EPISCOPAL CHURCHPEOPLE for a =REE SOUTHERN AFRICA · ·~E c 339 Lafayette Street, New York, N.Y. 10012·2725 s (212) 4n.0066 FAX: (212) 979-1013 A #94 15 December 1989 - TOWARD A DEMOCRATIC FUTURE The Conference for a Denocratic Future on 9 December in Johannesburg brought 4600 delegates of over 2000 organizations together to concentrate on building a new South Africa out of its present shambles . Here are voices of participants:

'Mr. De Klerk, your back is to the wall. When you raise your eyes now, you can look only in one di­ rection. In so doing you meet the eyes bf the peo­ ple. There is much in our steady gaze that you must envy. You see our unflinching commitment to the cause of liberty, justice and equality. This is a noble cause, sanctioned by the world community. Like us , you must long for these things . Yet, you have excluded yourself from them. . . . ·

'Come stand on the floor of a conference like this . Like the rest of our delegates , bring a mandate from those who want you to represent them. Submit to the processes of denocracy. . It is true that you will be only one anong many delegates . But you will not be lonely. Come and feel the power of unity and action with the people of South Af­ rica, instead of againSt them. ' THE INDEPENDENT Monday 11 December 1989 - ANC leader Walter Sisulu~ in the keynote addPess

'We have suffered too long under . We want to break the present log jam be;tween the forces of social progress and peace· and those who represent the violence of apartheid. Intensified international pressure will operate decisively in favour of the forces of so­ cial progress and peace. There is today a new climate of peace and friendship in the world. We welcome that because we have seen that historically our struggle against apartheid is ultirnately a struggle for peace and justice. If the regime is serious about nego­ tiations they should create the climate for free political activity as put forward in the OAU Declaration adopted in Harare and which represents the views of the overWhelming major­ ity of people in South Africa .... The delegates (to the Conference for a Denocratic Future) were united in their commitment to isolate and destroy apartheid. The Conference resolved ·to intensify the struggle to transform our country. ' - Jay Naidbo, Gene~l Secretar-y of the Congress of South African Trade Unions~ at the United Nations, l2 December l989

'Informal repression, falling outside the official controls of formal security legislation ,is assuming increasing importance for the apartheid regime. Its most open form, the National Se­ curity Management System, recently downgraded but largely intact, serves to gather infonnation on the ground, feed this to the and carry out instructions for the neu­ tralising of political activists and organisations. Lower down in profile.· are sponsored vigi­ lante groups who violently prop up apartheid-created structures of homeland goverrunents and black local authorities , by eliminating their opponents and creating the image of black-on­ black violence. At the bottom of the scale are the shadowy hit squads , several of which have recently been shown beyond doubt to be police and anry-based structures operating through a line of command which may very well emanate from the top. ' - Dr Max Coleman of the Human Rights Commission~ Johannesburg~ at the United Nations, l2 December l989 . d 'The govemment has fuZZ confidence that the tried and r>espected pr>ose- cution mechanisms of the state wi U be sufficient to bring the accused m U r e r .hefor>e the cour>t~ impar>tiaUy and objectively. ' - President F. W. De Klerk , 7 December 19 89

The protective cover is being peeled away from one of Pretoria's most closely guarded secret and gruesome - weapons in its effort to survive. Outright of opponents of apartheid and minority rule is a feature in South Africa and among exile corranuni ties throughout the world. Over 100 anti-apartheid activists have been killed inside the cmmtry in the past 10 years and other South Africans abroad have met the same fate. At home the South African Po­ lice have been assigned to investigate and have yet to solve one of these 'mysterious' deaths. South Africans struggling for a free society have long assumed the existence of officially pro­

