In S. Africa, the Door Is Open : A Series of Leaps Could Produce a New Beginning

It is dangerous to be prescriptive in South African politics. In liquid and dynamic situations, there are often various options and routes for the achievement of political goals.

A fact that cannot be denied, however, is that new doors have opened for South Africa.

Stabilization of southern Africa is relieving the tension in the area, and a summit meeting between leaders of southern African states and South Africa is a strong possibility. New agreements may be reached.

The era of glasnost and perestroika brought about a definite reconsideration in the camp of the African National Congress. The option of violence is suppressed by the option of negotiation and the willingness to compromise. Spokesmen for the African National Congress are making careful statements that they agree that all factions of the South African population must be represented at the negotiation table. And in a widely circulated document, the ANC has speculated about a state economic policy that moves away from classical Marxism.

The attitudes of the Bush Administration and the Thatcher government in Britain show a strong tendency toward a negotiated settlement. It appears that they will work behind the scenes to encourage such a settlement.

President Pieter W. Botha is on his last legs. It is expected that he will hand over the reins to Frederick W. de Klerk, leader of the National Party, within the next few months. This will bring about a change in South Africa’s political system. Reform politics will become a priority and new initiatives to compromise are expected and promised. It is not exactly clear what De Klerk has in mind.

The new Democratic Party will be established Saturday. There are sufficient indications that the party will turn out to be a very active white pressure group fighting discrimination. With the cooperation of a large part of the black political factions in that effort, a foundation could be laid for starting a meaningful negotiation process.

Doors have been opened that have, within the course of a few months, changed the political climate in South Africa from despair to optimism. There is a realization that we can find a way out of the cul de sac.

To do so, however, South Africa must risk a political leap. The method of gradual and small steps in the right direction tends to lose momentum and impact. The slow approach is no longer credible, and it fails to get the entire political system moving.

It is expected that the new De Klerk government will consider such a leap. I am not so certain of this, however, because the new government is still too concerned with the concept of four separate races (white, colored, Asian and black) as building bricks for a future constitution. But there is a growing awareness in government circles that this model will not bring about a political settlement, so there could be steps taken to move the country away from basing laws on race.

Following are some of the “leaps” that should be taken over the next year:

--The release of ANC leader Nelson Mandela and the later release of other political prisoners. Black and white radicals must then agree that there will be a moratorium on violence.

--A lifting of the state of emergency and a lifting of the ban on prohibited organizations, assuming they agree on a policy of nonviolence. Maintenance of law and order under the supervision of the courts must always receive high priority.

--A statement of intent from the government saying, in effect, that the government is a transitional one that would, by means of immediate co-option, involve blacks to a strong degree in the decision-making process at all levels; that all discrimination laws will be repealed within a short time, and that a forum for negotiation be created with the goal of working on a new democratic constitution. The new leadership would assure that the new constitution would be based on a non-racial democracy with voting rights for all. The democracy would accommodate minority groups, such as the white, colored and Asian populations by creating a representative federal government and a charter of human rights that respects different languages and cultures. In addition, the government would voice its support for equal opportunities in education and in economic ventures.

--Creation of a negotiation forum that will be representative of all political groups recognized by the public as leaders. Consensus recommendations would be phased in step by step. National and local elections open to all would take place after an extensive transitional phase. This phase might go on for a decade and blacks would have to accept it as part of the compromise.

By taking the aforementioned leaps, South Africa could take a turn in the direction of a new beginning. Such national reconciliation, aided by a lifting of international sanctions, can open sources of prosperity and stability for South Africa.