality by hostel dwellers and to protect hostel dwellers against external aggression. It was agreed that progress will be reported to the Goldstone Commission and the National Peace Secretariat. United Nations observers could witness the progress in cooperation with the Goldstone Commission and the National Peace Secretariat (S/24606).

43. The Government should take immediate steps to improve the security situation at those hostels known to be flashpoints for violence. Continuing efforts to address the problem of improving the security and living conditions at the hostels and in the surrounding communities, in consultation with their residents, should be facilitated by all parties.

Dangerous weapons

44. A similar situation obtains with regard to dangerous weapons. At the 26 September 1992 meeting between the Government and ANC, referred to above, the Government informed ANC that it would issue a proclamation within weeks to prohibit countrywide the carrying and display of dangerous weapons at all public occasions subject to exemptions based on guidelines being prepared by the Goldstone Commission. It should be noted that a proclamation to give effect to Justice Goldstone's recommendation to restrict the carrying of dangerous weapons in public has yet to be issued, although the measure has been drafted for some time.

45. The debate over restrictions on "cultural weapons" often diverts attention away from the critical issue of the supply of automatic weapons and other firearms to which all factions have ready access. The Government and all other parties should make a concerted effort to reduce the supply and control the use of firearms and other sophisticated weapons.

46. Effective steps to address the carrying and public display of dangerous weapons can contribute significantly to creating an atmosphere of political tolerance. It is imperative that political leaders call on their supporters to disavow violence and to cease equating political rivalry with warfare. It is equally important that the South African Government take the necessary legal security measures to act promptly and impartially to prevent and quell violence, whatever its source.

II. ACTIVITIES OF THE UNITED NATIONS OBSERVER

MISSION IN SOUTH AFRICA

47. The terms of reference of the United Nations Observer Mission in South Africa (UNOMSA) are reflected in Security Council resolution 772 (1992) as well as in the last report of the Secretary-General on the question of South Africa to the Security Council (S/24389). Following consultations with the Security Council, I announced on 9 September 1992 the decision to deploy a mission of up to 50 United Nations observers in South Africa in implementation of the relevant provision of the above resolution. Ms. Angela King, Director, Staff Administration and Training Division, Office of Human Resources Management, was appointed Chief of the United Nations Observer Mission in South Africa and took up her post on 23 September. An advance team of United Nations observers headed by the Deputy Chief preceded her by a week. By the end of October, UNOMSA observers were deployed in all 11 regions of South Africa. The full complement of 50 observers was attained at end-November 1992.

48. The headquarters of UNOMSA is in Johannesburg and it has a regional office in Durban, headed by the Deputy Chief of Mission. UNOMSA's current deployment is weighted towards the Witswatersrand/Vaal and Natal/KwaZulu regions, where 70 per cent of the political violence occurs.

49. UNOMSA personnel observe demonstrations, marches and other forms of mass action, noting the conduct of all parties, and endeavour to obtain information indicating the degree to which the parties' actions are consistent with the principles of the National Peace Accord and the Goldstone Commission guidelines for marches and political gatherings. Observers supplement their field observations by establishing and maintaining informal contacts at all levels with established governmental structures, political parties and organizations, as well as community-based "alternative structures" such as civic associations and other groups.

50. The functions of the structures established under the National Peace Accord with which UNOMSA was requested to cooperate are varied but also interrelated. The National Peace Committee is charged with the resolution of disputes concerning interpretation and alleged transgression of the code of conduct for political parties and organizations and with the promotion of social and economic reconstruction and development. The National Peace Secretariat has the responsibility to establish and coordinate the work of regional and local dispute resolution committees.

The Goldstone Commission

51. In my earlier report to the Council, I commended the work of the Goldstone Commission and stated that should Judge Goldstone need assistance, he could request it from the international community. In this regard, following consultation with the European Community, six legal experts were seconded to the Commission. The United Nations has at Judge Goldstone's request provided an expert with a background in crime-prevention, security and criminal law to assist the Commission and several members of the UNOMSA team with the requisite legal background are also specifically assigned to the Commission in addition to their other duties.

