SOUTH AFRICA: LARGE CROWD WELCOMES SEVEN AFRICAN NATIONAL CONGRESS FIGHTERS, FREED FROM ROBBEN ISLAND JAIL UNDER AN AGREEMENT AIMED AT ADVANCING APARTHEID REFORM

Record ID: 671037

  • Title: SOUTH AFRICA: LARGE CROWD WELCOMES SEVEN AFRICAN NATIONAL CONGRESS FIGHTERS, FREED FROM ROBBEN ISLAND JAIL UNDER AN AGREEMENT AIMED AT ADVANCING APARTHEID REFORM
  • Date: 22nd February 1991
  • Summary: CAPE TOWN, SOUTH AFRICA (FEBRUARY 21, 1991) SVS CROWD CHEERING AND WAVING FLAGS (3 SHOTS) SV PAN FROM BARBED WIRE TO ROBBEN ISLAND SIGN SV PULL BACK TO GV SHIP ARRIVING SV CROWD CHEERING AND WAVING SV FREED MEN LEAVING SHIP AND GIVING CLENCHED FIST SALUTE GV CROWS ZOOM TO ANC FLAG SV FREED MEN WALKING ON QUAYSIDE AND WAVING SV FREED MEN WALK THROUGH CROWD SV ANC BANNER CU
  • Embargoed: 9th March 1991 12:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: CAPE TOWN, SOUTH AFRICA
  • Country: South Africa
  • Topics: General,Politics
  • Reuters ID: LVA53HA32LLEJB0E916KBW7O016J
  • Story Text: The South African government released seven guerrilla members of the African National Congress (ANC) on Thursday (February 21) under an agreement aimed at advancing apartheid reform.

    Hundreds of people carrying ANC flags and posters crowded the quayside at Cape Town harbour and cheered the freed fighters as they returned from their imprisonment at Robben Island jail a few miles (kms) offshore.

    The seven men had been convicted of terrorism of behalf of the ANC'S military wing. All had completed less than five years of their eight to 15 year sentences. The former prisoners immediately issued a statement condemning the reluctance of the government to speed up the process of freeing political prisoners.

    The ANC accuses the government of dragging its feet over the release of an estimated 3,000 political detainees under an agreement last year, aimed at clearing obstacles to political reform and power-sharing in South Africa.
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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