Minister's statement draws angry reaction

Press, 7 June 1980, Page 8

Minister's statement draws angry reaction

NZPA-Reuter United Nations African diplomats are demanding an early vote on a resolution censuring South Africa for the current-racial violence in the country. A resolution drafted by African delegates would have the 15nation council call on South Africa to end “violence against the African people” and bring the country’s black., population to full equality .with whites. The South African Foreign Minister (Mr Pik Botha) has attacked the debates on thei unrest in South Africa involving school boycotts and strikes largely . resulting!

from the country’s apartheid system. Mr Botha condemned the U.N. for hypocrisy in allowing the Soviet Union to “sit. at the table of the Security Council , in judgment on South Africa” while its forces were still. in Afr ghanistan. The South African . Prime Minister (Mr Pieter Botha) may step into a blazing row which has erupted after one of his. Cabinet colleagues said; blacks were slow thinkers, says a report from Cape Town. ... Opposition parliaImentarians called on Mr i Botha to repudiate the Minister. of Posts and Tele-

'communications, (Mr Hennie Smit) whose comments outraged prominent black : leaders and shook . Government plans for changes in . the constitution.* ;:Mr Botha has so far riot reacted to the furore. But sources within.; the ruling Nationalist Party said the matter -.might be dealt with at the highest level to “restore faith in the con-stitution-making.process.”,,. As Opposition anger mounted, Mr Srriit. said he did not mean to be insulting to anyoiie. He said if his Statement was regarded . as derogatory he would like to replace his words with

“those whose assimilation .of constitutional processes was slower than most of us here.” Blacks, ** Coloured (mixed race) and Indian leaders reacted with fury to Mr Siriit’s , remarks. Some, questioned whether the Government would be able to persuade coloured and Indian leaders to join the President’s council which is a .-.major plank, of constitutional ;; : reforms. Chief Gatsha Buthelezi, the political leader of 5 million Zulus, said that anyone joining the council would ,be endorsing Mr Smit’s “insult” to blacki people.. r x ''-