These developments gave rise to tensions in the ANC's National Executive Committee about the developing relationship between Inkatha and the ANC. There were those in the ANC who rejected Inkatha and feared the growth of Prince Mangosuthu Buthelezi's prominence inside South Africa, and sought to attack the credibility of Prince Mangosuthu Buthelezi.

Joe Slovo had welcomed the initial approach of Inkatha and the Christian Institute, but made it very clear that the ANC would not be drawn into the non-violent internal democratic struggle against apartheid. His view was that the armed struggle would remain the primary means of liberating South Africa and an involvement in internal democratic opposition to apartheid would necessarily detract from the importance or primacy of the armed struggle.

The ANC was also aware of the political reawakening of black South Africa and feared third force developments over which they could not exercise control from their disadvantaged exiled position. They also saw Inkatha's commitment to non-violence as threatening and chose not to support Prince Mangosuthu Buthelezi and Inkatha, and rather gave moral and material support to more militant organisations which were in competition with Inkatha.