Hard-line Rightist into S.A. Cabinet

Press, 16 June 1979, Page 9

Hard-line Rightist into S.A. Cabinet

.\ZPA-Reuter Cape Town 1 he South African Prime Minister (Mr Pieter Botha) has reshuffled his Cabinet, dropping the controversial Justice Minister (Mr Janies Kruger).

Among the new men he had taken into the Cabinet is .Andries Treurnicht, head of the ruling National Party in Transvaal province and w ideiy acknowledged as leader of the party’s Right wing. It was Dr Treurnichl's insistence on teaching black children inAfrikaans that is credited with triggering the Soweto riots two years ago. An official announcement on the changes said Dr Treurnicht would move from the post of Deputy Minister, of Plural (black) Relations to full Cabinet rank as Minister of Pubic Works, Statistics, and Tourism. The announcement said Mr Kruger would now become president of the Sen-1 ate. The reshuffle followed an announcement earlier that the Transport Minister (Mr I.ouwrens Muller) was quitting the Cabinet. Mr Muller on Wednesday lost a contest with Marais Viljoen, president of the Senate, to be the National Party's candidate for the Presidency of South Africa after last week’s fall of John Vorster. The party’s huge majority makes it certain Mr Viljoen will win the ballot next week in an electoral college formed of both Houses of Parliament. . , Mr Botha’s changes, bring in three new Cabinet members and three Deputy Ministers, In addition to Dr Treurnicht, the Cabinet is joined by the Tormer administrator of Cape Province, Dr L. A.- P. A Munnik — known as I.apa from his in-

itials — who becomes Minister of Health, and Dr Ferdi-I nand Hartzenberg, a former! Deputy Minister, who takes] the black education and' training portfolio. The most significant] development, however, ap-j peared to be the dropping of (Mr Kruger and the inclusion! of Dr Treurnicht. Mr Kruger, who will take! lover Mr Viljoen’s post as] ’president of the Senale,! drew much criticism at home and overseas over! .deaths of detainees in police, custody, especially that of; • the black leader, Steve Biko.l (in 1977. His departure from the .Cabinet had been expected for some time.’. , f ( i Mr Kruger’s three port-] • folios — justice, police, and (prisons — have now been Idivided by Mr Botha: | Justice goes to Alwynl ISchlebusch, at present Inter-! ior Minister, while' police; land prisons are taken over! |by the former Public Works! (and Tdurism Minister,’ Louis! le Grage.