S.A. Rightists Restive

Press, Volume CI, Issue 29931, 19 September 1962, Page 15

S.A. Rightists Restive

Press Asm.—Copyright) JOHANNESBURG. Sept. 18. The South African Prine Minister (Dr. Verwoerd) is under attack from Bight-wing dissidents in his own National Party who claim that his policy of apartheid is too liberal toward black Africans.

The dissidents object to the development of "Bantu homelands.” which some day will beconn "independent.' They advocate a return to the policy of white baasskap (overlordship) straight white supremacy, the Britisn United Press reported The criticism is probebly not significant at present, but Dr. Verwoerd attacked it both privately and publicly at a recent National Party congress, and it has been played up in the anti-Gov-ernment English - language press. One of the dissidents is Frits Smit a former chairman of the Afrikaanse S'udcnt League, who has been expelled from the National Party for speaking out. The movement has been dubbed "Back to Strijdom” —after the former Prime

Minister, Johannes Strijdom. Smit quoted Strijdom as saying five years ago: “You can call it apartheid, separate development. or whatever you like—but it is white baasskap and that is what we are fighting for.” Another Smit, a former Senator. Henme Smit, has also been expelled from the party over the issue. Party leaders say the Smits have only a handful of sympathisers. Fritz Smit says his private newsletter h-as a circulation of 6000. but that most of his supporters are afraid of the consequences if they side with him openly The present National Party originated in a Right-Wing split in the 1930's from the ’party led by the late General Albert Hertzog

Whatever the weakness of the Smits' dissidence. there have been a few signs of reluctance among the rank and file of the Nationalist Party to make sacrifices for the ideal of independent black “Bantustans "

A resolution on limiting the ; number of black servants each white family could have was quietly shelved at the recent National Party congress. Phere was no debate on Bantu affairs. Among the farmers, from st

whom the National Party draws strong support, there is dissatisfaction over low prices and surpluses—a problem South Africa has in common with several countries But some uneasiness also has been reported about the growing African rural population and plans to form more Bantustans

The strongly pro-Govern-ment newspaper. “Dagbreek,” commented critically about th« National Party congress‘‘Africa. Asia and the United Nations were far from the city hall at Pretoria The right to keep more than one servant was much nearer to the heart”

The newspaper said the ordinary man was becoming preoccupied with his own comfort and profit and forgetting the demands set by the maintenance of the white position in South Africa. As for the Smit revolt, it commented: “We believe that the dissatisfaction is limited to the small group of people who like Messrs Smit, want to return to the good old days that are gone forever ”

Whatever the discontent. Dr Verwoerd is still firmly at the top of his party. He was 61 this month, and there is no sign that he is thinking of retirement ,)