Black Lauds Reagan View on Apartheid : But South African Concedes It Hasn’t Helped His People

A black tribal leader from South Africa today praised President Reagan’s criticism of apartheid but acknowledged that the Administration’s policies have not produced any real improvement in the quality of life for the country’s 21 million blacks.

After meeting with the President, Mangosuthu Buthelezi said he told Reagan that he will “go down in our history as the first American President who had the courage to clutch the thorny South African nettle boldly and publicly.”

Buthelezi, a moderate tribal leader, was described by the White House as “one of the most important political leaders in South Africa.”

However, a leader of American demonstrations against the apartheid-government in Pretoria called him “an agent of the South African government” and said he does not represent the thinking of the country’s black majority.

Not a ‘Legitimate Leader’

David Scott, legislative liaison of TransAfrica, a foreign policy lobbying organization, said Buthelezi is on the South African government payroll and was presenting himself “as a legitimate leader of the South African majority, which he is not.”

While Reagan has denounced apartheid, he has refused to publicly pressure the South African regime to ease its policies, saying the United States can be more effective behind the scenes with what he calls “constructive engagement.”

Asked his opinion of “constructive engagement,” Buthelezi said, “In principle there is nothing wrong with constructive engagement if it is given flesh,” and cited a need for more funds for education and health. “At the moment, of course, the ordinary black South African cannot say that he sees anything different in his life because of constructive engagement,” he added.

Buthelezi said he agrees with the Reagan Administration’s opposition to economic sanctions as a tool to force an end to apartheid.