South African History Online

Cape Town, May 4, 1990

Mandela: The striking feature of the discussions which were heard
during the last three days has been their cordiality. We have held discussions
on sensitive matters in a spirit of conciliation and understanding.

The ANC has taken the initiative to get the government and the ANC to sit
down together and hammer out a peaceful solution.

We look at these discussions with satisfaction because it is the realisation
of a dream for which we have worked patiently and consistently over the last
three years. We say so, not in the spirit of either boasting or claiming credit
for the success of the discussions. We went into these discussions in the spirit
that there should neither be victors nor losers, and at the end of the
discussions, not only are we closer to one another, the ANC and the government,
but we are all victors. South Africa is a victor.

The important thing is going to be the implementation of this agreement, and
there is a realisation on the part of both delegations that it is important that
these obstacles which we have identified in the document should be removed at
the earliest possible convenience.

We in the African National Congress are convinced that both our organisation,
as well as the government, mean to do just that, and we hope we will get the
support of all South Africans and the international community in this important
objective. Thank you.

Correspondent: What about other parties in South Africa on
negotiations? What about ending violence?

Mandela: The African National Congress and the government are the main
players in this country in the search for peace. There can be no peace in this
country unless these two parties, these two organisations, come to an agreement,
to an effective settlement.

But, the African National Congress has never claimed to be the sole
representative of the black people in this country. We recognise, a fact which
we have stated over and over again, that there are other interested parties in
this regard, and it would only be proper at some stage to seek their views on
the important question which we have been discussing over the last three days.

Correspondent: Mr. Mandela, the statement that has been made sets
itself out against intimidation. One presumes, therefore, that the ANC accepts
the right of other parties to oppose it against a sort of intimidation and
violence we have experienced in Natal. Is that correct?

Mandela: The ANC has on countless occasions emphasised the importance
of tolerance in the course of our political work.

The right of other parties to canvass and put forward their views without
interference from other political organisations, that is our standpoint. It has
always been our standpoint.

If there has been any sort of intimidation from any member of the ANC then
that has been done outside the policy of the organisation.

We must remember in making judgment on questions of this nature that we are
in a totally different position from that of the government and other white
parties in this country. Our organisation has been banned for the last 30 years.
Experienced leaders of the organisation had been forced into exile. Other
well-trained and experienced leaders of the movement had been thrown into jail,
and those members who had remained inside the country had been gagged. Therefore
there was nobody to explain the policy of the organisation to instil discipline.

You must remember that many of the youth. who are active today, were born
during the last 30 years when the organisation was illegal and when there was
nobody to explain the policy of the organisation. If, therefore, any of our
members were guilty of intimidation, you must judge their action against this
background.

Now that the organisation has been legalised. we have considered it to be our
duty to stress the question of discipline, the question of tolerance, and I
think we are getting support from our membership, and I, therefore, would urge
you to look at the matter from the background which I have outlined.