IT WOULD be tempting to see the resignation of President Vorster of South Africa as the concluding chapter of a meaningless and squalid affair which merely illustrates the corruption of the apartheid regime.
has profound consequenoes for the future because of the structure of South African politics.
The ruling Nationalist Party was hut as an sance or ine AlnKaner workers and pelty-bourgeoisie with apiring Afrikaner capitalism, and Natona 1515" promse to protect the high wages and ронн совнапое от ine waues with Muldergate repealedly harassed.
in the killing. against any encroachment by the This was ideologically underpinned by the Afrikaner Calvinist religion, according to which they should be upright, direct and moral in their ready to strike down the enemies of the Lord sanointed.
In line with this moral dualism, they support brutal measures against black activists, corruption by Afrikaner politicians as a heinous betrayal of the Nationalis The first sacrifices by government on the altar of this tradition were former Department of Information head Rhoodie, Cabinet Minister Connie Mulder, and BOSS security chief Cieneral van den Bergh. But last December's report of the Erasmes Commission cleared VorMer, and all would have been well had Khoodie been shut up.
Instead he went to Europe, revealing thal Vorster and Finance Minister Owen Horwood had been in 0d tac deal, and sivine an extended interview to the BBC. Milder then backed up his allegations against Vorster, The best option for Prime Minister PW Botha was therefore to ditch Vorster quickly, in the hope that he and Horwood would be spared. The final Commission duly oonecd.
But the scandal has come at a very bad time for Botha, coinciding with a KKE COmmission THE most estraordinary part of Muldergate has yet to be revealed.
On 22 November 1977, Robert and Jeanne-Cora Smit were found murdered in their Johannesburg home. Rumours soon began to circulate that Robert Smit, a top-ranking finance expert, had leen Investigating a currency swindle involving highly placed people. PW Bothu has denied this, and police say that they know of no connection but reporters investigating the case have been A journalist on Rapport, a pro-government paper, was charged by the Press Council when he wrote that the police had admitted a link with Muldergate. And • Johannesbury Sunday Express reporter was tried in camera after writing that two German hit-men had been used Nevertheless, in March a well known jurist and conservative, Judge Eudorff, announced that a mercenary, Syndey Escell, had made a statement lo him declaring that he had flown two hit-men into the country to carry out the murder. The police hysterically denounced Eudorff's story».. but the truth won tremain hidden for ever.
recommended that responsibility for enforcing the hated pass laws should largely be taken OVer employers: that black-owned businesses should be allowed to operate in "white" arcas: and that black workers should have the right to stay in the The Wichahr connission recommended that for the first time registered black unions should be established (although with much state restriction and interference) and that some forms of racial discrimination should be reduced the eliminated).
This is an intelligent strategy to maintain the status que by irying to co-opt the petty-bourgenisie, and trade union bureaucracy in order to hold back the - struggles of the hlack masses.
The problem is Afrikaners don't see it that way.
against any such concessions These fears of towards those than Botha CIAS0125 Andries Treumnich:
rightist, recently beat PW has Party increased its vote from 530 to 2,428 minimal has been fuelled thus prove decisive *Picket South of Black Consciousness Movement. number of questions.
who, according to Dr Rhoodie, the disgraced former South Africu Commons and to spy on the Antithe Apartheid movement? *What has - the has South Africa International Confederation of Free Trade Unions in January 19771 *What were purchase of 50 British/US newsagency LPI-TN by (though the South Africans?
A public inquiry black bourgeoisie, and Labour Party that many business. in Iran clashes
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