By Charlie van Gelderen ON MARCH 17, South Africa's white voters, representing 15 per cent of the population, will be asked o approve the reform programme nitiated by President De Klerk on February 2 1990.
De Klerk has pledged that there will be no construmonal chances witour the endorsement of a majority white A massive propaganda campaign has been munched to counter the regar wins Afrikaner opposition. The ruling National Party is counting on 125 million Rand from big business to finance the campaign.
One giant corporation has already guaranteed R20 million. A return to even a modified apartheid would be a mortal blow to South Africa's economy, laid low by the current recession.
But it is not only big business who is endorsing the referendum. Nelson Mandela and the ANC have put all their prestige behind it.
In an open letter published in the Johannesburg Sunday Times, Mandela wrote that while it was 'painful and abhorrent, he nevertheless urged white ANC supporters to vote 'yes'. majority for De Klerk, but the recent by-election in r'otchestroom waere the right wing Conservative Party scored a tanaside victory poms to teopposite conclusion.
De Klerk has assured whites that their living standards would US Elections threatened. This is plainly poppycock if he is sincere towards democracy:
The privileges enjoyed by whites in the economy, caucanon, nousus ana sor cial amenities is based on the vicious exploitation of black workers. Any more equal in the immediate future, lead to a lowennis or wate incont While limelight is concentrated on the referendum, the 17-party Democratic South Africa (CODESA) seems to have government by the end of the year. This won't be elected, but all the main par ties will be represented.
Mandela moves closer Mandela and De Klerk have been movies was acoSter attacks notwithstanding. Ave has long been argums for a tran sitional government, demand for a constituent assembly on the back burner.
Although De Klerk at first resisted this demand, the National Party now sees it as an attractive alternative to a Constituent Assembly elected by universal franchise.
Its proposals include a two-tier parbe liament with regional representation, a PHOTO: Photo Group/ Lied HOYC in parties. agreed on an interim source. The putting the right. raer