FW de Klerk's Last-Ditch Effort Leads to South African Elections Deal

Strategic Insights -

FW de Klerk's determination to find a solution to the impending civil war in South Africa led him to engage in intense negotiations with Mangosuthu Buthelezi, the Zulu leader, and Nelson Mandela, the ANC leader. Despite the failed mediation by Henry Kissinger and Lord Carrington, de Klerk's efforts ultimately resulted in a deal that allowed the South African elections to proceed. The agreement, which was facilitated by FW de Klerk and Nelson Mandela, was reached on the eve of the election, with Buthelezi agreeing to participate in the vote after initially refusing to do so.

Key Takeaways:

  • FW de Klerk's last-ditch efforts to find a solution to the impending civil war in South Africa led to a deal with Mangosuthu Buthelezi and Nelson Mandela.
  • The agreement, facilitated by de Klerk and Mandela, allowed the South African elections to proceed.
  • Buthelezi's decision to participate in the vote was motivated by his desire to avoid international mediation and the potential for violence.
  • The agreement included guarantees for the Zulu king's future, but made no immediate concessions to Buthelezi's demands for increased self-governing powers.
  • Nelson Mandela's acceptance of the deal was conditional on the inclusion of an Inkatha sticker on the ballot paper, which was eventually added at the insistence of FW de Klerk.
  • The deal sent a wave of relief across South Africa, with celebrations taking place in both the ANC and Inkatha strongholds.
  • However, hardline backers of Buthelezi were appalled by his decision to participate in the vote, and warned that the deal could still be reneged.

Statistics:

  • 20,000 murders were reported in South Africa in 1993, three times as many as four years ago.
  • There are a million licensed AK47 rifles in circulation in South Africa.
  • More than 18m blacks live in households earning less than £150 a month, about 50% are unemployed and 9m are described as "completely destitute".
  • Few analysts gave Buthelezi more than 10% of the nationwide vote in the 1994 election.

Sources:

  • The Sunday Times, "FW de Klerk's Last-Ditch Effort Leads to South African Elections Deal," April 1994.
  • Interview with Washington Jalango Okumu, April 1994.
  • Interview with Colin Coleman, April 1994.
  • Interview with Buthelezi, April 1994.
  • "The South African Elections: A Timeline," The Sunday Times, 1994.