52. The observer teams in various parts of the country also attend the hearings of the Commission held in their respective locations.

Strengthening of the peace structures

53. In its role of strengthening the peace structures, UNOMSA initiated through the National Peace Secretariat courtesy calls and visits to homelands other than Ciskei, Bophuthatswana and KwaZulu, which were visited separately. The meetings were designed to enable the United Nations, European Community, Commonwealth and OAU observers to familiarize themselves with measures being taken within these territories to promote the peace process and support the National Peace Accord, and to explain the role of UNOMSA and other observer missions.

54. Fact-finding trips were made to QwaQwa, Lebowa and KaNgwane. The UNOMSA observer team based in Pretoria (Northern Transvaal region) made frequent trips to KwaNdebele. In each case, the observer groups were received by the Chief Minister, cabinet members, local political party representation and senior administration officials.

Cooperation with other international observers

55. Security Council resolution 772 (1992) invited the Organization of African Unity (OAU), the Commonwealth and the European Community to deploy their observers in coordination with UNOMSA.

56. The UNOMSA observers were joined in South Africa on 18 October 1992 by the first Commonwealth observers, currently 17-strong. The European Community observers began arriving on 29 October and now total 14 members, while 11 OAU observers arrived between 15 and 23 November.

57. A weekly coordination and briefing session is held at UNOMSA headquarters in Johannesburg for the leaders of the observer groups. In addition, regularly scheduled morning briefings are open to all team members. Similar arrangements are in place at the UNOMSA office in Durban.

58. Because many of the Commonwealth and European Community observers come from a police background, a small task force has been set up under UNOMSA coordination to examine different aspects of SAP ranging from its structures and training to its performance at the community level.

59. The international observer teams have established close working relationships at the field and headquarters levels. They exchange information regularly and frequently observe events and meetings as mixed teams.

60. Throughout the country, the teams frequently pool their resources to ensure attendance and coverage of key events which may be scheduled simultaneously at different and often widely dispersed venues.

Contacts with political parties

61. Since her arrival in South Africa, the Chief of Mission has held discussions with a wide range of government officials and leaders of political parties and organizations in the country. At these meetings, the Chief of Mission briefed her interlocutors on the role of UNOMSA, its deployment and activities.

III. CONSULTATIONS AND COMMUNICATIONS OF THE SECRETARY-GENERAL

62. Following the massacre on 7 September 1992 at Bisho, Ciskei, President de Klerk called for an urgent meeting between the Government and ANC at the leadership level to discuss the question of violence.

63. In response to the proposal by the Government, Mr. Mandela agreed to meet with President de Klerk, on the understanding that the Government would make prior commitments to address three key issues, namely, the display of dangerous weapons, the securing of hostels, and the release of political prisoners.

64. Bilateral discussions were immediately resumed between ANC and the Government to address these three issues, in order to prepare the ground for the meeting between President de Klerk and Mr. Mandela. I instructed my Special Envoy, Mr. Dayal, to immediately upon his arrival in South Africa establish contacts with both parties, in order to assist, as necessary, and to make his services available to expedite the process of negotiation.

65. Given the critical importance of such a meeting, I addressed identical messages to President de Klerk and Mr. Mandela, urging them to ensure that the prevailing obstacles were overcome. I added that such a meeting would, no less, be a source of immense relief to all of the peoples of South Africa whose destiny lies in the hands of their leaders.

66. On 24 September 1992, I made a statement indicating that the obstacles preventing a meeting between President de Klerk and Mr. Mandela had been overcome, and that a meeting between them was being arranged imminently. This meeting took place on 26 September 1992. A detailed self-explanatory Record of Understanding agreed to at the meeting has been issued as a Security Council document (S/24606). Agreement was reached at the meeting on the key issues relating to the securing of hostels, release of all remaining political prisoners and the prohibition of the carrying and display of dangerous weapons. Agreement was also reached on the need for a democratic constituent assembly constitution-making body and constitutional continuity during the interim transitional period. These developments constitute an important step forward towards breaking the CODESA II deadlock. It will be recalled that these three issues were the subject of specific observations in my report of 7 August 1992 (S/24389).

