On this Day in History 4 September

Thursday, 4 September 1980

At a National Party (NP) Congress in Bloemfontein, the South African Prime Minister, P.W. Botha said that the NP has to draw together as many people as possible, allowing them to maintain their separate identities, but uniting them in a common front against Marxism. Subsequently, nine years later the Soviet Union, known by many as one of the strongest socialist countries, collapsed.

The Prime Minister’s statement came at the height of the struggle against apartheid in South Africa. Just months after his speech, South African Defence Force (SADF) crossed the country’s borders to Matola, Mozambique, where they killed uMkhonto weSizwe combatants. The victims were Guma Mduduzi Eric, Mokgabudi Motso, Khanyile William Fano, Hadebe Lancelot Mfanafuthi, Molebatsi Daniel, Ngcobo Steven, Rabilal Krishna, Manakazi Levinson Solly, Bookolane Thabang Henry, Magubane Bhekimuzi Felix, Skweyiya Sizinzo and Mvula Nduna. The casualties were buried on 14 February 1981.

Tuesday, 4 September 1990

The unbanning of the South African liberation movements on 2 February 1990 was an important milestone, which signalled a shift from being covert underground organisations to functioning as open party political structures.

This transformation was the focus of the Groote Schuur and Pretoria talks, which discussed the removal of repressive apartheid measures, and the creation of a free political climate.

However, even after the Pretoria minute was signed on 6 August 1990, violence erupted throughout the country. Figures states that between July 1990 and June 1991, over 2000 violent incidences occurred, which were often characterised by mass attacks by hostel dwellers on township communities, mostly in the Vaal/Reef area.

One such incidence occurred on 4 September 1990, when the SADF opened fire on negotiators in Sebokeng. According to sources, fire was opened without warning on a group of people in a hostel. 11 people were killed and many injured. Despite judicial inquest, no trial took place at the time to reprimand the offenders.

A previous violent attack had occurred in Sebokeng on 22 July 1990, when the Inkatha Freedom Party (IFP) was launched. This is said to have “opened the floodgates” for further violent attacks, such as those that later occurred at Boipatong in June 1992.

In a strongly worded statement, the African National Congress rejected the constitutional proposals by the National Party calling it a ‘recipe for disaster’. President F. W. de Klerk had presented the constitutional proposal to a federal party congress in Bloemfontein, stating that the proposal demonstrated the party’s opposition to any domination of any kind. However the ANC rejected the proposal on the grounds that,

• it entrenched minority privileges by ensuring that any majority party becomes powerless because it gave the three biggest parties irrespective of the proportion of the vote, equal representation. The ANC favoured elections based on the principle of proportional representation,

• the NP’s proposal was unclear as to what the ‘bill of rights’ would contain,

• the freedom given to Transkei, Bophuthatswana, Venda and Ciskei to choose whether, they wanted to be incorporated into the new South Africa, whereas the ANC was adamant that the TBVC states should be re-incorporated into SA,

• the appointment of Cabinet Ministers by consensus which the ANC was opposed to as it went against the spirit of democratic process.

The ANC warned that such a proposal would make the country “wholly ungovernable”. Other parties such as the Democratic Party and Inkatha Freedom Party supported the proposal, the Conservative Party said the Party was calling for a revolution in the manner it designed the proposal whilst the Pan Africanist Party said it was transferring the struggle from race to class and as such Whites would do everything to stay in power against the wishes of the Majority.

Wednesday, 4 September 1991

SA signs Memorandum of Understanding with United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees

The South African government signed a memorandum of understanding with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) on the voluntary repatriation and reintegration of South Africans from exile. The agreement provided for comprehensive amnesty; a mechanism allowing UNHCR to make representations on behalf of persons not granted amnesty; establishment of UNHCR presence in South Africa; and, complete freedom of movement for returnees within South Africa.

The memorandum was initialled on 16 August.

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