Signing the D.F. Malan Accord: 12 February 1991
On 12 February 1991, the apartheid South African Government and the African National Congress (ANC) signed the then secret D.F. Malan Accord, which effectively removed most obstacles in the way of a multi-party conference. It became a crucial agreement that further defined the suspension of the ANC’s armed struggle, and it formalised the cessation of armed attacks, the infiltration of personnel, and the creation of underground military structures, while addressing the licensing of weapons and the rights of ANC members to engage in peaceful political activity. The accord was named after the D.F. Malan Airport (now Cape Town International Airport), where the meeting took place.
The D.F. Malan Accord followed the 1990 Groote Schuur Minute and Pretoria Minute, aiming to accelerate the transition to a peaceful, negotiated settlement. The ANC agreed to cease armed attacks, stop infiltration of personnel and weapons, stop creating underground structures, cease threats of violence, and to end military training inside South Africa. Whereas the apartheid government agreed to review security legislation to facilitate free political activity and to manage the legal standing of Umkhonto we Sizwe (MK) members. The accord was crucial for reducing violence and building trust, allowing for the continuation of negotiations despite ongoing challenges. It specifically addressed the practicalities of transitioning from armed struggle to poli
