The U.S House of Representatives are to take a vote in order to scrap the travel restrictions which still apply to the former South African Prime Minister, Nelson Mandela and his anti-apartheid party, the African National Congress.
Prior to wanting to travel to the United States, Mandela along with his fellow members of the ANC still has to obtain a waiver in order to step on U.S soil.
Mandela’s name has been prominent on the U.S. blacklist since the apartheid era. A number of U.S immigration laws have not been updated accordingly and therefore are balanced against groups and individuals whom apposed the apartheid movement in South Africa. Under the laws the ANC are still classified in the U.S as communists, terrorists and criminals.
Following the terrorist attacks of September 11th 2001, security measures which have been passed by the U.S Congress have become extremely stringent. This has meant that due to the fact that the ANC used armed force in their campaigns against the apartheid, the terrorist label which had been given to them remained.
Many lawmakers view the situation as an embarrassing left-over part of U.S policy. The U.S Secretary of State, Condoleezza Rice has said that the time has come to remove the travel restrictions on Mandela and others from his party.
The 1960s saw leaders of the ANC jailed and forced into exile. Since their release some thirty years later the ANC have become the ruling party in South Africa. 1990 saw Nelson Mandela stand as the first president of South Africa to be elected in a fully representative democratic election. Seen by many as a symbol of freedom and equality, Mandela has won over 100 awards for his work including the Nobel Peace Prize.
The legislation to give the ANC freedom to travel is being supported by the Bush authority, although in order for it to be passed it will have to face the senate for final approval.
If the legislation is successful it will also mean that officials will have the authority to determine if criminal activities, which have kept people out of the United States apply. This will be based on whether they were undertaken as part of the opposition to the apartheid rule or not.
Speaking at the vote Rice stated that “I really do hope we can remove these restrictions on the ANC. This is a country with which we now have excellent relations”.
