Sweeping clamps on South Africans who talk to the African National Congress, foreign funding of extra-parliamentary groups and the activities of certain embassies in South Africa are on the cards after President PW Botha's opening speech on his vote in parliament yesterday. And the State of Emergency will not be lifted, even partially, unless the government's security advisers recommend it.
Botha lambasted the recent Dakar talks with the ANC and said the banned organisation was "laughing up its sleeves at the naiveté of 'useful idiots' who, as Lenin puts it can be used to further the aims of the first phase of the revolution". But he warned the mere fact that the government allowed Frederik van Zyl Slabbert and company to "burn their fingers" in Dakar should not be interpreted "as though the government will turn a blind eye to future talks with the ANC".
Botha said the government had no choice but "to consider taking certain steps to prevent South Africans from becoming further victims of this process". He stopped short of announcing any specific measures. But he said the government was considering "stricter control with regard to the issuing and renewal of passports for South Africans who collaborate with South Africa's enemies.
It was also investigating amendments to the law "to restrict the flow of funds from abroad to be used for undermining the state and promoting extra-parliamentary politics" and 'the appointment of a joint select parliamentary committee of inquiry "into the activities and funding of extra-parliamentary groups".
Botha added: "Just as the government of the United States of America is taking steps to bring the staff of embassies who are acting off-limits in that country under control, or to restrict their movements, similar steps can be considered in South Africa with regard to certain members of staff of specific embassies. "If the US can do it, we can also do so.
The government viewed in a very serious light the interference of foreign governments and their embassy personnel in extra-parliamentary politics. "The government is aware of the activities of these people and of their support for such organisations as Idasa. "In this process, they are making use of South Africans to do their 'dirty work' for them while at the same time they are undermining the sovereignty of South Africa.
* It was ridiculous for the State President to use the continuing violence, on all sides in South Africa as a reason for describing the Dakar conference as a failure, Frederik van Zyl Slabbert said in Cape Town. "No 'safari' or visits by any delegation of South Africans have the power to reduce the violence or stop the armed struggle," he said. "Only the government of South Africa can do that."
