Botha Proposes Blacks in South Africa Cabinet

President Pieter W. Botha proposed changes today that could bring members of South Africa’s black majority into the Cabinet and the electoral college that chooses the head of state.

In a speech to Parliament punctuated by heckling and jeering from members of the extreme right-wing Conservative Party, Botha reiterated his government’s commitment to reforming apartheid in spite of a white backlash which has cost it a string of electoral defeats.

“If the whites don’t follow my road, that’s their responsibility. If they choose the road of confrontation, that’s their problem,” Botha said in a defiant message to the extreme right.

Cites ‘Recognized Blacks’

Botha said he favors the appointment of some “recognized blacks” to the parliamentary electoral college that chooses South Africa’s president. He did not say how they would be selected.

He said the composition of the Cabinet would be reviewed “in order to give the state president greater leeway to appoint persons from outside Parliament.”

A member from “another population group” might be called in to assist Constitutional Development Minister Chris Heunis, Botha said.

Briefing journalists, a senior government official said it was “fair to speculate” that a black member might be brought into the Cabinet.

The Cabinet at present has an Indian member but no blacks and blacks can neither stand for Parliament nor vote in parliamentary elections.

The Conservative Party has rapidly gained support among whites who oppose any relaxation of race segregation.

Political analysts said the reformist speech appeared to show that Botha had given up hope of winning back Conservative voters and would push ahead with reform regardless of right-wing resistance.

Reforms to apartheid have virtually ground to a halt since a national state of emergency was declared in June, 1986, after months of black protest violence.

Under Intense Pressure

Botha is under intense pressure from Western countries, which are tightening sanctions, to speed reform.

Botha said his white-dominated government will introduce legislation allowing blacks living outside the nominally independent tribal homelands to elect regional bodies with authority over affairs “that affect them.”

States Belief

The 72-year-old president said he believes black leaders should take part in the electoral college that chooses South Africa’s president.

The black majority is not represented in central government. Whites, Indians and mixed-race “coloreds” help elect the president but the black majority has no say.

Botha indicated that blacks could for the first time be brought into the President’s Council, which advises the president on a wide range of issues.

“We will not ask a person whether he is brown or black before he sits on the President’s Council,” he said.