67. Regrettably, following the agreement reached between President de Klerk and Mr. Mandela, Chief Buthelezi announced his withdrawal from any constitutional negotiations on South Africa's future, and challenged the agreement reached in the Record of Understanding, particularly concerning the ban on carrying and display of dangerous weapons, including "cultural weapons".

68. On 29 September 1992, I telephoned President de Klerk and Mr. Mandela to congratulate them on their agreement of 26 September 1992. In regard to the position taken by Chief Buthelezi, I decided to contact him to urge him to support the resumption of multi-party negotiations based on the agreement reached between the State President and Mr. Mandela.

69. On 29 September 1992, I addressed a letter to Chief Buthelezi, in which I appealed to him to make a renewed effort to meet urgently with Mr. Mandela, in order to move the peace process forward and to achieve a lasting settlement. I also wrote to Mr. Mandela informing him that I believed that the people of South Africa as a whole would welcome any initiative emanating from such a meeting, which should set the tone for national reconciliation and cooperation. I pursued this matter in subsequent communications with both Mr. Mandela and Chief Buthelezi.

70. I also addressed letters to the leaders in the homelands, urging that all concerned redouble their efforts to expedite the resumption of multilateral negotiations, and emphasizing the need for a renewed and determined effort to put an end to the violence and to remove any remaining obstacles that might impede the resumption of negotiations.

71. I also addressed Mr. Clarence Makwetu, President of PAC, on the same subject.

72. On a regular basis I have had the opportunity to discuss the situation in South Africa with the Permanent Representative of that country to the United Nations as well as with other interlocutors. Through him, I urged the Government of South Africa to resume, as rapidly as possible, multi-party negotiations aimed at ending the present stalemate. I also expressed my concern at the escalating violence.

73. During the course of the forty-seventh session of the General Assembly, I met with Mr. Thabo Mbeki, Director, International Affairs Department of ANC and Mr. Clarence Makwetu, President of PAC. Mr. Mbeki briefed me on the latest developments concerning bilateral discussions between the Government and ANC. Mr. Makwetu informed me of the outcome of discussions held between PAC and the Government in Gaborone in November 1992. I impressed upon both the importance of resuming multi-party negotiations and containing violence so prevalent in South Africa.

74. The situation in South Africa was also reviewed with the Chairman of OAU, President Diouf of Senegal, and the Secretary-General of OAU, Mr. Salim Ahmed Salim, during their visits to the United Nations.

75. All my interlocutors expressed support for the efforts being made by the United Nations to facilitate a peaceful transition to a democratic society in South Africa and assured me of their continued cooperation.

76. On 27 November 1992, I received a letter from the Permanent Representative of South Africa (S/24866) containing a statement and accompanying background paper issued by State President F. W. de Klerk setting out a proposed timetable for the transitional process in South Africa. The timetable envisages that a fully representative government of national unity will be in place no later than the first half of 1994.

77. On 4 December 1992, a joint media statement was issued by the Government of South Africa and ANC which indicated that they had held bilateral discussions from 2 to 4 December 1992. The discussions recognized the importance of resuming multilateral negotiations as soon as possible to ensure speedy movement to a democratic dispensation. To this end, bilateral discussions will continue.

78. On 17 December 1992, I met with Mr. Roelf Meyer, Minister for Constitutional Development of South Africa, who reported to me on the progress being made regarding bilateral discussions between the Government and the parties and prospects for the resumption of multilateral negotiations which would involve all parties. Various other issues relating to the situation in South Africa were also discussed.

IV. OBSERVATIONS

79. Based on my consultations and the reports of my two Special Envoys, I would make the following observations and recommendations concerning the situation in South Africa for consideration by the Security Council.

