Rightists get vital S.A. Cabinet jobs

Press, 27 January 1978, Page 5

Rightists get vital S.A. Cabinet jobs

NZPA-Reuter Cape Town

; The South African Prime | Minister (Mr John Vorster) (has appointed his reputed [heir-apparent, Dr Connie Mulder, to oversee the'future of South Africa’s 15 million blacks. I Mr Mihiel Botha, who has 'held the powder-keg portfolio of Bantu adminisi tration, development, and [education during two years [of racial unrest, had earlier I announced his plans to retire.

| In a Cabinet shuffle on the eve of a new session of (Parliament, Mr Botha’s job has been split. ' Dr Mulder will be responsible for administration and \ development. Education — ’the issue which set off riots ;and school boycotts in South (Africa’s black townships — goes to Mr William Cruywagen, formerly Mr Botha’s (deputy. Mr Vorster also anl nounced that both “Bantu” 'Ministries will be instructed I to choose new names more I acceptable to the black population. Bantu is an- African I word originally meaning '“people” but its use by the ; South African Government (has made it despised by 'many who prefer to be (called “black.” ! The shuffle will take effect next Monday, when Pariliament resumes in full (session here with the ruling (National Party holding an 'unprecedented 134 seats in the 165-member House of ; Assembly. I Mr James Kruger, probably the most controversial •member of Mr Vorster’s i Administration, retains his

post as Minister for Justice, Police, and Prisons. Dr Mulder’s Interior Ministry post goes to Mr Alwyn Schlebusch, a strong Rightwinger who also remains Minister for Immigration and Public Works. Dr Mulder retains his other Cabinet job, the Ministry of Information. Among party loyalists, Dr Mulder, who is 52, is regarded as “verkrampte” (conservative) in a party which, by outside standards, is already far Right. Informed sources said, however, he would pursue the promised abolition of petty or “park-bench” apartheid, the system of social discrimination against blacks which is still very much part of South African life. He is also expected to lead a drive to consolidate, apartheid and to justify thel policy to the outside world. ■ Dr Mulder had been, widely expected to take over from Mr Botha, who had aroused general contempt from the black leaders — most of them now in jail — for his refusal to allow major changes in black affairs despite the township upheavals. One surprise in the reshuffle was that Dr Mulder will retain the Information Ministry — a crucial job in trying to refurbish South Africa’s battered image to the outside world. There had been widespread speculation that the information portfolio would be added to the Foregin Affairs Department, under Mr Pik Botha. It would probably I have made Mr Botha the i most powerful member of

(the Cabinet and endorsed him as the fastest rising star in the South African Government. Observers said the fact! that Dr Mulder had kept the: information post as well as gaining the vitally important black affairs job indicates that he still has not lost the high esteem in which the Prime Minister is said to hold him.