- Title: MANDELA VISIT EAST RAND RE VIOLANCE – KATLEHONG, 05/08/93 TAPE #02
- Date: 5th August 1993
- Summary: MANDELA VISIT EAST RAND RE VIOLANCE – KATLEHONG, 05/08/93 TAPE #02
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- City: Johannesburg
- Country: South Africa
- Reuters ID: 93AUG05R02
- Story Text:MANDELA VISIT EAST RAND RE VIOLANCE – KATLEHONG, 05/08/93
TAPE #02
00:00:22: TOKYO SEXWALE CHEERING THE CROWD
00:00:52: JUBILEE OF PEOPLE CHEERING AT THE STADIUM
00:01:15: WIDE OF NELSON MANDELA ADDRESSING THE PEOPLE AT THE STADIUM
00:01:33: NELSON MANDELA ADDRESSING THE PEOPLE AT THE STADIUM
“In a situation such as faces us now to talk about peace, reconciliation about political tolerance. It is not easy to call upon our fellow followers to refrain from violence, there was once a time when we could confidently say that members of the African National Congress do not believe in violence and have not used violence against anybody. There was a time when our people started taking up weapons purely for the purpose of defending themselves and they were perfectly entitled to do so, but also there are times even now when our own people participate in killing innocent people. It is in again that background very difficult for us, when people are so angry and when they justified that anger, it is not easy for us to say let us be non-violent, let us fold our arms and do nothing. It is not easy to say we are building a South Africa were we want all our people to live in peace black and white but in spite of what I’m going to say here. You must understand that the solution is peace, it is reconciliation, it is political tolerance, it is the ability to remain calm and cool whatever the situation. Amongst us here we don’t have only the Zulu’s and Xhosa’s and Basotho’s, we have Whites. There is a young lady here; there she is… stand up please!!! (Crowd cheering) We have many of them because we are building a nation, they love you as much as I love you, and they are prepared to defend you as much as I’m prepared to defend you. We are building a nation and the answer is reconciliation, it is peace, it is political tolerance let us preach the slogan, build my friend, build. Let us build a new South Africa, but what are the problems facing us? And this is what I want to discuss with you today. The problems facing those who want peace, when I was in Malaysia about two days ago I phoned Mr De Klerk after I have been briefed on the situation by the Secretary-General of the ANC, Cyril Ramaphosa I then asked Mr De Klerk, can you brief me what is the position? He gave me a briefing and in the course of that briefing he told me that these massacres that are taking place have been committed by radicals on the extreme left and on the extreme right and he said even our own statement said that this violence was coursed by criminal gangs I then said what are you doing now? He said well I have been to the area and we are discussing the matter and I said to him as a mediate step to stop the violence. Why would you not put the army and the police around each hostel prevent hostel dwellers from leaving the hostel to attack residents and prevent residents from entering the hostels to attack hostel dwellers why won’t you do that today? He said I believe this is already taking place. I returned and first question I asked what happened last night? Was there an army, police force around the hostels and I was told no that was the first question I asked even when I arrived here. Have there been police around the hostel? No, That is one of our problems”
END - Copyright Holder: REUTERS