30 years later, former "white" parties are still using fear antics
Peace. Soweto, April 1994. Photo: Annika Langa One of the most convenient myths about South Africa’s transformation from an Apartheid state to a democratic must be the that the Nationalist Party under the leadership of President FW de Klerk was embracing change. They did not. In fact, they did everything in their power to delay freedom and democracy, and to weaken the ANC with the help of what was called "the total strategy". At the same time as the ANC was unbanned on the 2nd of February 1990, the Apartheid regime unleashed the Third Force, and an orchestrated a tribal war between the Xhosas ("ANC") and the Zulus ("Inkatha"). It was a sinister and lethal strategy, not to mention racist. As a result, political violence surged. Between 15,000 and 20,000 people died. It also, at least initially, spread an image to the world of black South Africans being too uncivilized to rule a country like South Africa. The Apartheid government denied involvement, but we ...
