South Africa: Are Only the Initials New?

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Trailing King Lear-like complaints of being ignored, President P.W. Botha, 73, resigned last week. National Party leader F.W. de Klerk was named acting President by the Cabinet until next month's parliamentary elections can formalize the succession. The question is whether this change will make a difference.

None at all, sniffed Anglican Archbishop Desmond Tutu. "It is just a change of initials from P.W. to F.W.," said the Nobel laureate. Other black leaders took the same view, noting that while De Klerk talks of dismantling apartheid, he supports segregation in housing, education and politics.

De Klerk insisted that the country was on the "threshold of a new era" and announced he would meet on Aug. 28 with Zambian President Kenneth Kaunda. Kaunda is expected to press De Klerk to negotiate with the outlawed African National Congress.