South Africa

Press, 24 February 1988, Page 18

South Africa

Sir, —If G. Emerson (February 18) finds the expression "meaningful negotiations” difficult, I can say, simply, that I mean negotiations genuinely committed to ending apartheid and to giving South Africa’s 23 million blacks direct representation in government at State level. Election of segregated township councils is a very limited political act and the system has clearly lost credibility (S. A. Hansard, No. 3, 1986). Nor can a facade of consultation be sustained by creating an “advisory” body which is selected and controlled by the State President and whose “advice” is discretionary to a white-only Government. Small wonder that black leaders of integrity, like Alan Boesak, reject proposals which only serve to reinforce white supremacy and perpetuate a system under which the white minority enjoys one of the highest per capita incomes in the world while that of the black majority — even allowing for black millionaires and professionals — remains among the lowest. — Yours, etc., ALISTAIR PRINGLE. February 22,1988.

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