RESOLUTION B3-0984, 0989, 1001, 1018 AND 1053/92

Resolution on South Africa

The European Parliament,

appalled by the massacre at Boipatong on 18 June 1992, in which 42 men, women, and children were brutally murdered,

fearing that, as a result of this and similar crimes, all the progress made towards establishing non-racial democracy in South Africa is in jeopardy,

having regard to the bitterness and anger in the townships, the resurgence of violence and the suspension of dialogue between the white government and the black majority,

having regard to the reports by Amnesty International and the International Commission of Jurists in Geneva, according to which the South African authorities are mainly responsible for the continuing violence,

recalling that the ANC has on several occasions asked for measures to be taken to stop the violence provoked by the Inkatha militants and regretting that the legislation on this matter is not being fully respected,

recalling that the ANC also asked for the disarming of special security units and their return to barracks,

whereas the growing feeling of insecurity among the civilian population and the atmosphere of mistrust among the negotiators have led the ANC to call for the work of CODESA to be suspended, and whereas renewed violence has broken out in the last few days,

aware that there are serious grounds for suspecting that elements in the security forces, trained to enforce the brutalities of apartheid, are collaborating with extremists to commit serious crimes,

noting the delay in implementing the agreements drawn up in the framework of CODESA,

aware that there are extremists in organizations on different sides of the conflict whose main aim is to destroy the process of peaceful change by negotiation,

recalling its previous resolutions on the subject and those adopted by the ACP-EEC Joint Assembly,

Condemns the massacre in Boipatong and any act of violence or incitement to violence, whatever its origin;

Welcomes the decision by President De Klerk to invite prominent jurists from outside South Africa to join the investigation into the Boipatong massacre and similar crimes under the auspices of international observers;

Notes the declaration of the Lisbon European Council and insists that the ministerial troika of the European Community, on its next visit to South Africa, raise with utmost determination the problem of controlling effectively the South African police and security forces;

Believes that Member States could make an important contribution to bridging the chasm of mistrust between the black majority and the security forces by helping in the training of the South African police so that they better respect human rights;

Demands that the South African Government exercise greater control over its security forces so that, if they are guilty of offences, they are brought to justice, and, at the same time, rejects claims that only recourse to arms will lead to change in South Africa;

Insists on the need for the South African Government to improve the situation of the black communities, and specifically calls on the government to fulfil its promise and speedily transform the migrant workers' hostels, acknowledged breeding grounds of violence, into integrated accommodation; calls on the Community to contribute to this programme;

Recalls the views expressed in its resolution on South Africa of 13 February 1992OJ No. C 67, 16.3.1992, p. 136 concerning the implementation of the Council decision to revoke the 1986 sanctions and the conditions attached to this implementation;

Supports the appeal issued by the European Council to all the parties in South Africa to reopen negotiations in CODESA, the forum most likely to produce the consensus required, in order to ensure a peaceful transition to a genuinely democratic, non-racial South Africa, in particular through the establishment of a transitional government;

Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the Council, the Commission, EPC, President De Klerk, Mr Nelson Mandela, the Secretary-General of CODESA and the Secretary-General of the United Nations.