tected and sanctioned hit squads 0

On the eve of his scheduled hanging for killing a white farmer, a 32-year-old former policeman, Butana Almond Nofomela, confessed in writing that he had been a member of a security police assassination squad. Nofomela reasserted his innocence in the fanner's murder but related in great detail his work with the hit squad since 19 81. He told how security police brass visited him while he awaited sentence to urge him not to reveal information about the murder unit and that they would 'help me out of this problem'. The death sentence came down and his security police visitors told him 'that the instruction from Major De Kock was that I should take the pain' . Nofomela sent for a lawyer and a stay of execution ensued. Nofomela says late in 19 81 he was briefed in Pretoria by a Brigadier Schoon and his squad coiiDIJander, Captain Johannes 'to eliminate a certain Durban attorney, Griffiths Mxenge' . Nofomela and three other squad members stopped the prominent civil rights lawyer along a road, took him to a near­ by stadium and beat and stabbed him to death .. 'we carried on butchering his body'. Following Coetzee' s orders the four cops took Mxenge 's money and valuables 'in order to simulate a rob­ -~ry'. Back in Pretoria each of the murderers was given 1,000 Rand.

Soon there was confirmation of Nofomela' s 19 October affidavit. VRYE WEEKBLAD, an ­ ianguage newspaper, published the confession of Captain Dirk Coetzee, who revealed further details of the operations of his and other Askari killer squads . From exile, he named names - of generals. Coetzee tells how he and another officer put poison in the drinks of two captured .ANC suspects , poison supplied by General Neethling, who averred that 6 0 grarnmes would suffice. They didn't. 'We increased dosage to 36 0 grammes , but nothing happen­ ed' . A sleeping potion was then applied and the two confused men were then shot and their bod­ ies burned. Neethling asked for careful notes on the effect of the soporific. Lt. Gen. Lothar Paul Neethling is head of the Criminalistics branch of the South African Police and in charge ·-of the SAP laboratory in Pretoria. Then Brigadier Neethling spent ihe years 1959-1963 study­ ing in the United States and since has made repeated visits to this country. General Neethling claims he has been defamed, he is unable to travel in South Africa and surrounding countries because he is in mortal danger, his family is imperiled, and is suing VRYE WEEKBLAD.

Another USA connection crops up in Coetzee' s lengthy confession. A plan to murder a South Afri­ can activist in exile in Angola was to have involved use of a special weapon. 'Genl Johan Coet­ zee received a Scorpio machine pistol from the .Americans as a present. He donated it to secur­ i ty. The machine pistol fitted with a silencer, was built into a black briefcase. The barrel was hidden with a sticker and a container was built in into which t..'le empty catridges had to fall. It was fired with a trigger mechanism outside the case.' General Johan Coetzee, then head of the security police,went on to become Corranissioner of Police. Now retired, he has been a frequent visitor to the United States.

A third hit squad member, David 'Spyker' Tshikalange, also having fled South Africa, affirms his participation in the Mxenge murder. He explains how he was taught to turn the knife after having stabbed someone. 'Apparently one leaves a bigger hole then. And when I slit a throat I had to cut until I felt the bone. Then someone was stone dead. ' Pretoria says it. will seek to extradite Dirk Coetzee, said to be hiding in Europe. .Al.rrond Nofo­ mela has pled ~l ty ·to Mxenge 's murder; his testimony - if he makes it to the witness stand - sh'?uld be explo~~ve. South Africans have called for a judicial inquiry, even an international tribur;al: Pres~dent De Klerk is trying to keep the murder squad issue among the lower ranks and w~ thin controllable departmental confines - lest the trail of blood is revealed all the way to the generals - and beyond.

ecsa dec 89 QJ;J;;: L B.B.P.! T I 0 ~

!;O~FERENJ;_~QJ3_A_Q~M.Qt;.BAT I C FUTUR~

1. The s£ruggling people of our motherland stand at the threshold of a new S.A. CentLlries of struggle against the forces . of evil and oppression are now bearing fruit. We are certain of our future and_through our concerted will, SA will be free and democratic.

2. We~ the thousands of represent~. tives of organis-ations from throughout SA, gathered here in Johannesburg to plan the Aext steps of our march to fr~edom, find our country in a chaotic state in that: * The minority rulers hold onto power ag~inst the will of the majority. * They perpetrate violence against our people. * 1he economv is in total ruin. * The su1fering of our people increases daily unemployment~ low wages~ high rents, high cost of living.

