Word: klerk
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...seen their grip gradually weakening since 1976, when an uprising in the township of Soweto heralded a surge in black demands for political rights. But this year, by freeing Nelson Mandela, legalizing the African National Congress and pursuing negotiations with black leaders on a new constitution, President F.W. de Klerk has sent a profound shock through Afrikanerdom. Appearing finally to accept that they cannot maintain their near exclusive hold on state power for much longer, Afrikaners across the political spectrum are asking what role they should play if South Africa is ruled by the black majority...
...Afrikaners who do not share De Klerk's vision of a multiracial society living in harmony, the idea of an all-white ministate is gaining in appeal. The Orange Workers published a detailed map proposing a territory roughly covering the former Boer republics of the Transvaal and Orange Free State. Earlier, Carel Boshoff, Verwoerd's brother-in-law, proposed setting up a homeland called Orandee in the desolate northern Cape Province...
...right-wing Conservative Party, which is supported by about 40% of Afrikaners, is demanding that De Klerk and his National Party call new elections. Though the National Party has ruled since 1948, the Conservatives believe they stand an excellent chance of gaining power because De Klerk's initiatives have been so unpopular among the country's 5 million whites. Conservative leader Andries Treurnicht last month rejected De Klerk's offer to join in negotiations and issued a veiled threat to take up arms against a white sellout. Privately, however, many Conservatives realize the days of white domination are over...
Thus far, De Klerk has steered clear of confessions, apologies and reparations. Some of his advisers believe, however, that some sort of official apology might be forthcoming in the final stages of negotiations. The most outspoken comment from De Klerk's circle has come from Deputy Foreign Minister Leon Wessels. Last August he described apartheid as "a dreadful mistake" that did not take "human factors" into account. "An apology is on the minds of many Afrikaners," Wessels says, "but not on the mind of the government...
...right-wing Conservative Party is also stalling reform and has refused to accept De Klerk's invitation to participate in the talks. The party's current preoccupation, in fact, is an internal debate over whether to launch a civil- disobedience campaign against the government. Conservative pressure won't derail the reform process, but it could force De Klerk to act even more cautiously to preserve his white base of support...