Listening to the silent majority

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While I was making an all-out effort to gauge the mindsets of South African blacks during April 1989, Minister Chris Heunis of Constitutional Development and Planning sprang a surprise on everyone when he presented a new ‘vision’ for the National Party to speed up reforms. With another general election announced for September 6, 1989 the Nats seemed to be in a hurry to make sensible progress. Numbers of people would not make up a decisive element in a future South Africa, accord-

[p. 145]

ing to Heunis' new concept. The new proposals entailed the following points, as reported in the City Press.

•	To prevent domination, decisions will have to be taken according to one or other consensus formula;
•	All political entities must be able to participate in the election of the head of state. The terms of reference of this office are to be determined through negotiation between all parties participating in the new constitution;
•	The composition and appointment of an executive authority at the highest level of government in which all entities will be represented - a Cabinet or Council of Cabinets - must be determined by negotiation;
•	The composition, powers and functioning of one legislative body with legislative powers on matters of common and national interest - a Congress or Parliament - in which all population groups will participate must be determined in the negotiation process;
•	Elected political entities can have legislative and executive institutions on various levels for decision-making on own affairs; and
•	The development of regional and local systems, such as regional services councils, which can expand participation in decision-making, must be continued;
•	The completed plan would be based on federal principles but would not be a complete geographical federation, Heunis said;
•	A commitment to the legal protection of groups through participation in national decision-making and own decisions on matters affecting a group's own interests;
•	A balance between individual and group rights in accordance with Christian norms, supported by an independent judiciary, and equality before the law;
•	A realisation that compulsory group classification and group participation in politicial institutions are stumbling blocks in the way of negotiations and the search for solutions;
•	Freedom of choice regarding group protection, but the government will continue to support those who demand it;
•	All political entities in South African communities to have the right of participation in democratic institutions and processes at the highest level - the executive authority;

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•	The achievement of this will be based on responsibility for own affairs for those demanding it and power-sharing on matters of general interest for all;
•	The required legislative and executive institutions will be created on all levels to allow for decision-making based on consensus.

The fall-out from the Heunis surprise move was nationwide. ‘It's a bold vision,’ commented The Citizen, a compelling vision, and one that should end once and for all any doubt about the government's commitment to major reform.’ ‘Strange, but true - the government has finally seen the light - realising the need to establish an authentic cabinet and a national parliament that will represent all South African communities,’ wrote the black weekly City Press in an editorial. There were, of course, also the usual cynical and critical comments, but Heunis seemed to keep his cool.