Mandela and De Klerk hold emergency talks

Updated: 30 Sep 2019

On 16 August 1990, President F. W. de Klerk and Nelson Mandela held emergency talks in Pretoria about increasing violence in Soweto. Fighting in Soweto started when Zulu migrant workers armed with axes and spears attacked passengers at a train station. This was seen as long standing political feud between the supporters of African National Congress (ANC) and Inkatha Freedom Party (IFP). Mandela was hoping that by engaging De Klerk in talks they could find a solution to the conflict and avert full-scale war between ANC and IFP supporters.

How we know this

01Nelson Mandela Center of Memory. (1990), "16 August 1990", from Nelson Mandela Center of Memory,availbale at www.nelsonmandela.org [Accessed: 14 August 2013]

Last updated · 30 Sep 2019

Cite this entry

South African History Online. (2011, March 16). Mandela and De Klerk hold emergency talks. South African History Online. https://sahistory.org.za/ref/E-0012906

South African History Online (2011) 'Mandela and De Klerk hold emergency talks', South African History Online, 16 March. Available at: https://sahistory.org.za/ref/E-0012906 (Accessed: 13 October 2026).

South African History Online, Mandela and De Klerk hold emergency talks [website], https://sahistory.org.za/ref/E-0012906, (accessed 13 October 2026).

"Mandela and De Klerk hold emergency talks." South African History Online, 16 Mar. 2011, https://sahistory.org.za/ref/E-0012906. Accessed 13 Oct. 2026.

South African History Online. "Mandela and De Klerk hold emergency talks." South African History Online. March 16, 2011. https://sahistory.org.za/ref/E-0012906.