ANC AGREES TO SPLIT POWER WITH WHITES

                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: FRIDAY, February 19, 1993                   TAG: 9302190042
SECTION: NATIONAL/INTERNATIONAL                    PAGE: A-3   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: Associated Press
DATELINE: SOWETO, SOUTH AFRICA                                LENGTH: Medium
ANC AGREES TO SPLIT POWER WITH WHITES
The African National Congress formally agreed Thursday to govern jointly with whites and other parties for up to five years after the end of apartheid.
The announcement, following three days of meetings by the ANC's top leaders, was seen as an important compromise in the delicate black-white political negotiations.
But the ANC also tried to assure supporters it would hold the strongest share of power if, as expected, it captured the country's first all-race election. Militant members of the nation's biggest black party had opposed multiparty rule.
"The objective will be to unite our country, to bring about stability, to ensure we embark on a reconstruction program with other parties," said Cyril Ramaphosa, the ANC's secretary-general.
At this point, key differences remain between the government and ANC. But they appear to be converging on the idea of a multiracial, multiparty government that would lead South Africa out of apartheid.
Ramaphosa said joint rule would not last more than five years, while President F.W. de Klerk has spoken of permanent power-sharing entrenched in a new constitution.
All parties receiving at least 5 percent of the vote in a multiracial election would be represented in the interim government, but the largest party would wield the most power, Ramaphosa said. That likely would be the ANC.
"Our idea . . . means the principle of majority rule should not be sacrificed in any way," Ramaphosa said.
He said the ANC opposed de Klerk's plan for an interim government on grounds it would give too much power to minority parties such as whites.
"We see minority powers not having the power to frustrate decisions," he said.
The ANC also favors a strong presidency, while de Klerk has called for a weak presidency, possibly to be shared among leaders of the largest political parties.

by Archana Subramaniam by CNB