3. Our people have made it clear that: * No minority government is acceptable . * Apartheid must be completely dism~ntled. * Only a united~ democratic~ non-racial SA is acceptable. * We will continue to resist apartheid~ even defy and actively dismantle it, whatever the cost.

4. Despite its total isolation~ the de Klerk regime is fighting back. It has launched its awn offensive against our people~ movements and our allies abroad.

5. The strategic objective of the regime r•mains that of reshaping apartheid to make it palatable to th~ South African people and the international community. More importantly, the clear intention is to protect the privileges of the white minority.

6. We are convinced that the de Klerk government is not interested in creating a democratic SA, nor is i·t interested in genui~e negotiations. Clearly~ de Klerk 'is buying time to re-order the forces of minority domination and win over some of our·people to his fraudulent schemes.

7. De Klerk is presenting proposed "reforms" as his great beginning and calls on us to de-escalate our struggle and to end international isolation.

8. We ask our people and the world community to note that the security forces of the de Klerk regime continue their merciless assault on our unarmed people: * The "hit squads" t'""em~.in intact and have been given a ne\·J mandate to continue the elimination of our leaders and activists.

1 * Over 3000 patriots are serving sentences in de Klerks' j ai 1 s.

* Mere than 70 await De Klerks' hangman on Death Row. * Over 800 remain under De Klerks' restriction orders.

9. The oppressed people of SA shall be masters of their own history - net de Klerk. The campaigns of mass action by our people have inspired millions of South Africans ~ both Black and white. We have broken the shackles of the State of Emergency: * Ou~ gallant detainees wen their release through the hunger strike. * Our marches have challenged de Klerk to restrain his "dogs of war".

10. The campaigns of mass action has attracted thousands of n~w people into the fold of the anti-apartheid forces. The moral appeal of the democratic movement has never been greater. This moral appeal has even been extended to the police force where the number .of policemen and policewomen, who refuse to be used against'their own people~ will increase.

11. We want to end apartheid and exploitation as soon as possible. We want democracy as soon as possible. If De Klerk can convince us that he is serious about genuine negotiations on the creation of a democratic SA~ and he has created the necessary conditions for negotiations, we are ready to talk about t~e creation of a democratic SA.

12. De Klerk has done nothing which convinces us that he is genuine. There are no actions to back up his vague premises.

13. We cannot and will net wait until de Klerk is ready. Our struggle to dismantle apartheid and exploitation and to build a democratic future will qo on: · * We will continue to galvanise ever~ section of our society - Black and white into united action against apartheid. * We will build the maximum unity amonq all anti apartheid forces. * We will continue to demand that the international community intensify its efforts to isolate the de Klerk government.

14.. We have put the question of political power first on the agenda today. Today we will jointly map out a prooram to intensify our struggle .against apartheid and e:·:ploitationt:unite our people as never before.

We will net rest until all the people of SA - Black and white govern in a non-racial, democratic and united South Africa.

Johannesburg 9 December 1989 \

MDM S ATEMENT ON DEATH SQUADS- 27/11/89

n1e Mass ~ll~{aric Movement fira\\ly believe~ that lhe ideruification uf" rt:w individuals involved in de.1th ~quad aotivities will not stop che use of violence and terror Againsr opponents or apartlu:id. We be-lieve that ide·ratlging olllU drosti~ action is necessary to put an end to these upar1hciu (;time:~ W~.; an: deeply cc.m~:crncu that, if this is not done. a few individuals will be made 5copcgo~tn, whil the bissc~t criminals • .tho~e in commanu, will be able to continue "busirless as usuol".

lrt .this Jighr, the MDM cnlls for the institution of seven (7) sleps whh;h will go a long w~y ro trodlca.dng this fi rm Of sr~ce ct,·a·od~.n which has be.en •amiJilltl umlcr the Nationalist Oovernmem. In calling for these ~ctions, we are not motivated by the desire for rcsvense • nothins can cumpcnsuu: the · comrades and lov d ones for the loss of those who have bc!cn so brutally murdered.

