Pot and kettle
Sir: Milan Becker (Letters, 25 July) is wrong to misrepresent a personal view expressed in the former ANC publication, Sechaba (Nov 1985) to criticise the Direc- tor of Christian Aid, Michael Taylor.
Whilst the paragraph quoted makes gruesome reading, the eight-page article from which it is taken reflects the author's, and not the ANC's, analysis of the situation In the townships in 1984-85 and is clearly headlined `discussion article by Cassius Mandla'.
It is important to note that the front-page editorial from the Sechaba in question describes the South Africa of 1985 as a Country where `the death squads, state of emergency and Inkatha thugs are terroris-
ing both the people and UDF activists'.
The mid-80s was a period in which the apartheid state, employing its `total strate- gy' through every facet of society, attempt- ed to violently crush the democratic anti- apartheid organisation, the UDF. It had been illegal to be a member of the ANC for 25 years.
A state of emergency in the townships, imposed in 1985, lasted nearly five years. Over 30,000 men, women and children were detained without trial — often suffer- ing torture. Thousands were murdered by those still perpetrating the political vio- lence. The horror confronting black South Africans featured almost daily on British television.
In his discussion article the author refers to the 'Argentine-style ... disappearance' and murder of UDF activist Matthew Goni- we. This is now being investigated by the Goldstone Commission of Inquiry into Vio- lence and Intimidation, following the recent publication of an order by General van der Westhuizen, head of South African Military Intelligence, issued shortly before Goniwe's death. It confirmed a proposal to the State Security Council, chaired by the state president, that Goniwe and three associates `be permanently removed from society'.
Ms Becker overlooks that Mr Mandla describes how in one area the police con- ducted `an orgy of shooting and killing that tallied at 29 dead and countless injured in just three days'; `women going to work run over by armoured cars'; how '7,000 soldiers and policeman combed the townships' using `arrests, tear-gas, birdshot, live ammunition, banning of meetings, house- to-house searches, road blocks' to defend apartheid.
Notwithstanding, the ANC continues to advocate a peaceful, negotiated transition to democracy for South Africa. Indeed, it was the ANC that called on the United Nations to send peace monitors to South Africa precisely because it is our officials, members and supporters who continue to bear the brunt of the political violence. Mr Taylor is right to commend the `patience and forbearance of black people [in South Africa], including the ANC in the face of it'.
`It doesn't concern me, I'm a willow ptarmigan!'
What a pity that Ms Becker doesn't use her evident intimate knowledge of the South African situation to expose and con- demn the root cause of the political vio- lence in our society — apartheid.
Like most newspapers and magazines, ANC publications often contain articles that do not necessarily reflect the views of the publisher. This practice will continue. I only hope Ms Becker will understand their status.
Mendi Msimang
Chief Representative, ANC Mission: UK & Ireland, P0 Box 38, 28 Penton Street, London NI
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