The ANC threatens to suspend constitutional talks

The African National Congress (ANC) threatened in an open letter to President F. W. de Klerk to suspend constitutional negotiations until the government meets its demands for an end to violence. These including firing security ministers Adriaan Vlok and Magnus Malan, punishing members of the security forces implicated in violence, outlawing the public carrying of weapons, and releasing remaining political prisoners. President F. W. de Klerk subsequently placed restrictions on the carrying of weapons and pledged to take action on other issues raised in the letter. Although he refused to dismiss the cabinet ministers, both were later demoted in the wake of the "Inkathagate" scandal (This was revelations about South African Defence Force involvement in death squads and the ongoing violence in the rand and Natal ). The ANC concluded that these actions did not address its concerns sufficiently, and announced its withdrawal from talks on constitutional issues. However, this had little practical effect, since the two sides were primarily engaged in talks on removing obstacles to negotiations, which were not affected by the ANC's action. Source: http://www.news24.com/News24/On_this_day/On_this_day/0,,2-1602-1492_1525037,00.html