Sequel to Long Walk to Freedom - Revision 4.2 - Chapter 2 Page 6

would give them the volkstaat. I told him that I was a mere servant of the ANC, subject to their authority and discipline; that if I acted unilaterally on a principle of such fundamental importance, the organisation would summarily dismiss me, rendering me useless to the rightwing. He retorted quite firmly that if I did not accept his demand their plan would be carried out. I said; so be it, and that was the end of our discussion. That same day I telephoned former President Botha and briefed him on the general's decision. I requested the former president to persuade the general to join the negotiations at the World Trade Centre. A few days later the general pulled out of the rightwing conspiracy and joined the negotiating parties. His colleagues heavily vilified him for saving South Africa from such a calamity. Hartzenberg did not have any military capacity at all and Terre'Blanche relied on a collection of undisciplined amateurs who had no idea of what a war involved. On the eve of the elections, bombs exploded especially in Johannesburg and killed about 20 innocent civilians. It was a matter for police action and the culprits were arrested and convicted. I never enquired whether the former President did act on my request. But in the 1994 general elections the general was rewarded for his wisdom and his foresight when he polled 37 percent of the votes, whereas a former section of the liberation movement polled less than 2 percent. The failure of the rightwing to call a referendum and to answer the question of who was an Afrikaner relieved the ANC of any obligation to review the demand of a volkstaat. Political analysts observed at the time that the general had opted for a course of action, which enormously enhanced his esteem. This was later reinforced by his contribution inside and outside parliament, which was always balanced and full of integrity even when we disagreed with such comments, especially when he continued to harp 6