80. All parties must recognize that continued uncertainty over the country's future can only lead to further violence, instability and economic decline. Recent developments therefore give cause for guarded optimism about the prospect for progress towards a negotiated settlement in South Africa. I am pleased to note that there is substantial agreement to expedite arrangements for multi-party negotiations. These are positive trends which should be encouraged and supported by the international community. With respect to the CODESA process, the principle of inclusiveness must be recognized as essential for achieving the transition to democratic rule through free elections and new constitutional arrangements. It is imperative that all parties refrain from unilateral actions or public statements which alienate others or render the process more difficult.

81. While it is recognized that the Government has primary responsibility for the maintenance of law and order, all political leaders must take immediate action to curb political violence. To this end I would urge all parties to attend the planned meeting of signatories to the National Peace Accord in order to examine ways and means of putting an end to the violence and to strengthen the structures. Lack of political freedom in the homelands continues to be a source of tension and violence. Those in a position to influence the authorities in the homelands should strongly urge the repeal of repressive legislation and restraint of their security forces. Scrupulous adherence by all parties to the Goldstone Commission guidelines for the conduct of public demonstrations would also foster and sustain the peace process.

82. At the 26 September 1992 meeting between State President de Klerk and Mr. Mandela, an agreement was reached in respect of the release of all political prisoners, the securing of hostels, as well as the banning of the display of dangerous weapons. Regarding political prisoners, a Joint Committee consisting of government and ANC representatives has made considerable progress. By 15 November 1992, the agreed date for the release of political prisoners, 536 cases had been disposed of by the Joint Committee. At the same time some of the cases submitted by ANC have yet to be resolved. The Government stated it would issue a proclamation to prohibit, countrywide, the carrying and display of dangerous weapons at all public occasions subject to exemptions based on guidelines being prepared by the Goldstone Commission. The granting of exemptions was to be entrusted to one or more retired judges. On this basis, the terms of the proclamation and mechanism for exemption shall be prepared with the assistance of the Goldstone Commission. I would urge the South African Government to take steps to expedite the full implementation of the agreements on these issues. All parties have expressed their deep concern over the illegal flow of weapons into the country. Consideration might be given to ways of cutting off the illegal supply of weapons from whatever source they may derive.

83. I welcome the decision of the Government of South Africa to extend the necessary assistance to the Goldstone Commission in order to facilitate its work and urge all parties in South Africa to cooperate fully with the Goldstone Commission's forthcoming investigation into the security forces and other armed formations. I also welcome the assurance given by the highest level of leadership of ANC to cooperate with the Goldstone Commission and facilitate its work. Justice Goldstone's standing in the international community and the United Nations active support for him and his Commission have reinforced the Commission's capacity to address difficult and sensitive issues. The United Nations and the international community will continue to assist the Commission, as requested by Mr. Justice Goldstone, in conducting its investigations. For my part, I will continue to extend all necessary support to the work of the Goldstone Commission.

84. As a means of building community confidence in and developing the human resources of the South African police, I would urge expansion of the present programmes for the exchange of information and expertise between South Africa and other countries on community-policing techniques, as well as on the recruitment, training and management of police personnel. Such programmes can only improve the morale and stature of the police, and enhance their credibility as an impartial service dedicated to public safety and security of all South Africans.

85. In order to help the South African police improve its investigative policies and procedures, and the skills of its personnel, police officers of various countries with the requisite skills and experience should be invited to South Africa to observe and, as appropriate, advise South African police personnel on the conduct of investigations. These international police officers would be deployed as technical advisers, and would be separate from the police officers already participating in the international observer missions presently in the country.

86. Women's organizations emphasize their concern over violence and intimidation directed at women from a variety of sources, including the police. I would strongly urge that special attention be given to this question, especially in view of the crucial role women can play in maintaining cohesion and stability in their communities. One aspect of democratization which should not be overlooked is the need to bring the country's women into the political process as full partners. Political violence, intimidation, poverty and dislocation of families and communities are among the factors currently preventing their full participation. Future democracy, reconciliation and development in South Africa cannot take place without the contribution of all its people.

