S4.

S4. PB rally told o: of national boycott Own Correspondent' . The boycott of whiteowned businesses here is to be suspended conditionally until a sixmonth ultimatum given to by Commonwealth leaders in October runs out. A rally attended by more than 50 000 people at the Dan Qeqe stadium in Zwide was told yesterday that if the government failed to address itself to the boycott committee's long-term demands, a national boycott would be called in April to coincide with economic sanctions the Commonwealth group has threatened to impose if South Africa fails to dismantle . Envoy It was also disclosed that groundwork had al. ready been started in the Eastern Cape towards establishing a national boycott co-ordinating body. Mr Mkhuseli Jack, the spokesman for the boycott committee, said an envoy would be sent overseas before the end of the six-month ultimatum to address Common. wealth leaders who were reluctant to impose the economic blockade of South Africa on the grounds that it would hurt blacks most. The "buy-African" campaign in Port Elizabeth, initially called for two months, was launched on July 15 and was aimed at prodding the white business community to pressure the government to meet certain demands. It was reimposed for a further two months in September and suspended for two weeks on NoVember 15. Mr Jack, who received a standing ovation said several of the community's short- term demands had been addressed satisfactorily. He said troops had been withdrawn, some local community leaders had been released and the granting of the permission to hold Yesterday's rally - the first officially sanctioned outdoor gathering since time immemorial were pointers that pressure was working. . Mr Jack also an. nounced that a number of businesses had agreed to reinstate em. ployees who lost their jobs because of the state of emergency and several department stores had undertaken to offer blacks the same discounts offered to white senior citizens. Speaking on long-term demands he said: "We want to know why the government cannot bring to justice the criminals who are killing UDF leaders. We want , all political prisoners and people in exile back home. We want the ANC and the Cotgress of South African Students unbanned." ISO. k lw