Ban Against Foreign Funds for Apartheid Foes Upset

President Pieter W. Botha’s declaration that South Africa’s biggest anti-apartheid coalition could not receive foreign funding was set back in court today.

In a post-election victory interview, Botha had emphasized that his government would crack down on non-parliamentary opposition, particularly groups that receive funds from overseas.

But a decision today by Justice John Didcott of the Durban branch of the Natal Supreme Court overturned Botha’s declaration that the United Democratic Front anti-apartheid organization was prohibited from accepting foreign funding.

The decision was based on a technicality, and the government signaled its intention to appeal.

Azar Cachalia, treasurer of the United Democratic Front, said Botha stressed a planned crackdown in a Thursday night interview, and added: “Certainly this must be seen as a setback to him, even if it’s a temporary setback and the government reimposes the declaration or ultimately wins the appeal.”

Until last Oct. 9, when Botha declared the front an “affected organization,” meaning that it was barred from receiving foreign funding, the coalition of civic, church, educational and civil rights organizations had received most of its funds from Scandinavian countries.

“The declaration has certainly caused us difficulties during this period,” said Cachalia, one of a handful of front executive members not in hiding or detention.

Didcott ruled that the justice minister had to prepare a factual report on the organization before the president could declare it affected. Instead, the minister of law and order prepared it.