ABROAD

PRETORIA Guessing and Fearing

The national elections announced for early May in South Africa by President P. W. Botha are expected to decide two things, according to diplomatic observers here: what the dominant Afrikaners think about the moral and economic sanctions imposed on their country by the Western community, and whether there can be an opposition within the Boer nation to the National Party. Western pressure on the South African economy has so far amounted to little more than public relations. The divestiture by big American corporations of their local holdings has often only strengthened the power of their South African equivalents, who were able to buy up American investments cheap. The threat of an Afrikaner split is more immediate and could have a far greater effect. In the past, the Afrikaners were rurally based people who worked the land and ran the government, but were not part of the business or financial structure. But now, an urbanized class has come into existence that seeks high corporate rank and salary. These “modern” Afrikaners fear that the 71-year-old back- ward-looking Botha is not the man to preside over the economic and developmental struggles that face their country. The resignation of the South African ambassador in London, Denis Worrall, crystallized these issues. Worrall, an English-descended South African who has been on the anvil as his country’s spokesman in London, is sympathetic with the younger liberals at home. Though it may well be too early for him to run in the May elections, his resignation already makes him a political figure.

Featured Tags

PRETORIA Guessing and Fearing

The national elections announced for early May in South Africa by President P. W. Botha are expected to decide two things, according to diplomatic observers here: what the dominant Afrikaners think about the moral and economic sanctions imposed on their country by the Western community, and whether there can be an opposition within the Boer nation to the National Party. Western pressure on the South African economy has so far amounted to little more than public relations. The divestiture by big American corporations of their local holdings has often only strengthened the power of their South African equivalents, who were able to buy up American investments cheap. The threat of an Afrikaner split is more immediate and could have a far greater effect. In the past, the Afrikaners were rurally based people who worked the land and ran the government, but were not part of the business or financial structure. But now, an urbanized class has come into existence that seeks high corporate rank and salary. These “modern” Afrikaners fear that the 71-year-old back- ward-looking Botha is not the man to preside over the economic and developmental struggles that face their country. The resignation of the South African ambassador in London, Denis Worrall, crystallized these issues. Worrall, an English-descended South African who has been on the anvil as his country’s spokesman in London, is sympathetic with the younger liberals at home. Though it may well be too early for him to run in the May elections, his resignation already makes him a political figure.