Apartheid vote just not cricket THE DAY South Africa opted against apartheid I was in the Durban area. It was a sweltering day, but the line went round the block as whites waited to vote for change. The last time I was there — in 1986 — it was the Dutch Reform- ed Church that came out against the system. A joke, really, since it had always preached apartheid from its pulpits. Institutionalized ‘‘separateness’’ was wrong. And dumb. But the sins of South Africa were minor compared with those of the U.S.S.R. and the African dic- tatorships. We are selective in our morality. And hypocritical. The smug might ask themselves this question: What would our position be if there were five million whites in Canada and 25 million Indians? Would we hand over power in a hurry? I think not. In any event, South African whites have charted an unknown course. For in spite of the upbeat rhetoric, President F.W. de Klerk and his Nationalist Party cannot guarantee a sane, ‘‘new South Africa.” This advanced — and yes — most civilized of all the states of that continent could become just another African basket case if things go wrong. And it would be no more dem- ocratic under a so-called one- man-one-vote system than any of its screwed-up neighbors to the north. That’s Africa for you. But as the white woman of lib- eral persuasion told me: “A Yes vote will be dangerous. A No vote would be a disaster.’" Only one district in the Afrikaner heartiand delivered a majority No vote. The pressures for Yes were enormous, and young people we taiked to said they.would leave if the Nos won. Cricket played a role in the vote, too. For the first time in de- cades South Africa had fielded an international cricket team that was doing well in the World Cup, and word was put out that it would have to come home if the vote went the wrong way. “Don't let our boys down,”’ was the cry. I never once saw a pro-No edi- torial or column, and although the Nays had placards in the streets (‘Vote No. Stop the Nat sell-out to the ANC!”’) they were in the minority. That the ‘‘Nats’’ are planning to deliver their own heads on a platter to Nelson Mandela’s Afri- can National Congress is unlikely. But they may not be able to con- trol events. Only yesterday they were saying they would never negotiate with a group dedicated to violence and socialism. At the first sign of a cave-in there’s likely to be a violent reac- tion from the armed, neo-Nazi and Conservative right-wing. They have no intention of see- ing their daughters thrust into schools in which whites would be in the minority among Third World blacks. (Nor would you.) Why the sudden switch by de Klerk and Co.? The official explanation is that with the collapse of the U.S.S.R. and the removal of Cuban troops from the region, communism is no longer a threat. But it’s obvious that Pretoria saw itself going the way of Rhodesia, and was cut to save what it can. The Marxist threat is still real. About half of the ANC executive is Communist, Mandela is a con- victed terrorist, his wonderful wife, Winnie, should have been tried for murder, and Joe Slovo, the former KGB colonel and cre- ator of the ANC private army “Spear of the Nation,’’ is still Doug Collins ON THE OTHER HAND Mandela’s Man Friday. The government is groping and indecisive. One day, for instance, it announced that 17 particularly vicious murderers were to hang. Two days later it gave way to black protests and ‘‘delayed’’ the executions. The president has stated, too, that all private armies must be disbanded. But he seems unable to act. Chaos reigns in the black townships. And the literal Johan- nesburg Star claims the govern- ment has lost control. The inkatha Zulu and the ANC's Xhosas are engaged in what amounts to a race war. Thousands have diced. Blacks who travel by train can be killed simply by getting into the wrong carriage. Bodies are thrown out on the tracks like so many old socks. The savagery is unbelievable. Apartheid is blamed for every woe that afflicts South Africa. But that is nonsense. Our critics simply don't want to know, for example, that Mandela hims.if once stated that South Africa should be made ungover- nable and that the more ignorant of his troops think that’s a good idea. f have to report, though, that some whites I spoke to thought that Mandela is a moderate. Perhaps. But he is not the only ace in the pack. The Zulu, Buthelezi, is another. And Biack South Africa is not an entity. There are nine major tribes speaking 350 dialects, and there is no reason to think they will start kissing one another if white power goes down the drain entirely. Feel financially handcuffed because you're earning less interest and paying more taxes? FIND OUT HOW TO SAFELY INVEST FOR INCOME AND PAY LESS TAX “Rates subject to change without notice. For more information please call The North Shore's only full Service investment firm. RBC DOMINION Ye! SECURMES Member of the Raya! Bank Grove 925-3131 201-250 15th Street, West Vancouver Wednesday, April 22, 1992 - North Shore News -— 9 Stop in at Shortstop Brake & Muffler. With our Highest Quality at the Lowest Price Guarantee (and this $25.00 off coupon), you're sure to get rid of your car's pesky ‘‘Squeeks” and ‘‘Bangs’”’ for less bucks! Vancouver Vancouver 2667 Kingsway 2105 East 12th Ave. 437-4307 872-6047 North Vancouver Delta/Tsawwassen BRAKE & MUFFLER = = BP” 894 Marine Dr. 1617 - 56th SI. NOT VALID WITH ANY OTHER PROMOTION 980-9801 943-6065 | SELECTED DENIM JEANS | MEN’S, LADIES, CHILDREN’S MICKEY MOUSE BEDDING COORDINATES PILLOWCASE SHEET — FLAT OR FITTED TWIN COMFORTER ALL “ESSENTIAL” LAS DSTlRTS AND PANTYHOSE _ ||REG. 14.97 HANDBAGS, BACKPACKS, TOTES, & SIMALL LEATHERS LADIES AND MEN’S 5 CASUAL FOOTWEAR | ferico2- arm 25 Selection will by store. vary Visit the Woodwynn Store Nearest You... Woodward's Downtown 684-4967. Rew Westminster 521-1153. Guildford 584-1018. Lansdowne 270-9683. Coqy}tlam Centre 464-7539. Metrotown 433-6327. ist & Renfrew 253-3437. Witlowbrock Mall 533-5200. Hanoy Place Mall 467-0899. Part. & Tilford Centre 983-2626. Port Albern! 723-1161. “, Victoria Maytair 385-1196. Courtenay 338-6533. Sevenoaks 853-5689. Penticton Cherry Lane 493-1900. Kelowna Orchard Park 763-9200. Salmon Arm 832-5077. Nelson 352-6515. Tral! 364-5644. Chilliwack Southgate Centre 792-5943. Rorthilis Mall, Kamtoops 554-2900. fj Ladner Trenant Park Square 946-8486, Nanaimo Woodgrove Centre 390-3301. White Rack 538-3384.