South African Blames U.S. for Black Violence

Foreign Minister Roelof F. (Pik) Botha today blamed the United States for violence in black communities and rejected congressional anti-apartheid sanctions as unwarranted meddling.

“I hold Congress responsible for the murder of black people by black people,” he told foreign correspondents, blaming foreign interference for increasing “intimidation” of blacks and exacerbating the situation.

More than 2,000 people, most of them black, have been killed in a two-year uprising against white rule.

Botha said U.S. South Africa policy and foreign pressure on Pretoria will be key issues in a general election among white voters May 6.

“In our relations with the U.S., we will be guided by the fact that Congress has taken over, at least in part, the prerogatives of the President in making policy,” he said.

He cited the Oct. 2 congressional vote overriding President Reagan’s veto of economic sanctions against South Africa.

“The United States cannot solve our problems, and I think the (sanctions) legislation was intended as outside intrusion in trying to solve our problems,” he said. “It is time to show the American Congress they will not determine our future.”