[of apartheid, but would bring capitalism itself down…]

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of apartheid, but would bring capitalism itself down along with it. That's the real reason for the sanctions imposed by imperialism and their withdrawal of capital from the land of apartheid.

President F.W. de Klerk's steps toward political reform are intended first and foremost to restore the confidence of imperialist capital in South African investments and create the conditions for a renewed economic expansion and new levels of profitability. Intimately connected with this goal is de Klerk's hope that by instituting a less oppressive and more flexible form of capitalist dictatorship his class will be better able to withstand the next waves of Black revolt.

A key element in de Klerk's plans to restabilize the tottering South African economy requires the opening up of opportunities for some segment of Black leaders to gain a major share of political power, but not an ounce of social and economic power. Their political role, of course, will entitle them to a very small share of the super-profits extracted from the South African toilers.

This is the central lesson of Black African "independence." Black governments have remained subjected to colonial domination and superexploitation throughout Africa despite their nominal independence.

The gang headed by de Klerk must also be prepared to pay the price of somewhat improved living standards, at least for the most powerful sectors of the Black working class. No regime in history has been able to hold on to power for very long by exclusively repressive means. The only hope for South African capitalism is to find some points of support within the Black population.

But South African society is too volatile to allay fears by sections of the white ruling class that any