87. The contribution of the international observer teams has been welcomed by all concerned. Some nevertheless have contended that UNOMSA needs to be strengthened and others are of the view that its mandate should be expanded. Effective means have been established for coordinating the work of UNOMSA with that of the other international observer teams from the Commonwealth, the European Community and OAU operating under Security Council resolution 772 (1992). By all accounts, the international observers have performed well in adapting their operations to meet the needs on the ground and have had a salutary effect on the political situation in general. Given the delicate situation now prevailing in South Africa, characterized by unacceptable and in some locales rising levels of violence, I intend to modestly reinforce UNOMSA with an increment of 10 additional observers.

88. While progress has been made in enhancing and reinforcing the structures established under the National Peace Accord, much more remains to be done particularly with regard to the National Peace Committee and the National Peace Secretariat. The Government of South Africa should ensure that adequate resources are made available to facilitate the operations of the National Peace Committee and the National Peace Secretariat at all levels.

89. There has been distinct progress in implementing the observations and recommendations made in my report of 7 August 1992 (S/24389). It remains essential that the Security Council stay actively seized of the situation, as it has undertaken to do. The goal of a democratic, non-racial and united South Africa must remain one of the highest priority to the Organization and I shall keep the Council informed of further developments, so that it can react, as needed, with understanding of the process under way.

Document 172

Letter dated 18 January 1993 from Mr. Thabo Mbeki, Secretary for International Affairs of the African National Congress, to the Secretary-General.

Not issued as a United Nations document.

I take this opportunity to extend seasonal greetings to you.

The people of South Africa will enter 1993 eagerly looking forward to a future of democracy and social progress, without apartheid and violence. After many difficulties, the negotiations process is once again underway in our country. That requires the ANC to use all its resources to ensure that elections for a Constitutional Assembly take place before the end of 1993 and an Interim Government of National Unity established.

We therefore believe 1993 will be a decisive year for the people of South Africa. We take this opportunity to extend our warm appreciation to you for your consistent opposition to apartheid and your support for democracy in our country. Knowing you and working with you over the years has proved to be a great source of inspiration.

It is vital that as we enter this most critical stage of our struggle, we meet together to analyse the situation and together work out appropriate strategies for successfully marching the last mile to freedom.

The ANC has therefore decided to convene an International Conference under the theme - From Apartheid to Peace, Democracy and Development - to be held here in Johannesburg from 19 to 21 February 1993.

We believe that this major International Conference on South African soil will be one of the most significant conferences ever held on the issue of South Africa. It will give us the opportunity not only jointly to work out initiatives that will ensure that democratic foundations are firmly established in 1993, but will also enable us to take measures that will help us consolidate and defend the new democracy....

President Nelson Mandela and other senior leaders of the ANC will also actively participate in the Conference.

I extend an invitation to you to participate in this historic Conference.

...

Document 173

Letter dated 9 March 1993 from the Secretary-General to President

F.W. de Klerk of South Africa.

Not issued as a United Nations document.

Excellency,

I was pleased to learn from Ms. Angela King, Chief of the United Nations Observer Mission in South Africa, about the successful conclusion of the Multiparty Planning Conference in Johannesburg. It was encouraging that so many of the parties and political groups in South Africa participated in this initial stage. Ms. King has informed me that the next stage of the Multiparty negotiations will take place no later than 5 April.

I am confident that the next round of meetings will be equally successful and will lead to an agreement on the transitional arrangements.

I wish to assure you that the United Nations is following the situation in South Africa very closely and it will continue to remain a matter of high priority for the United Nations.

Ms. King and her team of Observers will stay on in South Africa, not only to contribute to the efforts to reduce the violence but also as a symbol of United Nations' commitment to help South Africa's transition to a united, democratic, non-racial country.

Please accept, Excellency, the assurances of my highest consideration.

(signed)

Boutros Boutros-Ghali

Document 174

Remarks by Secretary-General Boutros-Ghali at the annual ceremony to receive contributions and pledges to United Nations Assistance Programmes and Funds for Southern Africa.

