E EPISCOPAL CHURCHPEOPLE for a FREE SOUTHERN AFRICA 339 Lafayette Street, New York, N.Y. 10012-2725 c (212) 4n.ooss s FAX: (212) 979-1013 A #159 25 March 1995 THE INDEPENDENT • NON~ 20 .MARCH 1995 · Mr Uebenberg was able to IUHIOUDce that the 1994-95 deficit was slightly less in rela- ' liOII tD South Africa's total gross South Africa·wakes domestir product than expect- I ~ at ~ut 6.4 per cent. In I ~ he planned to reduce tllat 10 '5.8 per cent, helped by from its long sleep die sale of strategic oil reserves. <>nee-prohibitive taxes on im­ ported cars are being slowly re­ t's official: South Africa's Hugh Pope reports from Johannesburg duced in line with international I economy has turned the cor­ ._ agreements: But local as­ ner. A long uphill slog is in on the new mood .of optimism prevailing semblers of cars under licence prospect, but· some businesses have bad one of their best first are already racing ahead. on what will be a long and arduous road quarters, spurred on by car Hotels and airline seats are national announcing its return in 1994 was mainly for plant and rental agencies snapping up booking up fast as tourist interest following the first fully dernoc- machinery. Other products are Deets for a boom in visitors that grows in the new South Africa. ratic elections 10 months ago. bound to follow after last week's , is catching the long-isolated Crowds are flocking to cinemas "We've gone bananas. We ·re budget scrapped, from October, tourism industry on the hop. and cafes. Consumers are gird­ reaching capacity breakdown a 40 per cent surcharge on lux­ The 30,000 extra visitors ex­ ing up their credit cards for what points," said Peter Soon-Wilson, ury imports and 15 per cent ~ed for the Rugby World Cup one national newspaper dubbed a director of Markinor, a mar- surcharge on white goods such m May to June has blocked ho­ "the big spend". ket research company. as kettles and fridges. tel bookings and most domestic "It's party time," said Eric, Daunting problems remain. Banks have joined in by open- airline seats months ahead. proprietor of a Thai restaurant Unemployment in the popula- ing up the money taps. Dr Chris Even fJTSt-class business trav­ in a crowded, up-market tion of 40 million remains at a Stals, governor of the Reserve ellers are having to make flight Johannesburg mall. ~ybody stubborn 50 per cent, especially Bank, raised interest rates and reservations well in advance. who knows how to run a restau­ among rural blacks. South asked the banks to keep credit Immigration officials can rant is making a pile." African Chamber of Business expansion in line with inflation, barely cope, forcing arrivals to When growth in th~ last three economist Keith Lockwood said still well under controUit 9.9 per wait up to 90 minutes after months of 1993 reached an growth for the whole of 1995 . ~n! ~ast_year. But it djp little to their flights just to enter the annualised 6.5 per cen~, tb~. :would probably settle down to i!ojflb~i,.p~ . country. Airport arrivals were up Chamber of Commerce in · · about 3.5 per cent, well short of -·llfhe rate change fiad VIrtu­ 49 per cent on the year before Johannesburg. telephoned its the 6-7 per cent needed to really ally no impact on us," said a busy by November last year, and members to see if the figure start creating jobs. bank manager in an utrmarket hotel occupancy rates were 80 could be true. "I wouldn't like to underplay Johannesburg mall. "We're still per cent ahead by December. Marius de Jager, the cham­ the problems," said Mr Lock- lending hand over fist." Foreign investors are moving ber's chief executive, says: wood. "But it's better than 2.4 President Nelson Mandela 's in faster than expected, as "Without exception there is a per cent growth in 1994, 1 per first full budget has also been proven by the steady perfor­ strong optimism about 1995 cent in 1993 and contraction for well received, with business­ mance of the rand during its first and 1996. Manufacturers say years before that. We are on the men applauding the importance week floating free in world mar­ business is booming, especially way to getting a sustainable it placed on fiscal stability. Even kets. The strength of the rand construction. There is growing growth rate above the rate· of the implacable Confederation of and the dismantling of customs confidence. I'm convinced it is population growth." South African Trade Unions barriers are already posing many real." Many countries are trying to granted that the budget was long-term challenges to manu­ Service industries have led the jump aboard the bandwagon. "vastly improved". Only