Sequel to Long Walk to Freedom - Revision 1 - Chapter 2 Page 6

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 popular and seasoned military man around. His statements could not be ignored. I was receiving intelligence reports to the effect that the rightwing Afrikaners had decided to stop the forthcoming elections by violence. To be on the safe side, the president of an organisation must carefully check the accuracy of such reports. I did so, and when I discovered that they were accurate, I decided to act. I flew down to theWilderness, the retirement home of former president PW Botha, reminded him of the communiqué we jointly issued when I was still in prison in July 1989. In that communiqué we pledged to work together for peace in our country. I informed him that that peace was now threatened by the rightwing and asked him to intervene. He was co-operative and confirmed that Afrikaners were determined to stop the elections. But he added 19