[Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: George H. W. Bush (1991, Book I)]
[June 20, 1991]
[Pages 701-702]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]



Remarks Following Discussions With Mangosuthu Gatsha Buthelezi, Chief 
Minister of South Africa's KwaZulu Homeland and Leader of the Inkatha 
Freedom Party
June 20, 1991

    The President. Let me just say that we've had a very engaging and 
interesting meeting with the Chief Minister Buthelezi. He and I were 
reminiscing, and I think this is my fifth meeting, at least, with him 
over the last few years. And I've found this one perhaps the most 
constructive in terms of getting up-to-date from him on developments in 
South Africa.
    We talked about the sanctions question. We talked about a wide array 
of other questions, including the state of play in negotiations. And we 
have a very good feeling now. He agrees with us that dramatic progress 
has been made--or we agree with him on that. We both agree that more 
progress must be made.
    I told him of our policy. Our law is very clear that when five 
conditions are met, we will lift sanctions. And I don't want to put 
words in his mouth, but I believe the Chief Minister feels this would be 
the constructive approach to take in terms of jobs and investment and 
many other things.
    So, we once again have had a very good, productive meeting where we 
agree on perhaps the most important questions facing relations between 
this country and South Africa.
    Chief Minister, it's been a joy to have you here once again, sir.
    The Chief Minister. Thank you, Mr. President. Good afternoon, ladies 
and gentlemen. I just want to say that I'm very honored, indeed, to be 
here. And I'm pleased to have once again, as the President said, the 
opportunity to meet with the President. We had positive and fruitful 
discussions about the future of South Africa.
    We in the Inkatha Freedom Party and the majority, I think, of all 
South Africans share the fundamental values upon which this great 
democracy is based: individual liberty, human dignity, and a just 
society based on just laws.
    This meeting comes at an auspicious moment as legislated apartheid 
has been scrapped. And South Africa now faces the great challenge of 
ensuring a peaceful transition to a multiparty democracy.
    As we are witnessing around the world, transitions to democracy are 
the most delicate time in the life of nations. And those such 
transitions are happening at an unprecedented pace, from Eastern Europe 
to Africa. None, in fact, are assured of success without careful 
preparation of democratic structures and democratic ethos in the 
society.
    This delicate task cannot be accomplished on the base of one or two 
parties alone. They cannot just be bipolar, especially in complex 
societies such as that of ours in South Africa. Authentic democracies 
have numerous voices and numerous visions, all of which must be heard. 
We look forward to engaging other parties in political debate, but 
stress that this engagement must take place in the political arena, not 
in

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the streets. Ours must be a politics of negotiation, not a politics of 
coercion.
    We abhor the violence which has continued to rack our land because 
it has no place in the fashioning of democracy, and it must be rejected 
unequivocally by all parties. Intimidation and armed struggle must be 
rejected in favor of dialog and consensus. A free and democratic South 
Africa will face many challenges as it strives to overcome the half-
century lost to the evil of apartheid.
    Half of our population, ladies and gentlemen, is under the age of 
15. They will need education; they will need jobs; they will need health 
care and the basic tools of life if there is to be the growth and 
stability democracy requires. There must be a redistribution of wealth 
brought about by the redistribution of opportunity. This means the 
creation of jobs and the encouragement of investment.
    Africa is a desperately poor continent which is only now beginning 
to join the movement toward multipartyism, markets, and growth. South 
Africa's potential to play a supportive role in Africa can only be 
realized once our own future is secured.
    The wide world--worldwide, rather, trend towards freedom is our 
inspiration, and the role of the United States has played in this is a 
very great one and a very important one. We now ask that the United 
States help us to craft a new democracy in the same generous and 
evenhanded spirit it has displayed elsewhere, and that you continue to 
stand by our people as we strive to rebuild our nation. We have 
struggled and many have died to overcome apartheid so that our children 
may live free in the country of our forefathers and that they may learn 
to love peace and protect the fruit of our efforts, liberty.
    I thank you, Mr. President.

                    Note: The President spoke at 1:17 p.m. at the South 
                        Portico of the White House. Prior to his 
                        remarks, the President and the Chief Minister 
                        met privately in the Oval Office and with U.S. 
                        and Inkatha officials in the Cabinet Room, and 
                        then attended a luncheon in the Old Family 
                        Dining Room.