Vorster Faces Bitter Fight

Press, Volume CX, Issue 32210, 31 January 1970, Page 11

Vorster Faces Bitter Fight

(N.Z.P.A.-Reuter— Copyright) CAPE TOWN, Jan. 30. Assaulted on two sides —from the far Right by the extremist rebel Verkramptes and from the Left by the Opposition United Party South Africa’s Nationalist Party today will launch a Parliamentary session likely to be the most bitterly fought for more than 20 years. A prelude to the General Elections on April 22, the session will for the first time pit the power of the Prime Minister (Mr Vorster) against the renegade Verkramptes in the same political arena. Parliament is meeting for the first time since the formal break-away of the Verkramptes led by the former Post and Telegraphs Minister (Dr Albert Hertzog) and their formation into their own party, the vociferous

Herstigte (reborn, or reconstituted) Nationalist Party. The clash between the H.N.P. and the Governmentmatching Afrikaner against Afrikaner, rather than the usual Nationalist-United riv-alry-will bring bitter questioning of Mr Vorster’s policies, such as establishing

diplomatic relations with Black States. Four former members of the Nationalist Party, now members of the H.N.P. will be sitting on the Government benches tomorrow, but may well be no longer there after the election. ASHE BAN

Parliament is meeting at a critical new period in South Africa’s political history, and at a time of new crisis in the country’s reputation abroad created by the Government’s ban on the entry of the American Negro tennis player, A. R. Ashe. Although still staunchly defended by loyal Nationalists, the decision—carrying the threat of South African expulsion from international tennis and other sports as well—is certain to be taken up with relish by the United Party, eager to grab at any morsel that might help its limited chance Of seizing power at the election. Some observers in Cape Town speculate that if there had not been an election so dose Mr Vorster might have let Ashe visit the country.

In other words it was a political move aimed at giving comfort to any Herstigterninded waverers still in the party and at the same time aimed at confounding Herstigte claims that the Government was weakening in its policy of apartheid. Political observers see South Africa entering a critical new decade when its apartheid policy will come under even closer examination at home.

Some pro - Government newspapers have already suggested that the years ahead will determine whether South Africa continues with racial separation, or admits failure —through economic and other domestic pressures—and admits the inevitability of increasing integration. Only a meagre legislative programme is set down for the brief session.