1111 ■ Ill ■■ ll.!IND
REACHING OUT TO LOCAL ACTIVISTS
As Africa is becoming less of a priority which also tap a regional for U.S. policy makers, the Africa Fund component. has been seeking out new ways to build a In Kansas City the constituency for Africa here at home. Greater Kansas Commit In South Africa news, the last three tee Against Apartheid years' headlines have quoted President and Racism brought de Klerk's claims of the death of apart thirty community, stu heid. Yet activists know there is still much dent, and legislative ac work to be done. Likewise in Mozam tivists for a day-long bique, Angola and Zaire the current tran series of consultations. sitions require a higher level of under Seattle's Council of standing than most can gain through the Churches and the Afri mainstream press. can Studies Association It has been difficult to decipher how, collaborated with the Af in these changing times, to continue to rica Fund on a lively support democracy both in South and meeting of regional southern Africa. southern Africa activists, Recognizing that South Africa's attended by Fund Execu transition has impacted on the U.S. soli tive Director Jennifer darity community, The Africa Fund set Davis. Activists from all Africa Fund Projects Director Dumisani Kumalo (left) and Regional out to consult with people across the Coordinator Prexy Nesbitt. country - seeing old friends and meet over Texas and New ing new. Long time activist Prexy Nesbitt Mexico came together in Dallas to assess ered to observe the third anniversary of came on board to help organize six re current work and plan for the future. Nelson Mandela's release and to gional conferences in as many months. Africa Fund Projects Director Durni strategize for the coming period. The conferences were held in cities sani Kumalo joined Prexy Nesbitt in Los Conferences were also in held in with active southern Africa networks, Angeles to address a crowd of sixty, gath- Chicago and Atlanta.
A DELUGE OF PETITIONS URGE PRESIDENT CLINTON TO STOP APARTHEID'SVIOLENCE
Thousands of Americans participated in lence which has claimed over 10,000 lives sued proclamations noting the week of the Africa Fund's STOP Apartheid's Vio since Mandela was freed. action. Perhaps the most moving state lence Week commemorating the third The petitions came from churches, ment came from Governor Mike Lowry anniversary of the release of Nelson Man colleges, mosques, synagogues, and of Washington State: "whereas we remain dela from 27 years in South Africa's jails union halls in more than 20 states. Many concerned about stopping the killing in our on February 11, 1990. During the week of communities and groups held teach-ins own communities Jed by the dominant cul February 7-14, hundreds of petitions on apartheid's violence, some held vigils ture of violence; whereas we encouraged the were collected calling on President Clin in public places. new administration in Washington D.C. to ton to publicly condemn apartheid's vio- Several mayors and city councils is- (continued on page 4) countries ... today the decolonization doned, as in South Africa, contra forces agenda has been completed, at least in were built, as in Angola, all in the name political terms; 51 member states belong of combatting communism. to the Organization of African Unity, and The end of the Cold War brought a it's more than a dream to look to the birth further retreat from concern. Now policy of a free South Africa in the very near seems devoid of any overarching design, future. is characterized by negle~t and occasion And yet our role seems far from over. ally driven to acts of crisis intervention The inequalities of the world economic when the pictures on television awaken system, the decline in commodity prices the conscience of the public. and continuing rise in the cost of indus Writing in Foreign Affairs recently, trial goods have been particularly hard Time Nairobi Bureau chief Marguerite on Africa. As Salim Salim, OAU Secre Michaels reports on "A Retreat from tary General describes it: "Our people (continued on page 4) This year, the American Committee on work harder today, produce more but Africa, founder of the Africa Fund, will get less for what they produce." mark its 40th year of activity on behalf of Not all the problems of African states African self-determination, of campaign are imported, or attributable only to the ing for an engaged and just U.S. policy legacy of colonialism. Autocratic and cor toward Africa, of building a nation-wide rupt leadership, the slow growth of any grassroots constituency for Africa. empowering grass-roots democracy, When news from Africa seems bleak, misdirection of economic resources and as wars ravage the continent, affecting the continuing impact of ancient rival more people and threatening more lives ries, have all played their part. But West than all the fighting in the rest of the ern and U.S. policy makers also have world, it is important to take the long much to answer for. view, recalling what we've achieved. In the long years when policy was Africa was still colonial property dominated by Cold War considerations, when ACOA opened its doors. There dictators were armed, as in Somalia and were only four independent Zaire, white supremacists were con-
