72 days that shaped South Africa
Research, photos: Ndaba Dlamini
Just how "miraculous" was South Africa's transition from apartheid to democracy? How close did the country really come to civil war?
Check out our press clipping snapshots of the 72 days leading up to Nelson Mandela's inauguration as SA's first democratically elected President - and see how heavily the odds were stacked against "the rainbow nation".
13 APRIL 1994
Five guilty of race killings
Five members of the Afrikaner Weerstandsbeweging were yesterday found guilty in the Rand Supreme Court of the "cold-blooded murder" of four blacks at an illegal roadblock in December last year.
Their conviction followed racist attacks on blacks at a bogus roadblock on the Ventersdorp-Krugersdorp road on December 12.
Sowetan, Wednesday 13 April 1994
It's no toss-up between FW, Mandela
If you thought tossing a coin was the simplest way of settling a dispute,
you underestimate the infinite capacity of politicians to complicate even that.
SABC officials organising tomorrow night's long-awaited live televised debate between President de Klerk and ANC president Nelson Mandela suggested that a coin should be spun to decide which man should speak first.
Oh no, said the ANC. No ways, said the Nats. Neither was prepared to trust their opponents with the toss – or themselves with the call.
Eventually it was settled. A neutral party will spin a R1 coin. If it lands on the Springbok, De Klerk will kick off. If it lands on the coat of arms, the honour will be Mandela's. The coin toss will be shown on Six on One tonight.
The Star, Wednesday 13 April 1994
12 APRIL 1994
Foreign mediators arrive
International mediators fly into SA today for the start of mediation tomorrow between the ANC, Inkatha Freedom Party and government at a corporate retreat in
the Eastern Transvaal.
Business Day, Tuesday 12 April 1994
Day of confusion for JSE dealers
A confused picture emerged on the JSE yesterday as shares were buffeted by a tumbling finrand, a declining gold price and buying and selling by both foreign and local investors.
"It was a scary market with our currencies falling so sharply and people worried about how long the finrand slump will last", a dealer said.
Business Day, Tuesday 12 April 1994
11 APRIL 1994
Crunch week for KwaZulu
KwaZulu could face an intensified security crackdown if last-gasp talks this week fail to produce a breakthrough in the electoral impasse.
There are widespread fears that violence in KwaZulu/Natal might soar if the special working group – set up to provide the summit sequel with fresh initiatives – fails.
Yesterday there was deep pessimism in both
Governmental and ANC circles over prospects for a breakthrough.
The Star, Monday 11 April 1994
10 APRIL 1994
Royal flush beats ANC ace
A desperate attempt by ANC leader Nelson Mandela to persuade Zulu King Goodwill Zwelithini to support peaceful elections in Natal was torpedoed at this week's crisis summit by Inkatha president Mangosuthu Buthelezi.
Mr Mandela played what he had hoped would be his ace card by offering King Goodwill powers as a constitutional monarch with sway over the whole Natal province.
But Chief Buthelezi scuppered the proposal by insisting the offer could not be considered unless all Inkatha's other concerns were handled at the same time.
Sunday Times, Sunday 10 April 1994
9 APRIL 1994
TEC gives assurance to civil servants
The Transitional Executive Council has assured all public
servants that their jobs, salaries and pensions are guaranteed by the new consitution, which comes into effect on April 27.
The TEC said yesterday it was aware of increasing concern among public servants, including members of the security forces, about their futures, pensions and salaries.
Citizen, Saturday 9 April 1994
8 APRIL 1994
Crunch KwaZulu summit
The four-way summit aimed at accommodating the Zulu monarchy goes ahead as planned today as hopes soar that an all-inclusive agreement will be reached.
The meeting is between African National Congress president Mr Nelson Mandela, King Goodwill Zwelithini, State President FW de Klerk and Chief Mangosuthu Buthelezi, chief minister of KwaZulu.
The venue of the meeting is a closely kept secret, with journalists accredited to cover the summit having been advised only to assemble at a military airbase outside Pretoria.
Sowetan,
Friday 8 April 1994
Clash of the televison titans
On one side is the Father of the Nation: regal, statesman-like and almost saintly. The problem is, though, that he talks at the measured and pedantic pace of a provincial schoolmaster, and is stiff and uncomfortable on television.
On the other side is a sharp and incisive debater, well honed by decades of parliamentary experience. The problem is, though, that his opponent carries the aura of sanctitude and that his own newly acquired good-ol'-boy affability does not always ring quite true.
Next Thursday's presidential debate between Nelson Mandela and FW de Klerk will be the country's first full-throttle sally into American-style television campaigning.
Weekly Mail & Guardian, Friday 8 April 1994
7 APRIL 1994
No KwaZulu election delay, say Govt, ANC
South Africa's first all-race election will
take place as scheduled throughout the country, including KwaZulu/Natal, the Government and the ANC said yesterday.
The Star, Thursday 7 April 1994
Dozens injured in riot sparked by 'prank'
A "highly irresponsible" prank by a warder at Johannesburg Prison early yesterday led to a riot by 1 000 prisoners, in which dozens were injured. Prisoners set fire to their cells after a warder fired teargas at a colleague in a watchtower on the boundary of the prison grounds at 2am. However, the canister exploded in a ditch and the gas blew into the cells of about 600 sleeping prisoners.
Business Day, Thursday 7 April 1994
6 APRIL 1994
KwaZulu vote shock
With only three weeks before South Africans cast their votes, a joint committee consisting of the Independent Electoral Commission, KwaZulu and the SA Government has concluded that elections would be
impossible in KwaZulu under present conditions.
The Star, Wednesday 6 April 1994
5 APRIL 1994
Mediation efforts run into trouble
International mediation has run into difficulties before its scheduled start this week, with the ANC and Inkatha Freedom Party unable to agree on the terms of reference.
While the ANC the mediators would now decide on the terms of reference, both former British foreign secretary Lord Carrington and former US secretary of state Henry Kissinger, who have been named as mediators, said they would not coming to SA until the parties had agreed on the terms of reference.
Business Day, Tuesday 5 April 1994
Stockpile mania grips shoppers
Pre-election stockpiling of non-perishables has spread countrywide, despite Eskom assurances that there was no chance of a nationwide black-out over the election period.
Although it
was difficult to separate the normal Easter rush from panic buying ahead of the three-day poll on April 26, 27 and 28, long queues and rapidly emptying shelves have been reported at stores throughout the Pretoria-Witwatersrand.
In the Western Cape, stores reported that candles, blankets, black plastic bags, canned foods and dry foods such as mealie meal and rice had disappeared from supermarket shelves as quickly as they came in.
The Star, Tuesday 5 April 1994
4 APRIL 1994
Top 4 summit on Friday
African National Congress leader Mr Nelson Mandela said yesterday he would meet State President De Klerk, Inkatha Freedom party head, Chief Mangosuthu Buthelezi, and Zulu King Goodwill Zwelithini for a peace summit on Friday.
The Citizen, Monday 4 April 1994
Oz rugby side cancels visit to Durban
Political violence in Natal has prompted New South
Wales rugby officials to cancel the Waratahs' visit to Durban for a Super Seven match later this month.
The Citizen, Monday 4 April 1994
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