Police kept a low profile as 70,000 supporters of the banned African National Congress jammed a stadium to cheer seven long-imprisoned African National Congress leaders in the largest anti-apartheid protest in South Africa's history.
The rally Sunday was the first by Africa's oldest liberation movement since it was outlawed 29 years ago.Chants of "Viva ANC!" rumbled through the stadium as the recently freed activists stopped short of renouncing violence as a political weapon. They also demanded further racial reforms of the white government.
"There can be no question of unilaterally abandoning the armed struggle," said former ANC Secretary-General Walter Sisulu, 77, speaking from a stage bedecked with the black, green and golden flag of the ANC and a red banner of the South African Communist Party.
"To date we see no clear indication that the government is serious about negotiations. All their utterances are vague," Sisulu said as an aide held an umbrella over his head to shade him from the sun.
Still, the ANC leaders left open the possibility of negotiations with President Frederik de Klerk to end the country's racial conflict, prompting one of some 20 Western diplomats seated on an upper balcony to describe the tone of the day as "quite moderate."
Exiled ANC President Oliver Tambo, recovering from a stroke in London, said in a statement read on his behalf that de Klerk had a unique opportunity to earn a place in history as "one of the peacemakers of our country."
Police took no action, but witnesses saw scores of army troops in full battle gear and riot police stealthily deployed near interchanges leading to the stadium. With the exception of a black mineworker killed in an auto accident en route to the rally, no serious incidents were reported.
A magistrate issued a rally permit in line with de Klerk's relaxation of restrictions on anti-government protest despite Internal Security Act provisions making the promotion of the ANC a crime.