UN Press Release SG/SM/4947 - SAF/155, 22 March 1993

I am delighted to welcome you here today. This is an occasion at which we formally receive, and acknowledge, contributions and pledges made to United Nations assistance funds for Southern Africa.

For more than 25 years, the United Nations Trust Fund for South Africa and the United Nations Educational and Training Programme for Southern Africa have been providing humanitarian, legal and educational assistance to the victims of apartheid.

This assistance has been of crucial importance. Individuals were enabled to realize their potential. Communities saw they were not alone. As a result, the oppressed regained their self-confidence. Fatal cracks appeared in the unjust system of apartheid.

We are now entering what is almost certainly the final phase of the struggle against institutional racism in southern Africa. It has been a long and, at times, bitter struggle. It has been a struggle waged mainly by the people of southern Africa themselves.

But we should not overlook the key role of international humanitarian assistance in supporting the people of the region. Solidarity has been an important factor.

That solidarity, that generosity, is needed now more than ever. South Africa is beginning a process of transition. To assist that process, generous international support will be vital. The country, and the region, face massive tasks of political and social transformation. Expectations are, understandably, running high.

So, as I pay tribute to the support given in 1992 and before, I have to say that the task is not over. We will have to call forth even more generosity in future.

I hope I can rely on the continued support of Member States for these programmes. They constitute the humanitarian component of United Nations efforts for the peaceful settlement of the conflict in South Africa.

But it is a real pleasure to acknowledge the generous contributions made in 1992. This support by Member States has been generous. It is a clear indication of the long-standing commitment of Governments to promote progress towards a peaceful negotiated political settlement in South Africa. It is a clear indication of international solidarity and generosity in the humanitarian field.

The United Nations Trust Fund for South Africa has for over 27 years supported South African victims of apartheid, both inside and outside the country. It has provided legal assistance and humanitarian relief. Following a change in its mandate agreed by the General Assembly two years ago, the Trust Fund is now working through broad-based, impartial organizations in South Africa itself. It is assisting the reintegration of released political prisoners and former exiles. It is providing legal assistance and support to individuals, and working for the effective implementation of legislation repealing apartheid laws.

The United Nations Educational and Training Programme for Southern Africa provides scholarship assistance to South Africans. At present about 2,100 students are being supported in priority fields. Like the Fund, the Programme has adjusted rapidly to changing conditions. Now many of its projects involve training South Africans within South Africa itself. It is well placed to support the education and training of disadvantaged South Africans in the critical area of human resources development.

So, in acknowledging the help given in the past, I call on you to redouble your efforts to support the important work of the Fund and the Programme.

In conclusion, I must express my appreciation for the unstinting support I have received from the Chairman of the Committee of Trustees of the Trust Fund, Ambassador Osvald of Sweden; the Chairman of the Advisory Committee on the United Nations Educational and Training Programme for Southern Africa, Ambassador Huslid of Norway; and the Chairman of the Special Committee against Apartheid, Ambassador Gambari of Nigeria.

Finally, I ask that you convey to your Governments my deep appreciation of the contributions and pledges that they have made today.

I thank you.

Document 175

Statement by Secretary-General Boutros-Ghali at the solemn meeting by the Special Committee against Apartheid in observance of the International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination.

UN Press Release SG/SM/4948 - GA/AP/2118, 22 March 1993

This day, observed annually as the International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination, was inaugurated by a resolution of the General Assembly in 1966. It honours the memory of the 69 peaceful demonstrators - mainly women and children - who were massacred at Sharpeville in 1960. And it calls on the international community to redouble its efforts to eliminate all forms of racial discrimination.

Each year the world community has honoured those who died at Sharpeville. It has reflected on their sacrifice. It has mobilized its thoughts, and its efforts, on behalf of the suffering victims of apartheid. And it has, increasingly, focused on the gigantic task of building the new South Africa.

This year, for example, the international observer missions in South Africa have called on all South Africans to dedicate themselves, on this day, to peace and reconciliation.

This year, the observance of the International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination coincides with an important moment in the process of negotiations in South Africa. They have entered a new phase.

