
                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: SUNDAY, February 3, 1991                   TAG: 9102030006
SECTION: NATIONAL/INTERNATIONAL                    PAGE: A13   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: Associated Press
DATELINE: JOHANNESBURG, SOUTH AFRICA                                LENGTH: Medium

ANTI-APARTHEID PLAN CRITICIZED

Black leaders welcomed President F.W. de Klerk's plan to eliminate apartheid laws, but complained Saturday that his speech to Parliament ignored major issues obstructing talks on a constitution.

The speech Friday drew international praise and appeals from Britain, Australia and the European Community for a review of sanctions imposed against South Africa to protest apartheid.

At home, though, opposition groups from both ends of the political spectrum found aspects to criticize.

African National Congress leader Nelson Mandela said de Klerk showed courage in proposing the removal of all apartheid legislation, but that the apartheid system remained in place.

"We still have no vote. The state organs are still dominated by whites," he told a news conference. Because of that, he said, sanctions against South Africa should continue.

Mandela also said de Klerk's speech failed to mention freeing political prisoners, allowing the return of exiles and repealing security laws.

Those three issues were part of the Pretoria Minute the government and the ANC signed last August. It was considered a breakthrough in talks aimed at ending white minority rule.

In the Pretoria Minute, the ANC conceded to a government demand to suspend its ineffective armed struggle, and the two sides agreed to forge plans for releasing political prisoners and returning exiles.

The government also agreed to review security legislation to "ensure free political activity and with the view to introducing amending legislation" at the Parliament session that opened Friday. Under security laws, police can detain suspects indefinitely.

ANC leaders have complained the government has been slow in meeting its agreements. They say hundreds of political prisoners remain in jail and thousands of exiles still wait to return.

Mandela, calling security laws the "most obstinate obstacle to free political activity," said de Klerk's omissions "suggest a reluctance on the government's part to relinquish the inordinate powers it wields in terms of these laws.

by CNB