Concessions to S.A. blacks

Press, Volume CXV, Issue 33750, 24 January 1975, Page 13

Concessions to S.A. blacks

(Neto Zealand Press Association—Copyright) CAPE TOWN, January 23. The South African Prime Minister (Mr Vorster) announced late last night a series of concessions to blacks living in South Africa’s white urban areas.

He also said that the Government would consider allowing the return of black political exiles who were not Communists and who had not committed criminal offences.

The announcement followed a meeting lasting more than nine hours with the leaders of South Africa’s eight black homelands or reserves.

The concessions, regarded as only minor ones by political observers, include studying the possibility of relaxing restrictions on the leasing of property by Africans in urban areas. At present, Africans are not allowed to own property in white urban areas, and may only rent houses for short periods in the so-called African townships. Mr Vorster also said that the Government would consider the existing rigid regulations on African travel in white areas, and review the laws and regulations restric-

ting the rights of Africans to run businesses in white areas.

One of the African leaders, Mr Gaisha Buthelezi, of the Zulu homeland, emerged from the meeting visibly angry. He would not discuss the talks, but gave reporters a memorandum he said he had read to Mr Vorster at the meeting. “Black people have endured abuse in the hope that Government policy would be a road to real fulfilment for blacks,” it read. “If this road . . is leading to a cul de sac, then our only alternative is to seek fulfilment, not in unreal separate freedoms, but in one South Africa and in the only seat of power, which is Parliament.

“It is my moral duty to point out that this is the only logical alternative we have if we do not want our people to resort to civil disobedience and the disruption of services in this land.”