South Africa’s Envoy to Britain Resigns

JOHANNESBURG, South Africa — South Africa’s reform-minded ambassador to Britain has resigned, the government said today, and there were reports he would challenge President Pieter W. Botha’s party in the coming parliamentary elections.

The announcement of Denis Worrall’s resignation came less than two hours before Botha announced that the first white election in six years will be held May 6.

Foreign Minister Roelof F. (Pik) Botha said in Cape Town that Ambassador Denis Worrall “has asked to be relieved of his duties. I agreed.”

In London, Worrall said he resigned to return home and “re-enter national life,” but he made no comment on whether he will run for Parliament against the governing National Party he has long supported.

“In particular, I believe that this is a time for bridge-builders within all communities in South Africa to make themselves heard,” Worrall said in a statement from the South African Embassy.

The Cape Times newspaper reported today that Worrall, among the strongest supporters of racial reform in Botha’s National Party, was considering running against the National Party in the May elections.

The newspaper said Worrall was increasingly dissatisfied with the lack of concrete initiatives toward reforms in apartheid.

The paper said it was unclear whether Worrall would run as an independent or join the liberal opposition Progressive Federal Party.

Worrall, 48, became ambassador to Britain in August, 1984, after 18 months as ambassador to Australia. Some analysts said at the time that Worrall’s move to the diplomatic corps rather than into the Cabinet showed that he already was losing Botha’s favor.

Worrall has taught international relations at universities in South Africa and the United States, and holds a doctorate from Cornell University and a South African law degree.