JOHANNESBURG : Birthday, Politics in S. Africa

Fresh from a six-week, three-continent tour to drum up support for his African National Congress, Nelson Mandela returns home this week in time to celebrate his 72nd birthday--and get down to the business of restarting the South African peace process.

Overseas, Mandela collected both financial and political support for the anti-apartheid cause. But he faces more difficult tasks at home, including mounting violence between his ANC followers and supporters of the rival Inkatha movement in Natal province.

Also, critics charge that his lengthy trips abroad have delayed progress in resolving disagreements between the ANC and the government over key outstanding issues such as freedom for political prisoners and the return of black militants forced into exile.