Buthelezi's Bloody Quest For An Autonomous Zulu Kingdom
00.02.00
Dr M. Buthelezi, Leader Inkatha Freedom party, Minister of Home Affairs, South Africa
God made me a Zulu, I speak Zulu, I have a Zulu culture and I'm proud, I don't apologise to you or to
anyone for that. But I also live in a country called South Afirica which makes me a South African.
Narration 1
00.02.20
Once a year South African Zulus commemorate their illustrious forefather King Shaka. A major political
event in Kwa Zulu Natal province. This year the undisputed Inkatha leader Chief Mangosuthu Buthelezi is
openly heading for a collision with the Government of National Unity of which he himself is a prominent
member He wants to rule the province single handed and demands no less than the restoration of an
autonomous Zulu Kingdom.
Dr M. Buthelezi
00.02.50 (translation from Zulu)
We still need our freedom and we are going to get it in the long run. Some people don't like the whole
idea. It makes them noisy. Even some people think we are idiots but this nation was built by your Zulus.
Even your forefathers lived and died for the Zulu nation.
Narration 2
00.03.08
Buthelezi is belligerent He feels that demands for more federal powers are being ignored. The last minute
concession from Nelson Mandela and former President de Klerk agreeing to Inkatha's demands for
international mediation and thus ensuring their participation in last year's general election never
materialized A solution now seems even more unlikely than ever before. Kwa Zulu Natal is on the verge of a civil war
Narration 3
00.03.39
Amidst campaigning for the local elections political tolerance between the ANC and Inkatha supporters has now dropped to an all time low. Intimidation and terror reigns in the province, despite reinforcements of the national security forces sent by Pretoria to end the violence.
tite1 3
00.03.69.10
Dr. M. Buthelezi
We have all of us to develop a culture of tolerance and we have to sit around the table
and talk about our problems. But the question of using arms to intimidate my people.
You know. my people are not you know. They come from a warriors talk. They ore not
Easily intimidated. I mean,.,. my people faced the whole might of the British Army In 1879
with just spears. So I moan .. there is no way in which just because black government
is in charge or a black president is in charge, that Zulu people are going to be changed now and start chiffering and fearing because the same security forces that intimated them here yesterday are now being commanded by a black commander in chief
.
title 4
00.04.60
Charles Ndlovu, Director Community law Centro, Durban.
As we are gearing up for the local government elections, there will be a lot of
Intimidation. Intimidation In this area means a lot of killings ..you know. There will be
rallies, campaigns and then people will be killed.
Narration 4
00.06.14.00
The six million Zulus In Natal, exclusively ruled by Burthelezis IFP for more than 25 years,
were only recently introduced to a multi party system; with devastating consequences.
Large parts of the province are now subdivided in military strongholds of ANC and
Inkatha enclaves.
Title 5
00.05.34.00
Charles Ndlovu. Director Community UW Centre. Durban.
I work out in rural areas. Yes I work in IFP areas, also in ANC areas, but the vibes I get from the IFP areas are we kill. And I even had people say...In fact I gave a lift to one guy who had come to visit us when we were going to his area he said, "Hell...you know, yesterday my boys killed somebody...you know...just like that."
I mean this person is a professional person. A teacher
.
Narration 5
00.06.02.18
Particularly in the rural areas the bloodv conflict between the ANC and the Inkertha
Freedom Party is at its worst. Already this year more than 1600 civilians and 76 police
men fell victim to political violence of which four were killed here.
This week 4 members of the security forces got ambushed on this dirt road In Nataf
Midlands while investigating the killing of local ANC-leader. They were first disarmed
by a mob of 50 men, then shot and left to die with their throats slit.
00.06.43.00
A few days later shocked colleagues paid their last respect.
tito1 5
00.07.19.00
General Eric du Preez. Police Commissioner Natol Midlands
To loose four colleagues is the worse blow I could have in my career. I never had a blow
like. this. Senseless. killing of apparently disarmed men. There is no justification In this
world for that.
These are clearly political killings. isn't it 7'
I have a problem In really answering that. If a person is killed it's murder. And murder is murder.
titel6
00.01.61.00
Mary de Haas, Violence Monitor, Human Rights Committee, University of nataf, Durban
If you getting police attacked in broad daylight, as these police were, I don't know if it was broad daylight, but it was certainly a large group, four policemen with dogs...getting ambushed...is that not a civil war in a sense. If you get the army attacked...because the army is under fire in some areas. And in fact a very senior army officer told me this, He said ‘we are fighting a civil war.'
Narration 6
00.08.63.20
Hardly a day goes by when the South African news broadcast does not feature another
Massacre in Xwe Zulu Natal- Since 1985 more then 10.000 people have died through
Political violence.
This week two families including 7 children wore annihilated in Springvale, Nataf
Midlands. Victims of political violence. During a religious gathering in one of the new
huts gunfire interrupted the ceremonies. This time the sole survivors were a mother and
child.
title 7
00.09.26.00 startt sound bite
Charles. Witness
They first came here and asked for Shazle and they said he is not here and then they asked for his Shezies wife because they wanted their guns. She said she did not know than they shot her and the kids.
The one standing outside shouted "kill everyone inside the house"
titIe., 6
OO.10.0S.00
Charles Ndlovu, Director Community Law Centre, Durban
Everytime the IFP wants to establish a cell in the area, it uses, what I would term a deterrent theory; to say we are here, watch out!
And I'm sure now that the IRP would move into the area and start recruiting people.
