Deukmejian Calls On Reagan to Turn Up the Pressure on S. Africa

Gov. George Deukmejian, contending Thursday that President Reagan’s South Africa policy is not working, called on the President to impose tougher economic sanctions against that country’s white minority government.

“Regrettably, there is no indication that current national policies are having a demonstrably beneficial impact on the lives of black South Africans,” Deukmejian said in a letter to Reagan. “It’s time once again to turn up the pressure against apartheid in South Africa.”

Seeking to capitalize on the issue of South Africa’s system of racial separation as he campaigns for reelection, Deukmejian also formally called on the University of California Board of Regents to review in July its policy of investing in businesses linked to South Africa.

The Republican governor, who last year blocked attempts to halt state and UC pension fund investments in such firms, has hardened his stance on the issue as conditions worsen in South Africa--and as he intensifies his campaign against Los Angeles Mayor Tom Bradley.

The governor’s call for stronger federal sanctions against the Pretoria regime drew renewed criticism from the Bradley camp over Deukmejian’s change in position.

Bradley Side’s View

“For more than three years, George Deukmejian refused to join with those who wanted to protest apartheid in South Africa,” said the mayor’s campaign manager, Tom Quinn. “At last, in the midst of a political campaign, Deukmejian has finally acquiesced to the public’s demand for more responsibility.”

Deukmejian, who rarely disagrees publicly with the President, joined a growing chorus of discontent with the United States’ stance toward the white minority government. In a surprise action Wednesday, the House of Representatives voted to sever nearly all trade ties with South Africa and to order Americans to divest themselves of all assets held in the racially divided nation.

In his letter to Reagan, Deukmejian said: “The repressive racial policies of the South Africa government have changed only slightly since the imposition of the restrictions on loans and exports provided for in your executive order (last September).

“The lack of progress is disturbing. Even more disturbing is the rising tide of unrest and violence by and against blacks in South Africa. . . . I respectfully urge you to act now to impose additional economic sanctions directed at the government of South Africa.”

Deukmejian did not suggest any specific actions the President could take.

Last year, Deukmejian played a pivotal role in blocking attempts to require the University of California and state employee pension funds to halt investment in companies doing business in South Africa.

Instead, at Deukmejian’s urging, the Board of Regents agreed to conduct a case-by-case review of U.S. firms to see if they were living up to standards of “good corporate citizenship” in South Africa.

That policy led to the divestiture of $12.3-million worth of bonds issued by one firm, Cleveland-based Eaton Corp.--a small share of the university system’s $2.4-billion investment in firms with South African operations.

Last week, Deukmejian told reporters in Los Angeles that he would support a tougher UC policy against investments in firms linked to South Africa.

In a separate letter to UC President David Gardner requesting discussion of the subject in July, Deukmejian noted that in the year since the university policy was adopted, “conditions in South Africa have not improved.”

The Bradley campaign questioned why the governor is waiting for another month when the regents are scheduled to meet today.

“I’m disappointed that George Deukmejian wants to wait until next month to act against the immoral government of South Africa,” Quinn said Thursday. “Why wait another month when the regents are meeting tomorrow?”