RAther we arc p • arily concerned lo pur an end, once and tor aU. to this sracc•SQJ1~doncd and 16UH~­ :.pun:mrccJ muru •r uC ap~trlhciu's opponcms. We call on all de1\1ocrcui<: forcts. I0¢<,11)' ~mu intcrnatiooally, t suppon us in pressurising the South African and Other snvemrnents to act on the seven 5tcps pro sed below:

f the Death Squads and thus~ re:;ponslble at the top.

All lhose implica ed in 1.1te activitic:s of the dc::lth $C.ju&uJs must be charsed or made to account fur their complicity. It m st not only ~ tho~ who pull~d the triggers. but also their cortb'ollers (those who airned the guns). ho ure brough& 10 book. All those who are implicated by vtnue of their position of aulhority. such a Louis LeOrange. Adriaan Viole, Johan Coetzee. General VD Merwe etc. should also be lnvesdg:u d.

The tnvesdgatio should go beyond the security police aJld include olher agencies which are impllcmed. espec ally the National Intelligence Service (NIS) and the State Security Council (S~<.;).

Moreover the cnt re government. riGht up to P1'e:sideut Dc:Klerk, should be made to account .Recenr circum~tantlal evi. nee tends ro cont1m1 our belief thar there has been iovemmem complicity nt every level in the opera ion of these Death Squads. We do noc believe that withour such complicity, these -\~aUt sttuau~ wou u have btxn able Lo upcr..ue with such impunity and to such devastating effect.

l. An Indep ndent full•scale Judidal Commission of Enquiry must be instituted.

''lnd¢l)~:nucm": d • ruajuri&y uf pcuplc: in uur country do not see the South At'rico.n judiciwy as being lndependem fro rhc aptU'theid Slat~. In fact. in some instnnces. judges have !een ttl be colluding in acts of scate tt!uor eg che Ebrahim trial where the trial proceeded ~spite the fact that Ebrahim had been . illeguJJy abducted·1 from a neighbouring srate, and one or his comrades murdered by a death squad.

To ensure thal a j diciru commis~ion into death squads is imkf.X=mknt from the influence of rhe state, and seen to be so we sugge.'iJ that the lntematio~l Conl.Qlission of Jurists be requested tO send one or more top iaue national J~risls lO partidp•n~ m the commission. Funllermore we propose thut incJependent Sou h African legal cX~rlS with a high reputation be included in the C~nnmission. A body like Lnwy~ · for Human Rights could be requested to nomin~te these expens.

"Pull-scale'': to aunch a proper investigation, the Cornmtssion must haYe full power to subpoena relevanc stare re ords and witnesses. The State President must waive restrictions which prevent infonnation fro~ bei11g provided on the grounds of "st:.tte security". All pnx:eedin8~ must be open and public. ' t11.11'11.11 1 ·'""'I GHr:. •:c:;r·rr·11 '55 rUN 002

No linlir:ulons sh uhJ be placed on the Con"Unis~ions access to witnesses. 111is includes full ~a~,;~o:~n w all unhs in the se wil)l forces. Nofomela should not be ~~~~uted, but ~huulcJ be prwuced co tesdfy in public. Where n ccssary, a·s with Co.:t:t:ce and Tshikalangc. the Con1mission should hea.a· eviden~"' nut~ide SoJJth A ·ca. ·

Tf President De 1lcrk fails to appoint a.n independent Commission, we sug!cst that a bcxly nu;h as the Independent e . ~ of' Enquiry into Informal Repression could take the initiative to COrtSlhulc: a Commission, u a~ possible along the lirt~s dcsc::ribcd above.

3. The dis antllng or the State Security Council/ JMC system, the National lnt lllgence Service, and the Security Pollee.

