Right-Wing Groups - South African Government Information

ecame a recurring theme in the militant rhetoric of the right-wing leaders and a
central motivating factor in the planning and execution of operations that re s u l t e d
in gross violations of human rights.
327. At the time of the formation of the Afrikaner Vo l k s f ront (AVF), some Afrikaner
g roups felt that ‘an elite’ deal was being fashioned at the Kempton Park negotiations
between the ANC and the NP in conjunction with big business. The deal
t h reatened to marginalise Afrikaner demands for the preservation of Afrikaner
c u l t u re and the recognition of their Christian-national aspirations.
328. At this time, when there seemed to be little hope in obtaining a volkstaat, there
was talk of a ‘liberation war’ using violence as a means to achieve an end.
H o w e v e r, no loss of life was intended. AWB leader, Eugene Te r re’Blanche testified
b e f o re the Commission that no orders for killing were given. In his submission
to the Commission, General Constand Viljoen said that the AVF had no option
but to organise resistance to secure the future of Afrikaners:
I submit that it was quite reasonable that the ethnic Afrikaners felt threatened to
the point that they felt the proverbial back against the wall. … And we pre p a re d
for conflict – not anarchy, not a total war but a well-planned campaign of re s i s-
tance and mass action’ against the NP government and also against the ANC.
( Viljoen: submission)
329. General Viljoen unequivocally linked Afrikaner resistance with the transitional
p rocess in the country.
It was further aimed as an anti-re v o l u t i o n a ry power to counter the anarchy,
intimidation and intolerance of the re v o l u t i o n a ry powerw, because in our opinion
the government of the day had neither the will or the guts to do so. … Our action
programme was necessary as the NP in the multi-party conference watere d
down the Afrikanerv o l k ’s right to self-determination, and our own bilateral
process of negotiations with the ANC on Afrikaner self-determination did not
achieve the desired results until shortly before the election. The degree of re v o-
l u t i o n a ry climate called for an action stronger than the political debate; but it
had to take place in support of the talks. (Viljoen, AVF: submission)
330. In summary, the Amnesty Committee heard that most of the acts for which
members of right-wing organisations applied for amnesty were motivated by the
following principles:
V O L U M E 6 S E C T I O N 3 C H A P T E R 6 P A G E 5 1 0