Coloured Council prorogued

Press, Volume CXIV, Issue 33601, 1 August 1974, Page 17

Coloured Council prorogued

(S Z P A -Reuter—Copyripho CAPE TOWN, July 31.

The South African Government yesterday prorogued the Coloured (mixed-race) population’s “Parliament,” which last week passed a motion of noconfidence in the country’s apartheid policies.

I Dr Schalk Van Der Merwe, {Minister of Coloured Affairs, isaid that from the proceedings of the Coloured Persons’ Representative Council it : would appear that a state of stalemate had been reached. The Minister said that the i council would be prorogued i until a date to be determined by himself. The council, set up in 1969 in line with Government oolicy of separate political institutions for the races, consists of 40 elected members and 20 Governmentnominated ones.

But last week the majority Federal Party, which usually backs separate development, accepted a motion by the anti-apartheid opposition Labour Party, calling on the Government to allow representation for all races in the exclusively white national Government. The Federal Party was again defeated last Friday on another issue and the chairman of the C.R.C. executive, Mr Tom Swartz, suggested prorogation. This produced a storm in the “Parliament” and on Monday the Federal Party walked out saving it was impossible for them to continue as the Coloured Government.

The Government has set un separate “homelands” for rhe African population, but no such provision has been made for Coloureds and Asians.

This has led to increasing I discussion in the republic’s ruling National Party over whether seats should be reserved in the national parliament for the Coloureds and Asians.