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Mandela, who often described De Klerk as a man of integrity, is now clearly suspicious of his intentions. The A.N.C. demanded a full inquiry and called for a freeze on the $132 million earmarked for secret projects in this year's government budget. As details of covert funding trickled out, politicians -- white and black -- and newspapers across the ideological spectrum demanded quick action to salvage the government's relationship with the A.N.C., including the resignations of the three Cabinet ministers who have been linked to the scandal so far. "De Klerk has blown a good deal of credibility at home and abroad," said Democratic Party M.P. Tony Leon. "He must act swiftly to restore it if he is to retain people's trust."
De Klerk insisted that funds funneled to Inkatha were for the organization's anti-sanctions efforts, not political work. During a photo opportunity with a visiting official, the usually amiable President rebuffed reporters by saying that he would hold off all further comment for another week. The delay led to opposite lines of speculation: either De Klerk was fumbling badly or he was taking time to organize a major shake-up of his security establishment.
The biggest attempt to contain the political fallout from Inkathagate came from the Zulu-based movement itself. Claiming he never knew about Pretoria's $87,500 donation to his organization for two rallies in 1989 and 1990, Inkatha leader Chief Mangosuthu Buthelezi repaid the amount to the government; his assistant, M.Z. Khumalo, took responsibility for the transaction and resigned.
Even if De Klerk were to sack the Cabinet members involved in the payment scheme, it would probably be too little, too late. Inkathagate has seriously eroded trust in Pretoria and bolstered suspicions that the President and his National Party colleagues intend to remain in power if they can, and on their own terms. Ironically, Foreign Minister Botha admitted last week that the government's illegal spending "probably" strengthened the A.N.C.'s long- standing demand for a new interim government that includes itself and other black parties.
Freeing Mandela and scrapping the apartheid laws were, in retrospect, simple tasks compared with what must come next. A watching world still has high hopes for a peaceful transition to multiracial democracy in South Africa. But as the Inkatha affair shows, the President is not exactly the smooth agent of political change suggested by his carefully crafted public image.