Africans to Determine South Africa’s Future : Olympics: Nation could rejoin competition by 1996 if it satisfies neighbors that apartheid is history.

One of the leaders of the anti-apartheid sports movement, returning from a fact-finding trip to South Africa, says it is conceivable that the isolated nation could return to Olympic competition by 1996.

“The signs are very positive, very favorable,” said Sam Ramsamy, executive chairman of the South African Non-Racial Olympic Committee, in a phone interview from his home in London. “If you would have looked at the situation 18 months ago, you would have seen a very different picture. The outlook was gloomy. Today, there is a very different look to South Africa. It seems the majority of whites now realize that apartheid is dead.”

Ramsamy made the 12-day trip as a personal envoy of Jean-Claude Ganga, president of the Assn. of National Olympic Committees for Africa. Ramsamy said he gave an oral report to Ganga and was preparing a more complete written report, which will be forwarded to Juan Antonio Samaranch, president of the International Olympic Committee.

Ganga also will use the report to prepare for an unprecedented meeting of sports officials from South Africa and other African nations scheduled for Nov. 3-4 in Harare, Zimbabwe.

South Africa last competed in the Olympic Games in 1960. In 1970, the country was expelled from the IOC because of its policy of apartheid, or racial separation. Since then, South Africa has been in almost total sports isolation. Most international sporting bodies prohibit athletes from competing in South Africa or against South African athletes.

Samaranch has made it clear that the way for South Africa to return to international competition lies through Africa; not until sports officials from other African nations are satisfied with the changes in South Africa will the IOC consider readmitting the nation, which was a founding member of the IOC.

Ramsamy said that, as always, the key stumbling block in the minds of African sports officials is apartheid.

“There is no hope for South Africa returning until apartheid is gone,” he said. “Apartheid is still a barrier.”

Ramsamy, who fled his homeland 18 years ago, said he was impressed with the changes. “I believe that there will be a political settlement in the next five years,” he said. “There is more unity than ever before between black and white sports officials. This is encouraging. People are more willing to talk.”

The issue is expected to be the centerpiece of discussions to be held next month in Stockholm at the fourth annual International Conference Against Apartheid in Sport. Ramsamy and Ganga will attend, and Samaranch will be the keynote speaker.