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South Africa: Arms Control, Zulu-Style

2 minute read
TIME

The sight of a gang of Zulus brandishing traditional weapons is enough to instill terror in the black townships around Johannesburg, where many residents belong to other tribal groups. Local newspapers recently published a photo that shows why. The frame captured a black man in Soweto clasping a spear and plunging it into the back of another black man, who was desperately trying to flee.

But Zulu leaders have long maintained that carrying spears is a cultural right. Last week, in a bid to halt political violence, President F.W. de Klerk secured an arms-control agreement with Zulu King Goodwill Zwelithini. Henceforth, the spear will be added to the government’s list of dangerous instruments that are banned in areas where unrest occurs.

Violence in the black townships is partly a struggle for power between the Zulu-based Inkatha Freedom Party and the African National Congress. Thus outlawing weapons will not in itself halt the killing. The A.N.C. says De Klerk’s move falls far short of meeting several demands to end the black vs. black bloodshed that must be satisfied before the organization ends its boycott of negotiations on a new political system. But the A.N.C. is not exactly doing all it can to promote a climate of peace. As it was criticizing De Klerk last week, the A.N.C. refused to attend a conference on violence held in Pretoria. Reason: it preferred that a church group, rather than De Klerk, sponsor such a gathering.

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