IN FACE OF the growing international pressure against the white minority regime in South Africa, Margaret Thatcher and her government have been forced to do a soft-shoe shuffle on the question of sanctions against apartheid. Of course, the proposal that comes out of last week's EEC meeting is completely useless. But it does reflect the demand for action which is mounting every day — and the fact that the Tories feel increasingly unable publicly to press their hard line. Considering sanctions after three months 'breathing space' is a bit like telling the cops you're going to rob the Bank of England at o'clock next Friday unless the director leaves the pots of gold outside its doors meanwhile. In view of the increasing repression against the black majority, there is not the slightest 'reconsider'.
But Margaret Thatcher knows that. She is simply employing sleight hand, pretending to consider sanctions the better to back Botha's regime in reality.
The point of the BEC Geesen offset pressure to take economic action against the South African racists the Commonwealth mini-summit in August. Inis ruse wai unconsciously summed up by the Guardian on Tuesday. Diplomatic Of Geoffrey Howe's proposed visit "framework for dialogue, Africa establish the diplomatic correspondent wrote. He aims to do this in just a little more La month a task which escaped the sevenCommonwealth Eminent. • Persons Group during more than six mon ths of painstaking work and travel. In effect, the foreign secretary hopes to cullic one-man (sic)
The obiect of the EPG excercise as far as concerned, was precisely to head off was the demand for sanctions.
The same article explained the white minorIty's response so far. Howe 1s being cold-shouldered by the African leadership and warned by Pretoria chance that Botha will that is in no mood for concessions'. The willle rik B's for gas airtary already 'criticised' so-called object of Howe's visit, to negotiate an end to apartheid.
Meanwhile South Africa's white minority are making their own plans die. The pressure. regime is stepping up its support for Chief Buthelezi and the Inkatha movement.
Through this puppet, Botha and his thugs aim to cool the temperature. At the beginning of this week, Buthelezi was reported to be considering proposed na Botha's *na tional council' Buthelezi said, 'mark the SLaLL for the black struggle for of the tina victor liberation'.
mooted the white racists as means power-sharing' with South Africa's black majority. Until now Buthelezi has remained silent on the proposal.
He chose a weekend meeting in Soweto to make his favourable response to Botha's mock reform. Buthelezi's Soweto rally is initiative to win black sup himself as a viable black CesarisI leader. an image which nas been much tarnished as the reactionary role or nis inkatha organisation has been exposed.
arrived Kullneez Soweto by helicopter and tight security armed Kwazula police. As the Guardian coyly comof this so-called CHILS prayer meeting: "The granting of permissio for Chief Buthelezi's Inkath to hold the rally contrasted conspicuously with the restrictions imposed on Inkatha's rival black movements, notably United Democratic Front and the Azanian People's Organisation. In parts of it is an of fence even possess: T-shirts with UDF ог AZAPO motifs, let alone propagate their cause.' Romantic Despite such candid front-page the same issue the GuarBma lace. su uale the circle. The editorial, "Credibility and the chief', has this to say: LANe largest minority is the Zulu tribe, alone DULnumbers the white by about tour to three and ac counts for more than the African population...
'Having resisted European conquest more effectively than ally other group, they retain a strong triba tradition special, largely sentimenta. and romantic, regard from the white minoritv. For al Chier Busheez, would er, any case have a unique role South African public life.
His "principal problem aamits une cartonial.
• one of credibility. But:
ror more inlan 15 years Chief Buthelezi has stood firm on his conviction that he could get a fair deal from the whites, despite their failure to give him a shred of concrete justification for nis bellel. chief said in Soweto that "blacks now bargaining power which tions will succeed ila- ensure tha No doubt some readers will draw the required conclusion, that Buthelezi's Convic. tion' over 15 fruitless years to bring apartheid to its Perhaps a few will Knees. draw a somewhat different Another Guardian relates that 'several item more important South African unions leaders - have neel rested', including COSATU secreary Jay Naidoo and that COSTS. warned that arrest could "spark widespread spontaneous worker tion"
The point is this. Far from Buthelezi's 15 years patient waiting paying off, it is the struggle of the independent unions and the activities of black organisations like the ANC other which are responsible for pressult which mounting against the apar theid The Zulu leader is simply trying cash in on this to head off the struggle against the regime. Collaborator Buthelezi's role, as a stooge of Botha, has been simply to help try and head off tha inevitable pressure Neither is it fo the 'freedom of his people that he plays this role has earned him a not insignificant personal fortune and 'the regard' of white society. Buthelezi is a lnug, a collaboralol alli ed against the black majority. Guardian's support for Buthelezi speaks worlds about its politics.
Whatever the Guardian and those of similar ilk would have us believe, one act does cincige don this particularly dirty piece OT When comes to funbleeding-heart liberals liners alike are on the same side. • wnelner lncy opelly support Botha and Thatcher or preter to nide behina a pro-sanctions cover, they alre idealis. ally Lillll: that would represent the theid and all its works.
Socialist Action 4 July 1986 freedom
----- pull-quotes -----
Buthelezi Ted councile bite