DELEGATION TO SOUTH AFRICA Dr. Wyatt Tee Walker, Chair of the Religious paralyzed. "We are still in pain, suffer Action Network (a project of Africa Fund's ing, grieving in Boipatong," she said. "We Associate organization, the American Com- ~ live with constant threats from the people mittee on Africa) and Aleah Bacquie, RAN < of Kwa Madala Hostel. Some have run Coordinator and Africa Fund Human Rights away from our own houses and sleep in Coordinator, led a delegation to South Africa churches for safety ... .our plea to you is to to attend the African National Congress' first help ...Do not forget us." ever International Solidarity Conference on Days later when I met with Justice South African soil in February. Bacquie's Goldstone who heads the Goldstone report follows. Commission on Public Violence and In timidation I recounted those stories from The major human rights issue stressed the people of Boipatong. Goldstone's at the conference was that of political agenda seems directed not principally violence which killed some 3,500 people toward uncovering the truth about the in 1992 and tragically renders free politi causes of violence in South Africa, but to cal activity in South Africa a dream de Religious Action Network Chair Wyatt Tee ensuring that the negotiations process ferred. In fact, almost every ANC official Walker with Sister Bernard Ncu be at the February continues on track. He told me that he ANC Conference in Johannesburg, South Africa. who made a presentation mentioned the sees "no point" in finding or reporting threat to free and fair elections posed by after the police had ordered the clearing on the initial causes of the violence. violence and intimidation. of protective road blocks set up by the Goldstone has uncovered secret and After the conference I traveled to community, a large group of men en illegal government intelligence "dirty communities victimized by violence in tered the quiet area - some on foot and tricks" projects aimed at destabilizing the the Johannesburg area. I learned how the others in vehicles. Armed with pangas, ANC. This revelation led to De Klerk's dark cloud of political violence still tomahawks, and AK47's, their orders termination of several senior intelligence plagues Boipatong township. Survivors were to spend "three minutes per house". officers in December 1992. However, the and relatives of the victims of the Thus, shack dwellers had the highest people of Boipatong expressed "no con Boipatong Massacre of June 1992 met death toll, their fragile structures easily fidence in the Goldstone Commission it with us in the local church to describe broken into, the inhabitants defenseless. self." I will soon go to South Africa for a police involvement-how they prepared Matsule Miriam Muleni, severely year to join the South African Council of the way for attackers and disregarded wounded in the attack herself, told me Churches where my investigation of the community's calls for help. Hours how her husband was killed and her child South Africa's violence will continue.
2 WORKING FOR EQUALITY IN TOMORROWS SOUTH AFRICA An Africa Fund letter in support of the Women's Project Coordinator South African Women's Charter Cam Rachael Kagan went to South Africa and paign signed by American women rep Zimbabwe in the Fall of 1992 to make resenting over 25 women's, religious, initial contacts with women organizers union and anti-apartheid organizations there. In South Africa, she learned of was delivered to women leaders in South women's determination to see that their Africa during Women's History Month. rights are recognized and protected by a Signatories to the letter included NOW new government. President Patricia Ireland, Congress "We need to unite as women to en woman Patricia Schroeder, National sure the new South Africa is new for us Council of Negro Women President Dor too. We need to cross the line into the othy Height, Rev. Dr. Joan B. Campbell, new era together. The advantages some General Secretary of the National Coun women have had under apartheid have cil of Churches, Bella Abzug, Chair of the been superficial. After apartheid these NYC Commission on the Status of will be gone. It will be the men's club." Women, and the National Council ofJew Modiegi Kumalo, of the South African Africa Fund Women's Project Coordinator Rachael Kagan (left) with Xoliswa Tom of the Border ish Women. This letter represents the first Women's National Coalition, told Kagan. Council of Churches outside her office in South action of the Africa Fund Women's Women in South Africa are building Africa, October 1992. Tom was one of the Project, created in response to the struggle a movement from the ground up. Faced organizers of the September march which resulted of women in southern Africa. (continued on page 5) in the Bisho massacre.
