Youth leagues support prisoners
Youth organisations have backed calls by the South African Prisoners Organisation for Human Rights for amnesty for non-violent prisoners. On July 9, representatives of the youth leagues of the ANC, IFP, PAC and AZAPO, together with SAPOHR, presented a memorandum to the department of correctional services calling for the formation of a representative "amnesty resolution committee" which would "arrive at a fair, logical and informed system of amnesties and sentence deductions".
The youth organisations called for the "transformation of the whole prison and justice system" as part of the country's democratisation and reconstruction. The organisations praised correctional services minister Sipho Mzimela's July 8 announcement of an unconditional release of all children under 18, mothers of children under 12, and disabled persons in prison on May 10, the date of president Nelson Mandela's inauguration.
Churches oppose "sins" of government
The South African Council of Churches will continue to oppose "sins" committed by the new government just as it did in the days of apartheid, the organisation's new president Reverend Khoza Mgojo said during the SACC's national conference here in early July.
The SACC, led by former president, Reverend Frank Chikane, played a prominent role in the struggle against the apartheid regime through the 1980s. Mgojo told delegates: "It was very fashionable and made one a hero to speak strongly against the apartheid government. It will be not so fashionable to stand up and challenge the government of national unity". SACC also voted to play its part in the implementation of the RDP. The SACC took a firm position against South Africa's continuing manufacture and export of arms.
Banker's appointment reassures business
There was a brief panic in South Africa's business circles following the sudden announcement by finance minister Derek Keys that he would be resigning in October for "personal reasons". Keys, darling of big business and finance minister in the previous National Party regime, has refused to give any more specifics on his resignation which has led to much speculation amongst business commentators about a possible falling out with the ANC over the conservative direction of the government of national unity's economic policy.
Following Keys' announcement, R40 million worth of shares were sold and the value of the rand plummeted. Cabinet moved quickly to reassure business and appointed recently retired chief executive of the Nedcor Bank, Chris Liebenberg, as finance minister-designate. Liebenberg has pledged to continue to implement "fiscal discipline".
The change required parliament to alter the constitution to permit the appointment of a minister who is not a member of a party and to increase the size of cabinet to 29. The National Party will be given the extra ministry to compensate for their loss of Keys. There have been rumblings of discontent from within the ANC caucus over the lack of consultation on the appointment.
Johannesburg councillors defect to ANC
Three members of the Johannesburg City Council — two from National Party and one from the Democratic party — have joined the African National Congress. The defections have boosted the ANC caucus to six and make it the official opposition in the DP-controlled body. The JCC has 50 councillors which have never had to face of non-racial election. Democratic local government elections are due later this year. Martin Sweet, formerly of the DP, said the JCC's recent eviction of squatters made him resign.
SACP suspends Gwala
Veteran communist Harry Gwala, variously described by admirers and opponents alike as a "hardliner" and a "militant" and also widely considered a "Stalinist", has been suspended from the South African Communist Party, to be reviewed in six months. The decision to suspend Gwala was taken last month by the party's central committee. Gwala served two terms of imprisonment on Robben Island and, until his suspension, was a central committee member of the SACP. He is chairperson of the Natal Midlands ANC and an MP in the KwaZulu/Natal provincial parliament.
SACP spokesperson Jeremy Cronin told Radio South Africa on July 6 that the suspension "has nothing to do with political differences" but that it was "a question of discipline". The decision was taken on "the strong recommendation" of the regional SACP leadership. Over a period of several months "there have been some serious problems and serious allegations in the Natal Midlands area", Cronin said, but Gwala had refused to cooperate in "sorting out" the problems. He said that Gwala had also made "very nasty verbal attacks against individuals in the Natal Midlands leadership of the party". Cronin said the SACP had "no grounds" for accepting media claims that Gwala was operating "hit squads" that targeted ANC and SACP leaders in Natal for assassination.