The government permits thousands of exiles to return

16 August 1990

The leaders met as attacks spread to Soweto after armed hostel residents assaulted train passengers, threatening the negotiation process.

17 August 1990

The organizations cited forged pamphlets and other evidence suggesting elements of the security forces were aggravating township conflict.

31 August 1990

The Special Committee against Apartheid expressed concern about killings, detentions and arrests during the opening political process.

11 September 1990

ANC, UDF and COSATU representatives demanded government action as township killings threatened peaceful change.

20 September 1990

Leaders met in Durban and issued a joint statement seeking ways to end violence in Natal and the Reef townships.

8 October 1990

After a Mandela-De Klerk meeting, the government announced that about 20,000 exiles could come home, reversing a major consequence of repression.

1 November 1990

Justice Minister Kobie Coetsee announced procedures, but the government and ANC disputed how many prisoners qualified.

6 December 1990

ANC mobilizations in Pretoria, Johannesburg and Bloemfontein protested delays in freeing people jailed for resistance to apartheid.

13 December 1990

The ANC president came home after leading the external mission through decades of banning, armed struggle and international mobilization.

14 December 1990

Delegates demanded removal of obstacles to negotiation, retained sanctions pressure and called 1991 a year of mass action.

28 January 1991

The movement gave De Klerk a list of officers it believed had participated in township attacks, making state accountability central to negotiations.

People in this event