Mass marches demand release of political prisoners

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

The Durban summit called for political tolerance and effective peacekeeping after severe conflict between supporters of the two movements.

The accord affirmed peaceful protest and specified steps for suspending armed action while negotiations advanced.