South Africa

Press, 25 January 1988, Page 20

South Africa

Sir,—Fran Wilde is either grossly misinformed or is trying to promote -a ’ one-party Marxist government in South Africa. I suspect the latter. Her comments (January 22) cannot be described as other than rubbish. The South African Government will not consider “One man, one vote” as that would obviously lead to a situation similar to Zimbabwe, a one-party State, but the South African Government has shown great readiness to discuss the issue, provided the threat of violence is removed. Is this not reasonable? The only South African refugees are A.N.C. terrorists, those people who maintain a reign of terror in the black townships through threats of burning alive, and other atrocities of anyone who they think has not obeyed the A.N.C. instructions. What proof has Fran Wilde of South African support of the anti-communists in Mozambique since the Nkomati Accord? I suggest none. She seems concerned that universal franchise does not exist in South Africa. Perhaps she would tell me of any other African country which does have universal franchise.—Yours, etc., L. R. WILKINSON. January 22, 1988.

Sir,—l can only guess as to why Bert Walker (January 20) refers to my comment as “nasty,” while other folk see my stance as moderate. The socalled “distorted views of the political extreme Leftwing” has long been an excuse for rejecting demands (even suggestions) from people seeking to improve the lot of oppressed, peoples world-wide. South African news media sources .have begun to question Mr Botha’s lack of wisdom in not keeping whites better informed abouti the Angolan situation. He has. also failed in his bid to silence university criticism of apartheid, even when there was a threat to reduce funding i! the criticism persisted. There are registered and unregistered inions in South Africa. Time and events have shown that wishfjl thinking on the part of Bert Walker has not stemmed the increase of registered union membership. Incidentally, there js a South African sportspersohs anti-apart-heid movement. — Yours, etc., KENNETH EBER MARTIN. January 21, 1988 A