Botha offers 'one person, no vote'

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Thousands of people were stirred to protest in 1983 when the government proposed elections for a new constitution that offered parliamentary representation for people of Indian and mixed-race descent.

Trade unionists and community activists went door to door urging a boycott of the elections. The government's offer of limited "power-sharing" was countered by calling for "one person, one vote." This slogan has increasingly become the rallying cry for the struggle in South Africa.

The importance of the "one person, one vote" slogan is underscored by none other than the editors of Business Week, who speak from the point of view of capitalists in the United States. "South Africa's fundamental struggle is not over apartheid but over who shall run the country" they warn.

The editors state with candor that "U.S. interests" require that the United States "be identified as supporting the side that will eventually prevail: the side of Black political rights."

But Business Week gets to the heart of the matter when it points out that those same "U.S. interests" have seen their rate of return in South African financial investments tumble from an extraordinary 20 percent five years ago to only five percent today.

Last month U.S. Secretary of State George Shultz took his cue from the businessmen and proclaimed apartheid "doomed." He urged that the apartheid regime negotiate with recognized Black leaders-such as those of the African National Congress.

Otherwise, Shultz stated, the government could be overthrown by "violent revolution."

Shultz's warning left South African President P.W. Botha unmoved, however. The erst while "reformer" responded that a white backlash could erupt "if the international world pushes us too far."

Botha did concede, however, that Blacks might be permitted to manage some of "their own" affairs—like segregated housing and education. And he suggested that a few Blacks could even be admitted to a council in his private chambers to make "inquiries and proposals."

As for "one person, one vote, Botha informed Business Week, "It will lead to a socialist dictatorship in South Africa, and we are against it."

As the death toll in South Africa approaches 800 in the last year, Botha's government has shown that it will fight Black majority rule by any means it deems necessary-and that means unrestrained state terrorism.

Opponents of apartheid in this country must redouble our demands to end all U.S. support to the South African regime.