Submit, Negotiate or Fight: We Chose to Negotiate

In December 1961 the formation of Umkhonto We Sizwe, the Military Wing of the African National Congress (ANC) was formed under the leadership of Nelson Mandela. In its founding manifesto MK declared that 'the time comes in the life of any nation when there remains only two choices - submit or fight. That time has has now come to SA. We shall not submit and we have no choice but to hit back by all means in our power in defence of our people, our future and our freedom'. In 1990 the SA Government decided to enter into political negotiations with the ANC. As MK was under the political control of the ANC it had to become part of the negotiations. When the negotiation process begun there was a concern that the armed formations may not be willing to negotiate and that these could attack each other and thereby undermine the negotiation process. However, in the same way that political negotiations were led by the ANC, MK played a significant role in the process of military negotiations. At that point in time, MK faced similar choices faced the generation of Mandela: Submit or Fight. The MK leadership agreed to Negotiate! This led to a peaceful political transition at all levels.