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

DATE: SUNDAY, March 13, 1994                   TAG: 9403130110
SECTION: NATIONAL/INTERNATIONAL                    PAGE: A-10   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: Associated Press
DATELINE: MMABATHO, SOUTH AFRICA                                LENGTH: Medium

S. AFRICAN GOVERNMENT SAYS IT HAS CONTROL OF HOMELAND

The South African government announced today it no longer recognized the authority of Bophuthatswana's president and had taken control of the nominally independent black homeland.

South African Ambassador Tjaart van der Walt was put in charge of running the homeland, Foreign Affairs Minister Pik Botha said in a statement. He would probably remain until South Africa's first all-race election in April ends the homeland system, created in the 1970s, and chooses new leaders for the region.

There was no immediate response in Mmabatho, the homeland capital, from President Lucas Mangope, who had tried to keep Bophuthatswana from participating in the election until strikes and rioting last week that killed at least 24 people.

Van der Walt told the South African Press Association early today the move guaranteed Bophuthatswana would take part in the April vote. He said his first task was to end a strike by government workers that had crippled the territory for the past week.

More than 1,500 South African troops were deployed in the capital Friday to halt widespread looting and protect government buildings.

The African National Congress, the biggest black political group, had argued for the South African government to oust Mangope and run the homeland until after the April 26-28 election.

The multiracial Transitional Executive Council met Saturday to consider the step and a delegation left for Mmabatho, the capital, to study how to best ensure fair voting in the homeland.

The council has broad-ranging powers to assure free and fair voting in South Africa's first election open to all races - a mandate that could be construed as allowing it to depose a homeland leader.

Although Bophuthatswana is considered independent by South Africa, the new South African constitution calls for it to be reintegrated into the country.

Botha's announcement, which came before dawn, said he, van der Walt and ANC official Mac Maharaj met with Mangope Saturday night.

Mangope said on South African state television Saturday night his government remained in control of the homeland, a patchwork of land masses in north and central South Africa of 2.5 million people.

He had opposed the elections, but changed his mind Friday amid the unrest.

ANC leader Nelson Mandela said he would visit Bophuthatswana Monday.

by CNB