Botha party confident of vote

Press, 3 November 1983, Page 10

Botha party confident of vote

NZPA Johannesburg South Africa’s governing party predicted yesterday as much as a 2-1 “Yes” vote today in a whites-only Constitutional referendum that would give Asians and Coloureds (mixed-race)'limited Parliamentary representation and leave blacks still politically powerless. But the white minority is split over the plan, which the black majority says is an attempt to form an alliance of whites, Asians, and Coloureds against 21 million disenfranchised blacks.

The National Party has scrapped usual procedures and is allowing any white South African with proof of citizenship to vote in any district _ ■

There ; are an estimated 2.7 million voters, and returns will be announced tonight (N.Z. time). If approved, the new Constitution would be implemented next year,

Hie plan .would set up an Sitseat.,, chamber for Coloureds and a 40-seat chamber for Asians. It would allow them to discuss issues concerning their communities, but give the 166-seat white .Parliament the final word on any measures they approve. . • The parliamentary plan has split the Afrikaner people — the Dutch, French, and German-descended

ancestors of seventeeth century pioneers who have ruled the country through the National Party since 1948.

Seventeen Nationalist members of Parliament defected and formed a new party to fight any concessions to other races.

The plan has divided the English-speaking people, themselves a minority

among whites, with one small Opposition party endorsing the Constitution as at least a small step in the right direction. The main English-domin-ated party opposes the plan, arguing that it entrenches segregation and excludes the black majority. No-one can predict the reaction of the 2.7 million Coloureds, or the 800,000 Asians, mostly of Indian descent, if the plan is approved. The Government argues that whites need allies in South Africa and abroad against a determined, Soviet-led, black insurgency.

The Defence Minister, General Magnus Malan, said on Monday: “The’hard fact is that we are the polecat of the world.” He said that approval of the plan would give a boost to the country’s friends overseas. But a “No” vote would give the “enemy bloc” more ammunition than ever, before.

In his final campaign speech on Monday the Prime Minister, Mr Pieter Botha, said that the plan did not rule out later reforms advancing the rights of blacks. Other National Party leaders have assured low-income whites of protection against Indians and Coloureds who .might compete with them for scarce housing.— now prohibited under a law segregating residential areas by race. If the plan is rejected, the Government says, a dangerous vacuum would be created, raising uncertainty and confusion and reducing the chance for change. Antiapartheid opponents; - say that a “No” vote could force the Government to consider real instead of cosmetic reforms.