Two weeks ago, on 5 and 6 March, a Multiparty Planning Conference was held at Kempton Park, South Africa, to plan for the resumption of full-scale, multiparty constitutional negotiations. It was attended by 26 delegations representing the broadest spectrum of political parties and organizations ever assembled on South African soil. In a far-reaching decision, participants committed themselves, individually and collectively, to multiparty constitutional negotiations to take place within the multiparty forum, as a matter of national urgency, not later than 5 April 1993.

This historic meeting is, in a sense, a tribute to the resilience, wisdom and determination of the South African leadership, both black and white, to forge ahead and rise above their differences to build a common future.

The United Nations - which is committed to facilitating the negotiating process, has spared no effort in bringing about peace and reconciliation. In July 1992, while the country was engulfed in endless recriminations, turmoil and politically motivated violence, the Security Council offered a forum to South African political leaders to state their positions. At the same time, it urged them to renounce violence and remove the remaining obstacles to resume negotiations. At the request of the Council, I deployed United Nations observers to assist in the strengthening of the mechanism of the National Peace Accord. Other international and regional organizations were invited likewise to send their own observers.

Today, it is generally recognized that these timely decisions and actions by the United Nations and other international organizations have helped in reducing political tension in South Africa. They have also had a positive impact on the political situation in the country.

At this point, I urge the leaders of all the parties and organizations to persevere in their efforts to reach an agreement on the principles and modalities for the difficult transition ahead. It is important that this agreement be based on the principles of inclusiveness, mutual tolerance and respect which are so essential to bring about democratic rule through free elections and a new constitutional dispensation.

In these endeavours, they can rest assured of the support of the United Nations and the international community at large.

But time is of the essence in South Africa as elsewhere. A speedy settlement in South Africa is essential to allow the nation to address the serious socio-economic imbalances resulting from decades of apartheid, and to return to the path of sustained economic growth.

At a symposium last year, in Windhoek, organs and agencies of the United Nations system looked into ways and means of addressing these imbalances. They are preparing now for the time when they can bring their full contributions to bear, particularly in the critical areas of health, education and housing, with special regard to the needs of children and women, the most vulnerable groups in South Africa.

It should be recalled in this connection that the United Nations has long been providing humanitarian, legal, educational and relief assistance to victims of apartheid - largely through the Trust Fund for South Africa and the United Nations Educational and Training Programme for Southern Africa.

Last year, at the pledging conference for assistance programmes for southern Africa, 27 Governments contributed a total of $ 7 million.

At the pledging conference this morning, I also received important contributions from a number of Governments. I wish to thank all the donor countries for their generous contributions and hope that other countries will also join in this genuine international humanitarian effort.

The massacre at Sharpeville - and the contempt which it showed for the rights of black South Africans - illustrated the horrors of apartheid at its worst.

But there are other forms of racism besides the hideous institutional racism of apartheid. In too many countries, minorities feel threatened by intolerance and racial bigotry.

Democracy - rule of the majority - can easily become the tyranny of the majority unless there are safeguards.

Opposition to racism and racial discrimination is inherent to the United Nations and its Charter. The Charter not only recognizes the importance of fundamental human rights, equality and the intrinsic value of each and every human being; it sees them as the essential foundation of true progress and lasting development.

The United Nations, in upholding the Charter, proclaims the universal values of human rights and the dignity of all human beings. Later this year, in Vienna in June, we will be holding the World Conference on Human Rights. This will provide an excellent opportunity to consider practical measures to protect and enhance human rights in the world.

The struggle against racism is not confined to southern Africa; and it must not be limited to words only. Human rights, including protection against racial discrimination, need to be put into law, and monitored and upheld in practice.

We are at the dawn of a new era in South Africa. An era marked by a desire for reconciliation and renewed determination to overcome difficulties of all kinds through negotiation and dialogue, which have already resumed.

