Botha drops two outspoken ministers

Press, 6 November 1986, Page 8

Botha drops two outspoken ministers

NZPA-Reuter Johannesburg The South African President, Pieter Botha, has revamped his Government to pave the way for reforms he says are aimed at phasing out apartheid. He dropped two ministers who have played important roles in the state of emergency in force for the last five months, replacing them with younger, less outspoken politicians.

Mr Botha said that the new Cabinet, which would take office on December 1, would have three fewer ministers than its 20strong predecessor. Political analysts said the Government’s image would be improved by the departure of hard-line Minister of Law and Order, Louis Le Grange, and information chief Louis Nel.

“They have obviously cleared out some dead wood,” said a political science professor at Cape

Town University, David Wood. He said most of the new faces were on the liberal wing of the governing National Party.

A leader of the white opposition Progressive Federal Party, Colin Eglin, said the new Cabinet inspired no more confidence than the old one.

Under Mr Le Grange, security forces have been active against dissent, rounding up an estimated 20,000 detainees since the emergency was declared on June 12.

He is replaced by his deputy Adriaan Vlok, who has earned a reputation for calm and thoroughness.

Mr Botha said Mr Le Grange, who has fought a battle against cancer, was nominated for the less demanding post of Speaker of the white chamber in the raciallysegregated Parliament. Mr Nel, the deputy Minister of Information, has helped impose restrictions oh the press under the

emergency. His job goes to Christoffel van der Merwe, a former diplomat and National Party press spokesman.

Mr Botha said Mr Nel had been offered other posts but had yet to accept one.

The other main casualty of the shake-up was Dawie de Villiers, who lost the Industries and Commerce portfolio.

Two other Cabinet members — the Minister of Transport, Hendrik Schoeman and the Minister of Communications, L. A. P. A. Munnik — retired.

The Government also announced that subversion charges against Allan Boesak had been dropped. No reason was given. Mr Boesak, president of the World Alliance of Reformed Churches, was charged in September last year with organising a march on Cape Town’s Pollsmoor prison where the black nationalist leader, Nelson Mandela, is held.