SUMMARY
Whilst most black resistance movements in South Africa ended their armed struggles as negotiations for a transition to majority rule began in 1990, PAC (Pan-Africanist Congress) and its armed wing APLA (Azanian People’s Liberation Army) did not agree to join negotiations and lay down arms until January 1994. During the years of transition (1990-1994) APLA instead pursued a low-level guerrilla campaign, during which civilians were a prime target according to APLA statements.
Whereas the ANC (African National Congress) and IFP (Inkatha Freedom Party) during this time period engaged in one-sided violence mainly against the other’s political sympathizers and supporters the PAC and its armed wing instead mainly targeted white civilians. The explanations for this strategy lie mainly in the PAC's Africanist ideology, which dictated that the apartheid government was to be brought down by force and be replaced by a state purely for Africans (meaning non-whites). Land was to be repossessed from the whites (sometimes referred to as “settlers”), who were also to be struck “where it hurts the most”, i.e. in civilian settings. A well-published APLA slogan was “One Settler – One Bullet”. It is however important to keep in mind that PAC and APLA statements regarding the targeting of white civilians are contradictory, reflecting the divides that existed regarding strategy.
APLA’s violence peaked in 1993, when an operation named ‘The Year of the Great Storm’ was launched, targeting mainly white farmers and public places frequented by whites. These attacks were focused on the Transkei, Eastern Cape and Orange Free State areas. Shooting and grenade attacks were the most common means of attack.
Attacks on civilians ended as PAC abandoned the armed struggle and entered the negotiations for the transition in 1994.
PAC first became active as a one-sided actor in UCDP data in 1993, when the one-sided violence resulted in more than 25 civilian deaths. The threshold was reached on 3 July when APLA members killed 5 civilians in Wesselbron town.
