The ANC is paying lip service to unity while rubbing salt in old wounds, writes Prince Mangosuthu Buthelezi.
At a time of year when thoughts turn to peace, unity and reconciliation, it is worth considering how these may be achieved in our own country.
South Africa still projects, however dimly, the internationally accepted idea of a “miracle transition” from racism and political oppression, to democracy, equality and freedom.
From the negotiating table into the constitutionally created Government of National Unity, we focused our eyes on reconciliation.
Long before that, the incarcerated Nelson Mandela and I exchanged regular correspondence in which we lamented the violence between our supporters.
Our intention was to meet the moment he was released, so our members could see that our lifelong friendship was not diminished and we were both intent on reconciliation.
Upon his release, Mandela addressed his first mass rally in Durban.
It was there that he called on our people to take their guns, their knives and their pangas, and throw them into the sea.
He publicly thanked me for campaigning for his release, which I did more vigorously than anyone in South Africa.
He was making it clear that I and the IFP were playing a necessary and valuable role in liberating our country.
It was the first step from the ANC’s side towards reconciliation.
Unfortunately, not all ANC leaders wanted peace. They stopped Mandela from meeting me for a full year after his release. When we did finally meet, however, we fulfilled our aim of seeking reconciliation.
We agreed in a joint memorandum that from that moment on we would attend rallies together, sharing a podium, so our respective supporters could see that the time of violence was over.
I still regret that Mandela was strong-armed by ANC leaders from KwaZulu Natal, who arrived at Shell House to convince him not to fulfil that commitment.
We both knew that if the leader of the IFP and the leader of the ANC stood side by side and called for reconciliation, it would be the most powerful message of peace.
I thought of this again when I read of the ANC’s recent commemoration of the Shobashobane Massacre. More than two decades down the line, the ANC has not yet learned the lesson Mandela sought to teach them.
Reconciliation comes when both sides stand together in a show of solidarity, both calling for forgiveness, unity and peace.
The fact the ANC never invited a single IFP leader to this commemoration makes it hard to believe reconciliation was the objective. Indeed, why single out the Shobashobane Massacre when the People’s War waged throughout the ’80s and early ’90s claimed about 20 000 black lives?
This was one moment among many when blood was shed and violence ravaged our people.
We must remember, yes. How do we forget the sons, daughters, mothers and sisters who were brutally murdered for the sake of power?
That wound is deep and not yet healed. Even without commemorations, it will not be forgotten.
But why does the ANC not commemorate the Shell House Massacre? On that day, Mandela himself gave instructions to open fire on a group of Zulus who were marching on behalf of their King.
Nineteen people were mowed down in the streets of Johannesburg.
Why does the ANC not commemorate the many attacks carried out by Umkhonto we Sizwe on anyone they considered Inkatha? They don’t gather government officials and political figures to remember Inkatha supporters who were necklaced, raped, bombed and gunned down.
The Jacob Zuma Foundation does not donate anything to the families of thousands of IFP supporters who became victims of their People’s War.
It is hard not to believe this is politicking. Somehow these commemorations pop up every time we draw near to an election, as if reminding our people of the wounds in their psyche will deliver votes for one side or the other. It is abusive and sickening that our people’s greatest pain can be used to extract a vote.
If it is truly reconciliation that the ANC seeks, let them follow the path Mandela and I laid out from the very beginning.
Let us come together and share a podium, speaking to everyone who experienced loss, on both sides, and call for healing.
There are many aspects of our present circumstances that foretell disaster.
Already we are seeing the effects in our economy and society of a political leadership that has abandoned the path of integrity, justice and humility.
The fact that they have abandoned reconciliation as well, paying lip service to unity while rubbing salt in old wounds, should warn us of the divisions yet to come.
My greatest concern for the future of South Africa is not poverty, crime or weak leadership, although these are likely to be devastating.
My greatest fear is division, for that may well take us back to where we were before, with brother pitted against brother. As Christ warned, a house divided against itself cannot stand. It will fall.
*Buthelezi is the president of the IFP
** The views expressed here are not necessarily those of Independent Media.
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