South Africa Gives Namibia Self-Rule, Ignores Major Party

South Africa, defying world opinion, today granted Namibia limited self-rule under an interim government that excludes the only group recognized by the United Nations as a representative of the Namibian people.

South African President Pieter W. Botha, in the Namibian capital of Windhoek to sign the self-rule proclamation, blamed the United Nations and Angola for standing in the way of complete independence for Namibia, also known as South-West Africa.

The agreement grants the interim government limited self-rule but leaves South Africa in full charge of foreign policy and defense matters.

U.N. Bias Charged

He said full independence has not been granted because of the United Nations’ “continuing bias in favor of (the South-West African People’s Organization) and the continuing threat posed by the presence of more than 30,000 Cuban troops in Angola.”

Botha’s signing of the proclamation and the swearing-in of an eight-man Cabinet highlighted daylong festivities in Windhoek.

Soldiers and military hardware rumbled through the capital’s streets and the South African air force aerobatic team flew overhead. The transfer of power to an appointed government of local political leaders in the former German colony took place at one minute past midnight.

Western governments and the United Nations have already rejected the new administration, the second attempt by South Africa to give Namibia limited self-rule. The first government collapsed in January, 1983, after four years.

Legitimate Representative

The new government excludes the South West Africa Peoples Organization, SWAPO, which is recognized by the United Nations as the sole legitimate representative of Namibia’s 1.2 million inhabitants.

Members of the moderate Multi-Party Conference, or MPC, an alliance of six white and multiracial parties including a branch of South Africa’s ruling white National Party, make up the new adminstration.

MPC sources in Windhoek said the new government will be empowered to abolish or amend all South African legislation, but critics said Pretoria had retained the right to veto any decisions made in Windhoek.

Will Control Defense

South Africa already has said it will retain control of Namibia’s foreign affairs and defense, along with negotiations on an internationally acceptable formula for its independence.

Moves to grant Namibia independence according to a 1977 U.N. timetable have foundered on a joint U.S. and South African insistence that an estimated 30,000 Cubans first must be withdrawn from neighboring Angola.

The granting of limited Namibian self-rule comes as South Africa faces mounting criticism of its lightning commando raid last Friday against suspected guerrillas of the outlawed African National Congress in neighboring Botswana.

U.S. Ambassador Herman Nickel was recalled and flew to Washington Sunday night for consultations in the wake of what the State Department called South Africa’s “deplorable attack.”