Free fighting for ANC leadership positions was impossible before

To be nominated ANC leader today is like you are given celebrity status. In the past, especially during the heydays of apartheid, ANC leadership meant walking through the shadows of death.

Even as the curtains were coming down on apartheid, most young angry afrikaners, especially those in the police or third force, were unhappy and committed atrocities as is explained by Cde Jackson Mthembu;

"The Eastern Transvaal Regional Executive Committee of the African National Congress held a very constructive and fruitful meeting with the KaNgwane government yesterday in the wake of the assassination of four ANC leaders in Deepdale last Thursday. Both delegations condemned in the strongest terms the assassination of Mr. Abraham Vilakazi, Deputy Secretary of the ANC Deepdale branch, Mr. Wilson Maseko - Deputy Chairperson, Mr. Miscalk Motha - Branch Treasurer and Mr. Mandla Mabaso an additional member in the branch executive. The KaNgwane government will take pre-emptive measurers to ensure that a similar incident does not occur in KaNgwane again, those measurers will include inter-alia the investigation of some controversial police force members in the KaNgwane territory, particularly at the Mayflower station, and the proper screening of future intakes.
The ANC is highly impressed by the progress made by the KaNgwane police team investigating the assassinations. It is also heartened and encouraged by the agreement reached at the meeting that the ANC be part of the investigating team. The ANC will continue its co-operation with the Investigating team and will play its responsible role in ensuring that those who threaten peace in the region are exposed and sent to where they belong - prison.
The two delegations also agreed to form a "Commission of Truth" to look into the murder of Chief Tobias Nkosi of Deepdale in July this year. The Commission will also look into the police harassment of ANC members and leaders in Deepdale and surrounding villages, the murder of Miss Belecia Vilakazi in the Deepdale village in August this year and also the recent assassinations.
The four assassinated ANC leaders will be jointly buried on Saturday, the 09th of October 1993 in Deepdale. The ANC and KaNgwane government have agreed to a joint responsibility for the burial. The ANC delegation was led by the Regional Secretary, Mr. January "Che" Masilela whilst the government delegation was led by the Chief Minister, Mr. M.C. Zitha."
Issued by: Mr. Jackson Mthembu,Publicity Secretary, ANC - Eastern Transvaal Region.
THE PEOPLE SHALL GOVERN!