From: barnhart@ddsw1.MCS.COM (Mr. Aaron Barnhart)
Subject: IPS:SOUTH AFRICA: BUTHELEZI THROWS SPANNER IN WORKS OF TALKS
Date: Sun, 13 Dec 1992 07:28:22 GMT
Organization: Evanston, Illinois, U.S.A.

Copyright Inter Press Service 1992, all rights reserved.  Permission to re-
print within 7 days of original date only with permission from 'newsdesk'.

Area: Agriculture
Title: SOUTH AFRICA: BUTHELEZI THROWS SPANNER IN WORKS OF TALKS


johannesburg, dec 2 (ips/philippa garson) -- kwazulu chief
minister mangosuthu buthelezi announced tuesday proposals for
the autonomy of his homeland in what appeared a deliberate
attempt to upstage constitutional talks between the government
and the african national congress (anc).

buthelezi emphasised that all future constitutional
negotiations would have to contend with ''the new reality'' of a
federal state -- the kwazulu/natal region -- with its own
administration.

buthelezi said, just hours before the start of tuesday's
three-day meeting between the government and anc on the formula
for an interim administration and elections, that if such a
federal option was ratified by a referendum it would exist
''regardless of the constitutional process in south africa''.

buthelezi has been trying to marshall support for his federal
option with other conservative homeland leaders -- namely
bophuthatswana's lucas mangope and ciskei's brigadier oupa quozo
-- lobbying in opposition to recent government/anc agreements.

the announcement of the chief minister, who is also leader
of the inkatha freedom party and bitter anc rival are being
viewed as an attempt to disrupt the bilateral talks between the
government and anc in the fear of his political marginalisation.

formally a firm ally, buthelezi criticised the government for
attempting to ''dictate events either on its own or with the
help of the anc''. the two were attempting to strike a deal
between other parties backs, he said.

since the anc and government signed their accord of
understanding on sep. 26 (a series of agreements aimed at
getting negotiations back on track) buthelezi has attempted to
thwart the process, claiming the two are opting for a ''go it
alone'' approach.

the government has criticised buthelezi's move as flying
in the face of the ''agreed goals that constitutional reform
should be the result of multiparty negotiations'', according to
a statement issued after buthelezi's announcement.

the government said such action would disrupt efforts to
resume multilateral negotiations which broke off in june
following the boipatong massacre and could in fact lead to the
futher escalation in violence.

the anc commented that buthelezi's stand was a ''a bolt out
of the blue'' that contradicted the constitutional process
already embarked upon. (more/ips)


south africa: buthelezi (2)

the focus of the three-day dialogue between the government
and anc is the management of the transitional process leading up
to elections.

the two sides hope to compromise on the time frame for an
interim government and national elections. the anc wants
elections to take place before the end of 1993 and the
government is pushing for april 1994.

the meeting or ''bosberaad'' is also set to pave the way for
the resumption of fuller, multi-party talks.

meanwhile, the government has suspended negotiations with the
pan african congress (pac) in the wake of the murder of four
people in king william's town, eastern cape, at the weekend.

minister of law and order hernus kriel said there could be no
further talks with the pac until it took a stand against its
armed wing, the anzanian peoples liberation army (apla).

the continuation of talks between the pac and government were
scheduled for dec. 9. the pac, which insists that apla operates
seperately, has so far refused to confirm or deny whether its
armed wing was responsible for the weekend attack.
(end/ips/pg/oa/92)
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