Botha Cites ‘Recklessness’ of House Vote for Embargo

President Pieter W. Botha lashed out today at the “recklessness” of the U.S. House of Representatives for approving a virtual trade embargo on South Africa and warned that it may jeopardize negotiations on Namibia’s independence.

Botha, in a statement released by a Foreign Affairs Ministry spokesman, said the House approval Thursday of a sweeping economic sanctions bill was being “utilized for purely internal political aims.”

“The recklessness of American members of Congress who do not care in the least whether their actions adversely affect the search for a peaceful solution to the problems of southern Africa as a whole is astounding,” Botha said.

The House passed the so-called Dellums bill, named after its chief sponsor, Ronald V. Dellums (D-Berkeley), by a vote of 244 to 132. The bill far exceeds the limited economic sanctions imposed by the Congress in 1986 to apply pressure to the minority white government to grant equal rights to the black majority.

The legislation must be approved by the Senate, where it faces tough opposition, and if approved there, a veto by President Reagan is regarded as certain.

“It is particularly remarkable that the members of the House of Representatives continue with their actions exactly at a time when positive progress is being made with the peace negotiations between South Africa, Angola and Cuba,” Botha said.

Sanctions as a means to force change in racially divided South Africa is one of the most hotly contested domestic issues, with businessmen lobbying strongly against sanctions and anti-apartheid activists split over whether sanctions will hurt or help the blacks.