TIME FOR A NEW MANDATE "Go back to the electorate," Buthelezi tells National Party "We invite you, Mr Minister, to wade into the problems we face with us. Let us now begin to deal with them. Let us stop pussy-footing around. Let us stop posturing. Let us set ourselves real agendas. Black democracy must be unshackled and must move towards real negotiation between black and white about the constitutional future of this country ..." — Dr , addressing Mr Chris Heunis at the opening of the KwaZulu Legislative Assembly.

\n his reply to Minister Chris Heunis at the opening of the KwaZulu Legislative Assembly in March, Dr Mangosuthu Buthelezi said he believed it was "vitally important'* that the National party approached the white electorate for a "new and far- reaching mandate" which shed past ambiguities. He hoped thai when ihe time came for Mr P W Botha 10 retire, Afrikanerdom would produce leaders who would carry Afrikanerdom across new horizons of dynamic politics. At this juncture of South African history the South African The opening — KwaZulu Legislative Assembly. Government should be re-examining itself very critically. countries. not yet know how to deal with these "I am one of those who agree that "The government is wrong; it is new realities which are now Government action is pivotal for not representative; it is not unavoidable for it. Perhaps the success in the politics of democratic but it is the government National Party will even continue negotiation" the Chief Minister said. of the day and it is a government of blundering in attempting to buy time "We cannot negotiate a new South the day which must be salvaged from as it tries to re-examine its position. Africa into existence without the the consequences of its own actions!' "Whatever it does in harmony with South African Government and the Democracy alone could ensure the the forces of history or in opposition National Party being party to the survival of democratic ideals. to the forces of history, is negotiations!' "Democratic ideals cannot be doomed and the National Party Dr Buthelezi added that South preserved by dictators or fascist knows that this is the case!' Africa's future must be "governed" governments" he said. Dr Buthelezi said the country was into existence. "They cannot be preserved if they entering a "dangerous phase" in the "All or nothing demands of total are kept in some kind of political politics of transition. Nothing could capitulation and the handing over of suspension while the South African stop the onward march of events and Power by the South African Government rules by power vested in the final eradication of apartheid. Government is a declaration of it in states of national emergencies. "But there is ample room to make devastating war in which there will "Political ideals can only very costly blunders even if the be no winners. ultimately be preserved in exercising victory of apartheid is now "The South African Government them!* inevitable:' is a de facto and de jure government. At the start of his annual Policy The only way to achieve a multi­ It is childish to jump up and down Speech Dr Buthelezi said the racial democracy in South Africa was and call it an illegitimate National Party was being "driven by through the politics of negotiation. government. I have not heard one history" and that economic Some revolutionaries claimed that person describe military juntas, imperatives had "taken it by the neck democratic opposition to apartheid which we have in such abundance in and shaken it!' had failed. Africa, as "illegitimate" once they Apartheid as Dr Verwoerd "Democracy cannot fail!' stressed become de facto and de jure dreamed of was quite out of reach. governments of their particular Dr Buthelezi. "Only those who it'Perhap 1 s the National Party does abandon democracy fail!1 *'*