faint . facturing industry as it emerges • way as businesses see new mar­ Britain, already the biggest in- complaints carne from the white : iDto the international market. kets at horne and in neighbour­ vestor, plans to spend half of its rich, who will pay slightly rnore.l Relatively unproductive labour ing African· states. Foreign export promotion budget for the Chris Liebenberg, Finance is another, as one manufacturer investors have also started entire world on helping trade Minister, said: "This is but the of pots and pans lamented. arriving in force. Barely a week with South Africa. beginning of a long and arduous ' "We sell one pot for about $20 goes by without another multi- A 27 per cent rise in imports road and we cannot afford the ; wholesale," he said. "Now we luxury of complacency. People fmd the same pot, made in out there are rooting for us to ; South-east Asia, selling locally succeed. Internationally. they 1 for $7. There is no way we can look to us as an example - we compete. So we are having to owe it to Africa and specifical- ! rethink our strategy." ly our region. We cannot afford I to fail them." WEEKi. Y MAIL & GUARDIAN ltW'ch 10 1:>16 1995 Kader ASmal's- #IT members of the ANC are dais that have caused .the ANC to lose - ·- ~ holding thtunbs that a new the moral high ground around Issues _ •. high-powered disciplinary of state corruption in reant months. ~-. ooiinnlttee. headed by Water Under the heading "clean govern­ ~airs and Foresttv Minis­ ment". the code states that all ANC clean-upteam terf Kader Asmal. will be able pull the members elected to the national tO party out of the tailspin It has been assembly. the senate m- the provincial tossed into bv the Winnle Mandela parliaments "shall at all times observe Will Kader Asmal's new disciplinary rommittee be able debacle and other corruption scan­ practices that are free from an forms of dals. a:.nuption". to curtail the 'com.Jpt and hungry elite' that has put the The A"'C's inabllttv to contain activi­ h adds: "Government office or parlia­ ANC into a tailspin? Eddie Koch reports ties of what one meinber calls "a cor­ mentary posts shall not be used to dis­ rupt and hung!)· black elite" Inside the tribute favours or patronage nor to IDO\'elllent reached crisis proportions seek a obtain any personal for1une a to Sign the code. Refusal to do so. and have 'bel!ntrmtwlnedln South Africa's this week as Mandela defiantly chal­ Javour." breaches eXIts ethics. ptMde wuunds IWitay"-and tt does oot have.~­ lenged A."lC leadership 01-er a series of Other key provisions of the code of for Instant dismissal frml the g<Mm- tiYe backing to ensure~ v.'ith allegations that she has used her min­ conduct oblige an elected members of mem or parliament. Us pl"'YlSSanS. isterial position for self~clunent these assemblies to: J\smal's detenninatlon to put teeth "The code Is a useful start. but tt Is The ANC national =utivl:' corrnnit­ • Declare an assets and describe an Into his new amm1t1ee is reflected In a absolutely vital that tt be adapted and tee r-EJ met two weekends ago and positions outside parliament-includ­ speech he made to parliament soon passedintolawbyparliarnentsothattt llT!!ffitly nominated five senior mem­ tng board membership and directors a! ..er he was nominated to head the rovers an holders <X political office at bers to sit on a disdplinary corrnnltt.ee posts-from which they dertve finan­ a: mmlttee: , direct these remarlcs to natiooal and JrOYindal levels." that will enforce the organisation's cial gaJn. "ln particular. they shall dis­ you. my brothers and sisters. We A key flaw Is that the code wiD lJa\'e code of conduct close an consultandes, shareholdings should cure the problems the previous to be Implemented by a political party Asmal. described by one source as and directorships for any form ofpecu­ orner has left us. and not become part against members who sometimes the ANC's "moral policeman". was niary benefit received by them a thdr ol that system which we inhmted." carry support from powerful con- appointed as chairman. Two other lim1lly from an external source." "Corruption Impedes the govern- stituendes within the <rganlsa.tiCII­ IIlinlsterS. Alec Irwin and Nkosazana • Register any !¢is which exreed the ment's ablltty to deliver. It Is therefcn a dilemma graph1cally demonstrated fuma. sit on the committee along With value ofR200 In a ~to be set up essentially a reconstruct1oo and deYel- In the Winnie Mandela case. ANC stalwarts Ruth Mampati, Penuel In the office of the ANC secretary gen­ opment Issue ... There "It Is precisely ir this Maduna and Wilton Mkwayi.