Then the killings would be fresh in the people's minds. Because the IFP even sacrifices its own people.
Narration 7
00.10.31.00
Due to the carnage in Kwa Zulu, Natal already harbours 600.000 refugees like these
members of the families of 11 that got killed.
title 8
00.10.39.00
Vadi Shezi, relative massacred family, now Internal refugee
We are fleeing because last night many people have been killed. About 11 people died. They burnt the houses down with the people inside. Some are critically injured in hospital. What is the cause? We don't know what is the cause. We are afraid and that's what we are fleeing. The people who got killed are our relatives, our brothers, sisters and cousins. We are afraid because they might come back and do the same to us.
Narration 8
00.11.19.00
In a hospital 100 kilometers away we located the only female survivor of the bloodbath
in Springvale. A bullet in her chest but no longer in danger of death.
titel., 9
00.11.31.00
Elizabeth Shezle
The reverend said it was just a short prayer then we heard gunshots and again and again everybody was crumbling for a hiding place and I hid behind the wardrobe.
When the owner of the house came back the following morning I explained what had happened. All the people I was with had been killed, my mother, daughter in law, sons and they burnt the house down. My youngest son survived but was shot in the in chin.
titel10
00.12.36.00 ;
Dr. M. Buthelezl. leader Inkatha Freedom Party, Minister of Home Affairs. South Africa.
How can I stop it? I'm not in charge. Mr Mandela used to say to Mr. De Klerk that he had the capacity to stop the violence because he was in charge of the security forces. He is now in charge of the security forces...he is the head of state.
And it's really quite unreasonable...irrational to say that I'm the key figure that can stop it. How can I stop it?
title 11
00.12.67.00
Mary de Haas, Violence Monitor, Human Rights Committee, University of Natal. Durban
ON the ground people are sick and tired of the fighting. You see, you have to understand that most of the fighting is not just local people fighting each other. And where that has happened, people are sick and tired of it. And of courage they are ready to talk peace, but it's being stirred from outside. I mean there are areas in which there are warlords who are determined to take over territory. I;m not ruling that out, they have sometimes their own private armies to do the fighting for them.
titel 12
00.13,28.00
Thomas Shabalala, Warlord, Lindalani, Inkatha Member Provincial Parliament, Kwa Zulu Natal
This is how they show the appreciation of Shaka's day. They were happy and have to come to me, and do some dance at y home. And I'm also very happy. Are they real Zulu warriors?
Yes, they are Zulu-warriors, my brother. These are Zulu warriors.
Narration 9
00.13.46.00
Thomas Shabalala is one of the most powerful warlords of the province. He has thousands of Zulu warriors under his command. He can bring them into action at any
time, anywhere in the province.
titel 13
00.13.66.00
Thomas Shabalala Warlord, Lindalani, Inkatha Member Provincial Parliament, Kwa Zulu Natal
We are not afraid of the ANC. We don't believe in violence, but if we are being forced into violence we will defend ourselves. We believe in negotiations, we believe in democracy,...tru democracy. We believe in that where we differ in opinion we must sit down and talk.
"Nevertheless innocent men and women and children are being killed every day in this province."
Definitely my brother, that is done purposely..that this region must look as if we, the IFP, cannot govern. That is the strategy of the ANC, I believe they have a hidden agenda. Because they lost elections in this region...to show the world that we cannot govern.
Narration 10
00.14.42.16
The ANC is under heavy pressure to find an answer to the crisis.
Since Burthelezi has boycotted the local elections in Natal it requires courage to be an
active member of the ANC in direct opposition to his demands for full autonomy.
Title 13
00.14,6B.16
Sibusiso Ndobele, Provincial Organiser ANC and Minister of Transport in Provincial
Government Kwa Zulu Natal, Member National Executive ANC
He wants to go back to the situation where they can write their own constitution, they can govern without being questioned by anybody else.
But it's a dream. Theis province, more than any other province, is one where we are going to see that principal of the constitution that says that South Africa shall establish a multi-party democracy. Even if it was a kingdom. When if it was a confederation. But then it will not be a confederation like in the old Bantustan it will be the multi-party democracy. And that is what Buthelezi has not come to realize...He wants to live in the past.
title 14
00.16.39.1 C)
Dr. M. Buthelezi
We seek no more autonomy for Kwa Zulu Natal kingdom than people have in Germany. We seek no more autonomy for the kingdom of Kwa Zulu Natal within a broader South Africa than states like California, Virginia...you name them, in the United States/
That is simply put.
"But Sir will you accept authority over military affairs, foreign affairs of the central government?"
Of course, of course but you must remember in the United States, each state has got security. And in this case, the Zulu people..you saw the regiment's how they march in groups they are actually remnants of the Zulu regiments.
It's ridiculous for anyone to think that the Zulu's cannot have even their basic militia. What will you do with them because it is in their blood.
Title 15
00.16.38.00
Mary de Haas Violence Monitor, Human Rights Committee, University of Natal, Durban
You may have to give into Inkatha;s demands to stop the violence. Now I think that's appalling. Because the point is..that the only thing that will stop the violence as far as Inkatha is concerned is to give them virtual autonomy in this region. And if you'll do that you will have a Bosnie. So It's not a solution to give into more demands. It's a very, very, dangerous thing to do.
Title 16
00.17.03.00
Charles Ndlovu.
I think they will tolerate him for some time. For peace sake. It's a fact that if they decide to take power from him...it will mean massacre, especially with the right-wing guys who are advising him now. Who have no care what so ever for black lives.
End
00.17.45.00