This Day in History: August 16, 1990
Additional Date: August 16, 1990
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.