Chance mishaps, admittedly, have occurred in the past. No one can predict the future. One fact is certain: for the first time, one can see the light at the end of the tunnel in South Africa. Yesterday's enemies have gathered together at Kempton Park in order to conduct a dialogue and begin to define the elements of a process that will lead, soon, it is our hope, to a new, non-racial and democratic South Africa.

The day will come when South Africa, a land that is so rich and so tormented, will have overcome the upheaval of the transition. In its restored dignity, the abundance of its means and the commitment of a people reconciled with itself, South Africa will be able then to look to the future with confidence. Its victory, of course, will, first of all, be the victory of all South Africans, and all Africans. But it will also be the victory of mankind as a whole.

I thank you for your attention.

Document 176

Letter dated 24 April 1993 from the Secretary-General to

Mr. Nelson Mandela, President of the African National Congress.

Not issued as a United Nations document.

Dear Mr. Mandela,

It was with a profound sense of loss and sorrow that I learned this morning of the death of Oliver Tambo, National Chairman of the African National Congress. I had known and worked with Oliver during his tenure as President of ANC. He was a remarkable man with a deep sense of conviction and compassion, a man of extraordinary intellect and knowledge, a man of courage and vision.

I know that Oliver's death is a very great loss to you personally in view of the long friendship you enjoyed and the deep commitment and sacrifices you shared in the service of your people. Like you, Oliver was as committed to the struggle to eradicate the apartheid system as he was to the imperative to build in its wake a South Africa in which all races and creeds could live in peace and harmony. He will be remembered for his many achievements in the service of oppressed people in Africa and around the world.

At this critical phase of the multiparty negotiations on the country's future, a stern trial of character and will may now face the country, its leaders and people. South Africans as a whole can continue to count on the goodwill of the entire international community in facing this challenge. I have no doubt that in your endeavours, the legacy of Oliver will help sustain the way forward.

I would like to extend to you and through you to the entire leadership and supporters of ANC, my most sincere condolences on the loss of a great comrade and friend. I have also extended deep condolences to Oliver's widow and family.

With my profound sympathy.

Yours sincerely,

(signed)

Boutros Boutros-Ghali

Document 177

Statement by a Spokesman for Secretary-General Boutros-Ghali expressing "outrage" at right-wing Afrikaners' "brazon display" of force and intimidation against multi-party negotiations.

UN Press Release SG/SM/5028, 27 June 1993

The Secretary-General was outraged at the brazen display of force and intimidation by members of the right-wing Afrikaner National Front (ANF) against delegates engaged in multi-party negotiations in Johannesburg to facilitate South Africa's transition to a non-racial, democratic and united country. It has become apparent that progress in the multi-party negotiations threatens extremist elements that continue to espouse racist policies and practices.

The Secretary-General stresses that the overwhelming majority of South Africans have committed themselves to peace, equality and democracy. In this quest, they enjoy the strong encouragement and support of the international community.

The Secretary-General reiterates his call on all South Africans to renounce violence and intimidation. He urges them to commit themselves to the negotiation process which provides the only alternative to the establishment of lasting peace and democracy in South Africa.

Document 178

Letter dated 6 August 1993 from the Secretary-General to Chief Mangosuthu Buthelezi, President of the Inkatha Freedom Party of South Africa.

Not issued as a United Nations document.

Dear Chief Buthelezi,

I wish to recall the very fruitful talks we had in Rome on 18 April 1993 regarding the situation in and relating to South Africa. I have continued to follow closely developments in South Africa with renewed hope but also with equal concern.

Among the issues of major concern is the recent spate of violence which has claimed scores of lives in the Wits/Vaal area. Most of the violence continues to be directed at supporters of both the Inkatha Freedom Party and the African National Congress.

You will recall that both during our meeting in Rome and in my communications to you prior to and subsequent to that meeting, I had expressed the hope that all efforts would be deployed to settle the problems of the future of South Africa through a broad-based dialogue amongst South Africans. I was therefore very concerned when IFP decided recently to suspend its participation in the multi-party negotiation process.

As one of the major political parties in the country, the participation of IFP in the ongoing negotiations is extremely important for t he success of the peace process. It is widely held th