Sequel to Long Walk to Freedom - Revision 3 - Chapter 2 Page 8

He changed direction when he was on the verge of plunging the country into a disastrous bloodbath which would have resulted in the deaths of countless civilians. He had mobilised between fifty and sixty thousand soldiers and about fifteen thousand white farmers to fight the ANC. A meeting facilitated by the General's twin brother, Bram, and stockbroker Jurgen Kogl, took place between the General and his colleagues on the one hand, and with Joe Nhlanhla, Penuel Maduna, Jacob Zuma and Thabo Mbeki for the ANC, on the other. In this regard, these ANC leaders had a vision far ahead of their comrades. They fully grasped the disastrous repercussions of the impending disaster. Twice in the run up to the first democratic elections, the General had stated that no Afrikaner soldier would shoot at another Afrikaner. At the time, he was undoubtedly the most