STRENGTHENING UNION-TO-UNIONTIES
In the wake of the long and bloody 1992 In December South African trade unionist Willies Mchunu visited DC 1707 AFSCME leadership in New South African hospital workers strike, York. (left to right) Africa Fund Labor Desk Coordinator Mike Fleshman, DC1707 Political Action Director the Labor Desk has continued efforts to Susan Wilson, DC1707 President Bettye Roberts, Mchunu, DC 1707 Executive Director Robert McEnroe, strengthen links between the National DC 1707 Political Action Committee Chair Bill Young. Education, Health and Allied Workers Union (NEHA WU) and their counterpart on the role of U.S. unions in nursing, and February as part of the union's Black His unions in the United States. attended the ANC's mid-February inter tory Month program. Participants viewed In February Labor Desk coordinator national conference in Johannesburg. The Africa Fund's "Stop Apartheid's Vio Mike Fleshman worked closely with The Labor Desk also hosted Willies lence" video, and discussed ways to sup NEHA WU and the Service Employees Mchunu, unionist and ANC leader in port South Africa's Black union move International Union (SEIU) to coordinate violence-racked Natal Province, during ment during the difficult transition from the visit to South Africa of Diane Sosne, a U.S. visit in mid-December. Mchunu apartheid to democracy. SEIU vice president and head of the briefed United Steel Workers of America As AFRICA FUND NEWS goes to press, union's nursing division. The visit re International Director Jerry Fernandez on the Labor Desk is preparing to assume sulted from contacts made during the the escalating political violence in the primary responsibility for coordinating Labor Desk's 1992 tour of the United province, and met local labor leaders in the activities of the New York Labor Com States by NEHAWU nurses Thami New York. mittee Against Apartheid, the oldest lo Skenjana and Khumbu Mtinjana. Sosne Fleshman and visiting South Afri cally based anti-apartheid labor coalition met with NEHA WU Deputy General Sec can unionist Bobby Maree addressed the in the country. Fleshman is slated to be retary Neil Thobejane, addressed a na Political Action Committee of AFSCME come co-coordinator of the committee tional conference of South African nurses District Council 1707 in New York in this Spring. 3 CITIES OPPOSE VIOLENCE address the problems of poverty, lack of eco Committee collected petitions for Presi tion Against Apartheid held meetings on nomic and educational opportunity that are dent Clinton. violence at home and abroad. the root causes of violence, and to overturn Chicago: On February 11, the third anni Los Angeles: The Religious Task Force policies that have dominated both our domes versary of Mandela's release, Southern on Southern Africa organized a celebra tic and foreign policies in the past, resulting Africa Network of Churches held a vigil tion of the third anniversary of Nelson in disproportionate death rate among both outside the South African Consulate and Mandela's release from jail held at the African Americans and Southern Africans; I a teach-in on the violence. historic Holman United Methodist Mike Lowry urge all citizens to join in the Cleveland: The North East Coalition Church on February 11. fight ~gainst apartheid and injustice in any Against Apartheid, TransAfrica and New York: Many churches collected pe form. American Friends Service Committee col titions for President Clinton and Mayor The petitions will be delivered to the lected petitions and held meetings in sev Dinkins issued a proclamation declaring Secretary of State, Warren Christopher, eral churches in the area. February 7-14, STOP Apartheid's Vio by a delegation of church, civil rights, Detroit: The Detroit City Council lence Week. and labor leaders in April. adopted a resolution declaring February Portland, OR: Portlanders Against Among the cities where actions took 7-14, STOP Apartheid's Violence Week Apartheid conducted teach-ins on place were: and both the Michigan Coalition for Hu apartheid's violence in the public schools Albany: The Capital District Coalition man Rights and SOSAD (Save our Sons and showed the STOP Apartheid's Vio Against Apartheid and Racism organized and Daughters) held a noon time vigil lence video to many classes. a number of teach-ins on violence at home outside the Detroit County Building on Seattle: The Greater Seattle Council of and abroad. February 11. Churches held special programs at three Atlanta: The American Friends Service Kansas City: The Greater Kansas Coali- different churches and many others in Committee and the cluded copies of Georgia Coalition the petition in on Southern Africa their Sunday pro toured a speaker on gram. Both Mayor South Africa and Norman Rice and held a statewide Governor Mike meeting on Febru Lowry issued ary 20 in Atlanta. proclamations Boston: The Mobi about the week of lization for Sur action. vival collected Washington DC: hundreds of peti John Ray, Chair tions and held man Pro Tern of teach-ins on the Washington apartheid's vio DC City Council lence. proposed a resolu Baltimore: The Bal tion on the week timore City Coun of action which cil issued a procla was passed unani mation declaring mously. Mean February 7-14 while, churches in STOP Apartheid's the area collected Violence Week. petitions for Presi The American This young boy was a victim ofpolice brutality during the Sept., 1992 Bisho massacre, when 28 people were killed dent Clinton. Friends Service and hundreds wounded as government troops opened fire on 80,000 peaceful anti-apartheid demonstrators.
