Archive

Archive (Reagan Library)

South Africa: Eminent Persons Group paper (“A Possible Negotiating Concept”) [declassified 1999]

Document type: Declassified documents
Source: Reagan Library (NSC African Affairs Directorate Box 91026)
Editorial comments:
Importance ranking: Major
Word count: 316
Themes: Commonwealth (South Africa), Foreign policy (Africa), British policy towards South Africa

FOLLOWING IS TEXT OF EPG PAPER

Begins

A POSSIBLE NEGOTIATING CONCEPT

The South African Government has declared its commitment to dismantling the system of apartheid, to ending racial discrimination and to broad based negotiations leading to new constitutional arrangements for power sharing by all the people of South Africa. In the light of preliminary and as yet incomplete discussions with representatives of various organisations and groups, within and outside South Africa, we believe that in the context of specific and meaningful steps being taken towards ending apartheid, the following additional action might ensure negotiations and a break in the cycle of violence.

On the part of the Government:

  1. Removal of military from townships, providing for freedom of assembly and discussion and suspension of detention without trial.

  2. The release of Nelson Mandela and other political prisoners and detainees.

  3. The unbanning of THA ANC and PAC and the permitting of normal political activity.

On the part of the ANC and others:

Entering negotiations and suspending violence.

It is our view that simultaneous announcement incorporating these ideas might be negotiated if the Government were to be interested in pursuing this broad approach.

In the light of the Governments indication to us that it

[end p1]
  1. is not in principle against the release of Mr Nelson Mandela and similar prisoners

  2. Is not opposed in principle to the unbanning of any organisations

  3. Is prepared to enter into negotiations with the acknowledged leaders of the people of South Africa

  4. Is committed to the removal of discrimination, not only from the statute books but also from South African society as a whole

  5. Is committed to the ending of white domination

  6. Will not prescribe who may represent black communities in negotiations on a new constitution for South Africa

  7. Is prepared to negotiate an open agenda.

The South African Government may wish to give serious consideration to the approach outlined in this note.