These in:nitution ·arc 3pccirically designed to u.se legal and Ute sal n1c::s.ns of every variety to wipe uut opposition to ap hcid. The use of assassination and Death Squads is an integral pan of this arsenal. These measures on the e"treme end of the continuuau or SlAte rcpn:niun ~&lltin~t opponents of apilnheid. This c ntinuum starts off with various lypc:s or harassment, moves to torture, an_<1 ends up whh mun.ler. The e me:uures are seen as legitimate ways to de rend apanheid from "re ... otulionaries",. 1lle dlsmamllng t the SSC, NIS and SP app3raruses arc a vital f.Lrst step to ending state terrorism agains1 rhe majo 'ty of the population. Other units of the ··security forces" need to be contined to barrucks or remo ed from the townships to end their reign of terror against the people. Vigilantes in uniform. the klrsc nstnbels and municipal police, need to be disbanded.

Those element~ f lhe pollee geriutnely dedicated [0 serving the people, like Rockman. sho\,lld concentrate on co 1baning crime and refuse to collaborate in the execution of aparthcicl repression.

44 Full co for the victims of state terroris1n and lhtdr families.

$, The hnple entation of punitive measures against the regin1~ by States _on whose tcr itory these illegal acts have been conunltlttd.

Such punitive me~sures should include the expulsion of Sou1h African diplomatic mission$ in those counaies where S urh Atric:m ~ovemmem employees have comnlilted Bets of intemutional rerrorism. We also b~U~ve ~at m~m~n ur the Soulh Arrican s~curity force!J should be bnrt'td from entering otJ1er countries, t P"'' an eml 'o l111:::;e ill~KalllCtlS on fu~ign soil, and ro send 11 clc3l' mes$oge that the world is not prep d to tolcrnce apartheid leiTOr. 6. The laun bing of un enquiry into intcrnatlvnul collaboration with South Africa death squads.

An International nqui.ry should be launched into alleged collnboralion between some neighbouring states and Weste intelligence agencies with rhe acrivilies of South African death squads, and. other illegal acts such · · the abduction of SA nationals..._This. en.)uiry should be headed by an international agency such as th United Nations.

7. Prcsstu·e s ould be stepped up to end all int'!lli~ence, training material assistQncc, a ad othel' collaboration by W~stern agencies with apartheid security fo•· es. COSAWR - the Corrnni ttee on South African War Resistance - is an organization of war resisters based in London. COSAWR aids and supports South Africans who have left their homes for exile to avoid the military draft and those still in South Africa facing military conscription in the apartheid a.nT\Y. More and more young white South Africans are defying the military call-up of all able-bodied whites which goes on relentlessly as Pretoria desperately tries to enforce its rule at home and maintain its armed aggression against neighboring countries. Harsh imprisohment for those who remain inside , the chill of exile for those who leave.

Draft resistance is a growing serious threat to the apartheid state. It deprives Pretoria of scarce manpower. It erodes the front of minority invincibility. The South African war resisters are living proof of and witness to the non-racialist struggle for a free , unitary and derocratic South Africa.

COSAWR publishes every two ronths a tightly packed journal, RESISTER, which gives not only an intimate examination of the South African Defence Force and the opposi­ tion to it but analyses of social, economic, political developments within the apartheid society. The war in Angola and Namibia, covert and overt military acts , Pretoria's methods of destabilization and assassination, its deceptions are regu­ larly featured in RESISTER.

We encourage you to support COSAWR and receive one of the very best corranentaries on southern Africa. A gift of $20.00 or rore will mightily strengthen these brave men: COSAWR B. M. Box 2190 London WClN 3XX England

Pretoria and its allies make every effort to thwart COSAWR. Tum the page for the most recent attempt. ecsa dec 89 RESISTER

COSAW1 IUKJ 8 M eO~ ZII'Q,londoo> WCIN 3:.::< Englood. Phone 278--6928 COSAWR (Nerherlondol, POS1buo !><3 IOOOAN A""te

P_retoria's dirty tricks.

These cartoons were concocted as a phony front cover of RESISTER.

These particular ones focus on that darling of the right wing - in the USA and elsewhere - Jonas Savirnbi, the UNITA leader.

They are pretty crude - they have a flavor of being prepared in Pre­ toria and are being spread about in the United States and other countries in Africa, Europe and North America.

In the midst of , break­ ins, false news stories and prop­ aganda, this is an attempt to besmirch the South African draft resistance movement.

easa ika 89