Another Big Step for a New South Africa : Parliament votes to throw out racist property laws

South Africa has taken another major step toward progress. At the urging of President Frederik W. de Klerk, the Parliament--which includes no black members--has repealed two major apartheid laws that mandate strict residential segregation and severely limit the areas where the huge black majority can own property.

The Group Areas Act, which has been law for more than four decades, segregates all residential areas strictly by race. The Land Acts, which have been law in one form of another since 1913, reserve most of South Africa’s vast area for the tiny white minority and force the black majority, which makes up 85% of the population, to live on 13% of the land. The repeal, which is scheduled to take effect at the end of this month--will allow any South African to reside wherever he or she wishes and can afford--at least in theory.

Although there is no denying the progress in the repeal of these onerous measures, several members of the chamber of Parliament reserved for “colored,” or mixed-race South Africans, worry legitimately about a provision that they fear will lead to de facto segregation. The new law will allow 100 residents or more of any block, suburb or division to establish by “norms and standards” who can actually live in that area. That provision must be monitored carefully by the many South Africans who believe in true reform.

Before adjourning, Parliament--again at De Klerk’s request--is also expected to topple the Population Registration Act, which provides the foundation for the oppressive racial divisions that begin at birth in South Africa. The law, which has been on the books since 1950, requires the racial classification of every South African. Those classifications are then used to determine whether a person will live, go to school and work in the best or worst of conditions for the rest of his or her life.

The repeal of these major pillars of apartheid will bring the South African government another step closer--but only a step--toward satisfying the conditions necessary for the removal of economic sanctions imposed five years ago by the U. S. Congress. De Klerk can take credit for taking significant steps to meet the terms laid out in the U.S. Comprehensive Anti-Apartheid Act of 1986 and for the speed in which real change has occurred in the divided nation.

In less than two years, De Klerk has freed Nelson Mandela, the black anti-apartheid champion imprisoned by the government for 27 years; ended the oppressive state of emergency; unbanned political parties, including the African National Congress, and initiated the repeal of major apartheid legislation. There should be no turning back the clock in the face of that progress.

But in order to again reap the rewards of American investment, De Klerk and the African National Congress, the principal black anti-apartheid organization, still have a great deal to accomplish toward establishing a non-racial democracy.

The release of all political prisoners, which is mandated by the U. S. law, remains a major hurdle. The definition of who is a political prisoner versus who is simply a criminal is a major sticking point that has stalled the talks necessary to lead up to negotiations between the government and the black majority.

De Klerk and the ANC--perhaps with the help of the International Red Cross, the South African clergy and human rights advocates--must find a way to resolve this impasse and get on with the talks.

The hurdles--including the factional violence--must be resolved with the help of all who are on the side of equality. The process of securing political equality for all must be well under way before South Africa can accomplish the even larger task of opening economic doors long shut to the black majority.