Africa. In the last six months the State $2.8 billion peacekeeping budget allo cess in South Africa -where the de Kl erk Department's bureau of African Affairs cated for African operations, despite the government is being allowed to drag its has lost 70 posts ... consulates in Kenya, overwhelming needs generated by war, feet and manipulate constitutional legal Cameroon and Nigeria are to be closed drought and millions of refugees. isms without challenge. - bodies and budgets are needed in East When asked about Africa during the It also underscores the importance ern Europe." The Africa desk for the U.S. Presidential campaign, Bill Clinton made of your ongoing engagement with the Agency for International Development statements on the need for democracy, work of the Africa Fund and the Ameri has lost 40 of 130 staffers in recent years. support against apartheid, etc. But one can Committee on Africa. Together we This pattern of minimal resource had to search hard to find these policy need to address the task of keeping Af application is carried over into the United statements; Africa has clearly been rel rica on the U.S. policy agenda and ensur Nations, which has only 15% of its mili egated to the back burner. ing that whatever the policy, it addresses tary and peacekeeping personnel posted Such lack of pro-active concern im African problems in a manner sensitive to Africa, and less than 12% of its current mediately threatens the democratic pro- to African needs.
4 AFTER SANCTIONS: BUILDING A NEW SOUTH AFRICA As the ANC enters new multi-party ne ciples of social gotiations for a democratic government, responsibility. the movement has raised hopes that sanc Outlined in a tions will soon be ended, and another "Platform of task begun... building a new society. But Guiding Prin they are demanding more than a prom ciples for For ise of good conduct from the F.W. de eign Investors," .rltrodamation Klerk government before calling for an these include WHE•us. while Ftbnaary 11, 1993 marb1hc tbi:rdamtiversary of ~releme o(Neoon end to isolation .. collective bar Mllndd&fttlat 27 years in SOllih Afrlca'sjlils. he ldJJ cPBOl VOie: Nld In the same vein the Africa Fund is gaining, equal WHl!lfEAS,cvcry day al lcasltcn people die in South Africa from pclitical TIOlmcc limed at working with state and local legislators, opportunity, lbme who are sznzggling for democ:ncy; and WHERBA.S, tbc.,ihcid regimclmrdu:dto aopmilitaryandpolice invo}vcmeat in lhe trade unions, religious groups and com empowerment murder of l!t0waDdl or mncrclll JlCOPE; and munity activists in the United States to of black busi WHn&U,dircctrai.s&mce to aplrthcid by the oooncia1 dcmoc.tu:; forca: ia Smtih Atric:a, ensure U.S. corporations help address the ness and envi logethm with intm:mional ~ 111,-,,e (oo,od; tho apartheid n::girae. to make some cbanc= 111d WHl!•RAS, c.oru:i11.ucd p,cua:re necdl to be kept on the apar1hcid Rgime in onkl- for apa,1beid \0 legacy of apartheid once the ANC calls ronmental pro cad in fact as wcJf as in word;and for the lifting of sanctions. tection. WHEREAS, tbe African Natimlal Coi1&rcS! Ind tb6Coqrcss of South African Trate Unions .and their adlie& .-c urging ilioae oompmics wisbing to do bwiness in a pca-.aparthcid South Africa to adopt a In February, the ANC National Ex Looking to CodeofCoi.::luctin~w;principbofw~trs'ri&)rti.affirmlD'feactioo,eqwityofoppcxtunlry, trainiagand
