Listening to the silent majority

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I asked Chief Minister Enos Mabuza of KaNgwane whether he envisaged in the future a socialist-oriented economy or a free-market system. ‘We in the homelands,’ he replied, ‘envisage a democratic system of government, by which a new constitution for South Africa will have to be negotiated by all of us together, including the white population. The new constitution should not be imposed on anyone, and should be agreed upon by all South Africans. And, as far as the economy is concerned, I think we will have to opt for a mixed economy. We will have to work out a way to adjust the historical injustices in our economy. Because, through political separation, free enterprise in South Africa has not been as free as it should have been. Opportunities were not granted to black people. In a way, blacks, both culturally and traditionally, will share their assets. But, not in the classical socialist sense. My contention is that we would have to seek a happy medium between classical capitalism and socialism and marry the two. I am sure we can do so. It will be a delicate management problem. We should avoid a development by which the rich get richer and the poor get poorer. We should open up the informal sector of small businesses, so that the small black entrepreneur can work effectively within the confines of entrepreneurship. This will create jobs.’

I asked the Chief Minister: ‘You have said that Moscow is for negotiation, but will not abondon support for liberation movements.^81. Did you note an ambivalence in Soviet policy towards South Africa?’ ‘First of all, the ussr would prefer negotiation, rather than a violent end to apartheid,’ he replied. ‘They also told us that they would not prescribe to the liberation movement what tactics they are to use. That seems to be a very diplomatic approach to our current problem. Now, dealing with the question of terrorism: to its credit, the anc now eschews the use of violence. Oliver Thambo as well as some of his top officials, have said that placing limpet mines at sport arenas is against official anc policy. I am prepared to believe the anc understands that South Africa in the future has to be governed by blacks and whites living side by side. It doesn't make any sense to kill a white or black child in a restaurant or on a road or anywhere. I am convinced we are moving away from this

81. The Financial Mail, April 28, 1989

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type of strategy. The anc is focusing on peaceful means. And, if they still wage the armed struggle, it should be directed to the South African Army and the security establishment and not towards civilians. The anc has said it is prepared to negotiate. And, in fact, a statement was made that they were prepared to suspend violence. I think our task is to get the top leadership together and remove suspicion. The South African government suspects everything the anc says or does and the anc suspects everything Pretoria does and says. So we as South Africans have a duty to try to remove that negative atmosphere of suspicion. We should bring both parties together, because once they sit down to talk, the rest will fall into place fast enough.’

‘Could Mr FW de Klerk and Oliver Thambo actually be brought together at the White House by George Bush?’ I asked. ‘I know it sounds rather fantastic, but didn't President Lucas Mangope of Bophuthatswana propose a similar meeting at Mmabatho?’^82. Chief Minister Enos Mabuza: ‘That would truly be a revolutionary move. I do think that people who sincerely take an interest in South African affairs, should strive towards a move as suggested. You will remember Menachem Begin and Anwar Sadat were brought together by Jimmy Carter at Camp David. And, relations between Egypt and Israel survived all tribulations, in spite of the Arabs castigating Egypt. A move, as you suggest, by President Bush would be far more important than any moves to be undertaken here.’ However, in discussing the matter some more, we realised that Sadat and Begin were Head of State and Prime Minister. Oliver Tambo ranks more in the class of Yasser Arafat and will not easily be accorded the honours of a Prime Minister.

82. The Johannesburg Star, May 9, 1989