White South Africa Registers a Massive Change of Heart : De Klerk’s brilliant gamble pays off as apartheid is routed in cathartic vote

South African President Frederik W. de Klerk gambled big, and won big. While the world held its breath, nearly seven out of 10 whites approved his controversial referendum in favor of continued reform. The landslide victory sounded a death knell for apartheid.

The question on Tuesday’s ballot seemed simple enough: “Do you support continuation of the reform process which the president began on Feb. 2, 1990, and which is aimed at a new constitution through negotiation?”

The real question, however, turned on fear. Undecided white voters were forced to weigh their fears of civil war, economic disaster and a return to international isolation against their fears of an uncertain future that would include integration and sharing power with the black majority. Put to that test, most in the tiny white electorate acknowledged there was no palatable alternative to reform and endorsed their president’s unrelenting push for change.

THE PROGRAM: Since taking office nearly 2 1/2 years ago, De Klerk has changed the course of history in South Africa. No longer the right-wing conservative he once was, he has embraced reform at a pace that has frightened many whites, yet frustrated many blacks. He has unbanned the African National Congress and other political parties; freed Nelson Mandela and other political prisoners; allowed the return of black exiles, and successfully urged Parliament to repeal apartheid laws that have segregated and penalized the black majority and other ethnic groups from cradle to grave. In the wake of these successes, De Klerk has been hailed as the “great black hope.” But, considering the basic arithmetic that 5 million whites cannot indefinitely repress more than 21 million blacks, his landmark referendum really makes him the “great white hope” as well.

His critics, led by the pro-apartheid Conservative Party, contended that De Klerk had lost his white support and any mandate for change. But the voters proved the right-wingers wrong. The right wing’s humiliating loss may incite more violence as reactionary whites realize they cannot prevail at the ballot box except in an occasional and minor local election.

A stunning 87% of white voters turned out for the referendum, racking up especially huge majorities for De Klerk’s position in the urban areas. Whites alone had the right to vote.

Blacks represent 21.6 million of the 30.8 million people in South Africa, according to government estimates, and an even larger share when estimates include blacks who live in the so-called independent homelands. Despite the legislative changes, most blacks endure harsh poverty, inferior housing, poor schools and low-paying or no jobs. Mixed-race South Africans, known as coloreds, and the Asian population account for more than 4 million. They, too, pay a steep penalty because of race or ethnicity.

Whites number barely 5 million. Most live comfortably, propped up by a race-based system that has dominated the large and growing black majority for more than a century.

THE RISK: White economic, political and social domination seems to be near an end. The white vote won’t immediately erase the huge disparities in the living standards of blacks and whites. But the referendum surely will nurture a climate favorable to equality. That’s why this week’s election was the most significant in the nation’s history. The results are cause for celebration among all freedom-loving people.

De Klerk, Mandela and representatives of other prominent organizations are expected to resume negotiations next month on a new constitution and an equitable form of government. De Klerk will return to the talks with a strengthened hand. He should use that mandate to speed the pace of reform. There must be no foot-dragging by any party to the talks.

De Klerk’s successful referendum must be the last vote restricted to whites in South Africa. There must be no more major decisions made by the minority. As the president said, “That chapter has been closed.” The next chapter must lead to equality for all South Africans.

South Africa Today

Political power has been held by the small white minority.

Total population (1990): 30.8 million

Blacks: 21.6 million

Whites: 5.0 million

Coloreds: 3.2 million

Asians: 0.95 million

Source: Bulletin of Statistics and Urban Foundation