South African steps to dismantle apartheid system welcomed.

Secretary-General Javier Perez de Cuellar on 4 February said that the address of South African President F. W. de Klerk at the opening of the South African Parliament on 1 February "advances further the process of removing statutory apartheid from the country's institutional framework".

He hoped that those "constructive initiatives" would be accompanied by "measures giving substantive effect to the removal of the main pillars of apartheid and by the resolution of a number of outstanding issues required for the commencement of negotiations".

President de Klerk had announced that he would scrap the remaining laws on which South Africa's ideology of racial discrimination had long rested. Legislation was to be introduced to repeal the Land Acts of 1913 and 1936, which reserved most of the country's land for the white minority, the Group Areas Act of 1966 and the Black Communities Act of 1984, which had structured the separate status of black townships.

The Population Registration Act, which classifies all South Africans into four racial groups--black, white, people of mixed race and Asian--would also soon be eliminated through the enactment of what he described as "temporary, transitional measures" needed to maintain the present Constitution, until a new one could be negotiated and drafted.

"Should Parliament adopt the Government's proposals", Mr. de Klerk stated, "the South African statute book will be devoid, within months, of the remnants of racially discriminatory legislation which have become known as the cornerstone of apartheid," South Africa could not allow or permit the "dynamic process of reform" to slow down.

On 5 February, Ibrahim Gambari of Nigeria, Chairman of the Special Committee against Apartheid, welcomed the envisioned measures as part of "the ongoing process of bringing about fundamental change in South Africa".

The committee favoured substantive policies regarding access to land by the black majority and programmes of affirmative action to redress the socio-economic inequities in education, housing, health and employment.

He noted that the right of all South Africans to vote and be voted for was still to be realized. Appropriate ppessure should be maintained on South Africa during the negotiation process towards preparation and adoption of a new constitution, he concluded.

Mr. Gambari was re-elected as Special Committee Chairman for 1991 at its first meeting of the year on 31 January. Also re-elected were Jai Pratap Rana of Nepal, Guennadi I. Oudovenko of the Ukrainian SSR and Marjorie R. Thorpe of Trinidad and Tobago as Vice-Chairmen, and Virendra Gupta of India as Rapporteur.

International Day for Elimination

of Racial Discrimination observed

The International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination was observed at a solemn meeting of the Special Committee against Apartheid on 21 March at Headquarters. Secretary-General Perez de Cuellar said that, through negotiations, apartheid should be replaced with a system based on equality, democracy and the rule of law. All parties had a responsibility to do their utmost to end the "profoundly disturbing" violence raging in South Africa. The consolidation of a climate conducive to free political activity--essential for the process of negotiations--would also help to develop a culture of democracy and respect for human rights in South Africa.

Sanctions having adverse impact

on South African economy

Sanctions against South Africa were having an adverse impact on the country's economy, according to a team of independent experts appointed in 1989 by the International Labour Organisation to monitor the implementation of sanctions and other action against apartheid. In a report published in March 1991, the experts also stated that sanctions had not been universal and that further pressure was needed. A total ban on trade credits and a coordinated position by banks and Governments towards rescheduling South Africa's debt were recommended.

Group monitoring oil shipments to

Pretoria holds first meeting of 1991

The Intergovernmental Group to Monitor the Supply and Shipping of Oil and Petroleum Products to South Africa at its first meeting of 1991 on 26 March re-elected Anthony B. Nyakyi of the United Republic of Tanzania as Chairman. Also re-elected were Nabeela Al-Mulla of Kuwait as Vice-Chairman and Sverre Bergh Johansen of Norway as Rapporteur.

Chairman Nyaki told the Group that recent estimates of South Africa's foreign oil needs far surpassed those reported by the Government and demonstrated the potential effectiveness of the ban in the struggle against apartheid. While South Africa had attempted to achieve energy self-sufficiency, it had reportedly spent more than $25 billion to cover its oil requirements.

UNHCR to play role in return of

South African exiles

The Government of South Africa has agreed in principle that the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) should participate in the voluntary return of South African refugees and exiles High Commissioner Sadako Ogata welcomed the important development which would allow UNHCR to ensure that refugees and exiles returned under safe conditions. An adequate and effective UNHCR presence would be established in South Africa to discharge its responsibilities, after agreement on the principles and modalities for the repatriation exercise.

Help for victims of

apartheid discussed

The Committee of Trustees of the UN Trust Fund for South Africa on 28 February discussed ways to help victims of apartheid in South Africa through current and future programmes for legal, humanitarian, educational and relief assistance to such victims. The Trust Fund, established by the Assembly in 1965 and financed by voluntary contributions from Governments, organizations and individuals, has made over the years some $40 million in grants to such programmes.

Participants included representatives of voluntary assistance organizations, lawyers and representatives of national human rights and lawyers' associations from South Africa.