Apartheid still best for S.A. — Vorster

Press, 14 September 1976, Page 8

Apartheid still best for S.A. — Vorster

International

NZPA-Reutcr Pretoria The South African Prime Minister (Mr John Vorstcri celebrated his tenth anniversary in power y esterday, still apparently unshaken in his belief that apartheid is the, best path for his country.

In a television intervie »n Sunday night, Mr Vorster said that he did not inten' that urban blacks. Coloureds, or Asians should be represented in the central Government.

Blacks would have their own representation in South. Africa’s nine proposed home-] lands, the first of which, thei Transkei, will become inde-] pendent next month, he] said.

On Friday, Mr Vorster villi meet the United States Sec-j retary of State (Dr Henry I Kissinger) who, before their] recent talks in Zurich, had condemned apartheid as being “incompatible wL any concept of human dignity.” [ In spite of recent riots by I blacks and Coloureds seekling greater freedom in the ] running of their affairs, in which about 300 people died.; Mr Vorster said on television] that he was entirely satisfied! with progress made during] his decade in office. I,

Dr Kissinger has said that most black African leaders recognise South Africa as an African country. Its white settlers have lived on African soil for centuries, and no-one challenged their right to remain there. This reflected the view Mr Vorster expressed in a 1974 speech seeking political and econ-

iomical detente with black| , Africa. : “We are of Africa, and our! destiny is in Africa, nowhere ■else,” Mr Vorster sa . ; But although Mr Vorster, 'sees South Africa’s future as a country of racially-j 'separated development rather,' I than multi-racial power shar-l jing, he does not recommend this system for his northern jwhite-ruled neighbour, R >-. (desia. ; According to informed, I sources, he .■'ill have talks in ] Pretoria today with the 'Rhodesian Prime Minister ](Mr lan Smith) when he v.”l point out the realities of the Rhodesian situation '.nd will advise the Rhodesian leader. In Zurich, Mr Vorster had] said that he thought a] peaceful solution in Rho-I desia was possible thm" .talks among the rival black] (nationalist factions, and be-] I tween blacks and whites, i On South-West Africa: 1 ](Namibia), Mr Vorster has] 1 [accepted that the "ou' ]' West Africa People s Organisation (5.W.A.P.0.), previ-y ously branded by Pretoria] I as only interested in violence.'! was a legitimate political il faction. x Kissingc. left for' southern Africa yesterday in, ( an attempt to prevent new] racial strife, by securing a| f better accommodation Re- i

I tween black and white lead'ers through his personal diplomacy. At a week-end news con(fc.encc _ 'r Kissinger said (that the risks to world peace 'were very severe. War had (already started in southern ■Africa, and there was grave (danger of its expansion, and danger of foreign intervention. Ete will visit Tanzania, IZambia, and South Africa, [and will trv to find a way of peacefully transferring power to the black majorities in Rhodesia and Namibia. Dr Kissinger hopes, by shuttling between the three! countries over a period of 10[ idays to two w'eeks, to create] (a framework in which the in[terested blacks and whites [can later work towards a [peaceful change of power. I He may have talks with IMr Smith, but this wot Id dejpend on the progress of his 'discussions, and the attitude [of Mr Smith. The stage for the visit was] [set by the Kissinger-Vorster talks in Zurich, and « summit of five African Heads of (State in Dar-es-Salaam. Tanzania. Dr Kissinger said that his discussions would place less emphasis on South Africa itself.