with the oncoming political changes and as women most need to see a transforma churches, civic and political organiza promises of a "non-racial, non-sexist tion in South Africa, we have had little or tions, but they have also supported the South Africa" from liberation leaders, no participation in all the constitutional men in these movements, raised the fami women are ·asking just who will ensure and negotiations processes thus far. From lies and tended the land in the rural ar women's equality in a new dispensation. CODESA (Convention for a Democratic eas. One response to this question was South Africa) to the Peace Process to the When the transition to a democratic the formation of the Women's National National Economic Forum, the people South Africa is finally complete, women Coalition (WNC) in April 1992. The aim involved in decision making and policy, will deserve much of the credit for ac of the WNC is to create a Women's Char in determining the future shape of our complishing change. The question re ter to be included in the new South Afri country, are men" she said. mains, will their rights be recognized and can constitution. Progressive South African women protected by a new government? Will Pregs Govender, WNC Project Man have long provided the foundation for they benefit from enhanced status and ager, explained the need for women to the freedom struggle. Not only have they opportunity in a post-apartheid South organize on their own behalf. "While we contributed greatly to the trade unions, Africa?
5 Please indicate the quantity desired on the line _____ MOZAMBIQUE - PROSPECTS __APARTHEID REGIME - HANDS before each title. Please add 15% postage and FOR PEACE by Sister Janice McLaughlin. OFF LABOR (22x26 inches) handling on all orders. (Africa Fund, 1992), 4pp. After years of (Africa Fund, 1992). This destabilization and war, a United Nations three-color poster expresses BITTER INHERITANCE: OVER brokered cease-fire may bring peace to solidarity with South Afri COMING THE LEGACY OF APARTHEID Mozambique, but the REN AMO rebels may can unions. $6.00 each. by Michael Fleshman (Africa Fund, 1993), still try to undermine the accord. 35¢ each, Over ten, $4.00 each. 6pp. A review of the legacy of white domi over twenty, 20¢ each. nation and Black disenfranchisement rang __SOUTHERN AFRICA LITERATURE ing from distribution of land, wealth, hous __BEWARE THE HAND THAT FEEDS LIST. A complete list of publications, post ing, health care and education. 35¢ each. YOU - U.S. AID IN SOUTHERN AFRICA ers and videos available from The Africa Over twenty, 20¢ each. by Carol B. Thompson. (Africa Fund, 1992), Fund. Free on request. 4pp. U.S. famine relief has saved thousands __ACTION AFTER SANCTIONS - oflives in southern Africa. But policies pro BUILDING A NEW SOUTH AFRICA by moted by the U.S. Agency for International I enclose$___ for literature, including Jennifer Davis (Africa Fund, 1992) 4pp. A Development have often added to the bur 15% postage and handling. briefing paper on socially responsible in den of natural disasters. 30¢ each. Over vestment in South Africa post-sanctions. twenty, 15¢ each. Name ______Single copy free on request. __STOP THE VIOLENCE (South Africa Organization ______OUR POLITICAL ECONOMY - UN Now, 1992) 14 minutes. This documentary DERSTANDING THE PROBLEMS by The exposes the role of the South African police Address ______Trade Union Research Project, the Eco and hit squads in apartheid violence and nomic Trends Group and COSATU government funding for pro-government (COSATU, 1992), 76pp. A handbook de vigilante groups. Contains graphic footage. City______State __ Zip __ signed for COSATU shop stewards, this $20.00. book provides an excellent overview of @ printed on recycled paper Send payment to The Africa Fund, 198 South Africa's economy. $12.00. Broadway, New York, NY I 0038 O,
THE AFRICA FUND NON-PROFIT ORG. 198 BROADWAY U.S. POSTAGE NEW YORK, NY 10038 PAID NEW YORK.NY Address Correction Requested PERMIT NO. 4598