Mr Chairman, in order to deal with the Indaba proposals and the Government’s handling thereof I must briefly give a résumé as to what has transpired thus far.

On 30 January 1987 the chairman of the Indaba, Professor Clarence and the co-convenors thereof, Mr Martin and Dr Dlomo, officially handed over to me the majority and minority reports of the Indaba. On this occasion I stated categorically that the Government would only officially react to the Indaba proposals after the viewpoints of the KwaZulu Government and the Executive Committee of Natal had been received. Both these bodies accepted this point of view.

On 21 January 1987 telexes were therefore sent to these institutions to request their comments on the Indaba proposals and also on the minority proposals. On 27 January of the same year Chief Minister Buthelezi advised me that Inkatha and the KwaZulu Government would only take a final point of view on the content of the proposals after careful assessment had been made and laid before the the Legislative Assembly of that government and the annual general conference of Inkatha.

The Chief Minister commended the Government on the fact that it had refrained from making any pronouncements on the proposals until the South African Government had obtained inter alia the views of the KwaZulu Government in this regard.

In view of the fact that the White political parties made the Indaba proposals an issue in the general election for the House of Assembly I notified the Chief Minister that I no longer had any choice but to react to the proposals.

I did so in Parliament on 3 February 1987. I then stated, among other things, that the Indaba proposals were out of line with the Government’s framework of principles for constitutional development, because of the following reasons.

The Indaba model does not adopt the approach of equal participation of groups but rather that of limited protection for minorities.

Secondly, the Indaba proposals therefore do not make provision for effective power-sharing, nor do they offer all the groups sufficient protection against domination.

Thirdly, in no way do the proposals address KwaZulu-Natal’s representation and participation in the central Government. After the debate … [Time expired.]

Mr Chairman, I appreciate the fact that the hon the Minister was able to give us part of a resumé of what happened in regard to the Indaba proposals. I am aware of some of the things that took place. We are, however, interested in other things that might have happened too and we are looking forward to hearing what the hon the Minister has to say in that regard when he gets another chance to speak.

Allow me to use the few seconds at my disposal to plead with the hon the Minister to realise that we are not looking at the details of the KwaZulu-Natal proposals, but that we are dealing with a principle, viz that the population of Natal, which was divided by racist constitutional development laws, has come together of its own accord and that it has taken the initiative to find some kind of a regional solution for the whole of the province. These proposals were presented. It is not intended that the details of these proposals must be accepted holus bolus; on the contrary, they are open for negotiation. What we are seeking here is that the hon the Minister should in principle accept the idea of local people from a particular region finding a regional solution to their political problems. We would be satisfied to settle for that.

We believe that such a regional solution will fit in with a federal structure which the hon the Minister knows he and his party deep down in their hearts believe in as being the solution to the country’s constitutional problems. [Time expired.]

Mr Chairman, we would like to know from the hon the Minister whether, since he spoke on the Indaba in Parliament, there have been further requests from the Indaba for further meetings to discuss the Cabinet’s viewpoints so as to find common ground and possible compromises. It is common knowledge that besides what the hon the Minister has already said to us today, the Indaba proposals recognise the right of all people to participate in government.

The Indaba recognises the fears and the concerns of the minorities in the region; it strives to protect their reasonable rights. Indeed, the Indaba serves as a blueprint for the process of negotiation. It also attempts to lead us away from the politics of prescription which we have experienced thus far.

Given the hon the Acting State President’s opening address, and given the hon the leader of the NP’s recent speech, one would expect that the NP would grab hold of the Indaba and negotiate with the people concerned to find out whether somehow or other a compromise could be reached. We are trying to establish today whether a request was received from the Indaba for such a meeting, and if so, the outcome thereof.

Furthermore, we should like to know if such a meeting was held with the hon the Minister and any other member of the Cabinet and if so what the outcome of that meeting was and whether it is his intention to meet with the Indaba. [Time expired.]

Let me react immediately by saying that I have pointed out that one of the main problems with the proposals was in fact that it omitted to define the KwaZulu-Natal area in a central structure, whether that be federal or unitary. Secondly, let me further say that immediately after I had spoken in Parliament, I had an interview with Business Day and I committed my Government, and that includes all of us, to negotiating with the KwaZulu Government and the Provincial government of Natal on these proposals.

On 28 March last year, I met a delegation from KwaZulu in Cape Town. At that meeting, the KwaZulu delegation posed certain questions as regards the Government’s perception of the KwaZulu-Natal Indaba proposals. During this meeting I again stated that the Government would study the proposals, identify what elements were acceptable to the Government and make its viewpoint known to the Chief Minister. I informed the Chief Minister that the NP and its supporters had never been against the concept of the Indaba, but had disagreed with certain elements or contents of the proposals. I also stated that differences of opinion on the principle underlining the Indaba proposals and its details should be the subject of further discussion between us.

This statement closely corresponded with the statement by the hon the Chief Minister that the Indaba proposals were, and I quote:

The Chief Minister stated … [Time expired.]

The KwaZulu-Natal Indaba’s declared objective was to set up the mechanism to establish a united non-racial democracy in this South African region. Today it is no secret that a KwaZulu-Natal Indaba persuaded 37 organisations to agree on a multi-racial constitution. We are also aware of the fact that the leader of the NP in Natal denounced the Indaba proposals within 48 hours of publication.

I believe the Government is yet to take its official position on the Indaba proposals. The Government’s timetable for reform is unknown. I therefore believe that the Indaba proposals and the massive support they enjoy are of significant importance to the reform process. They have the potential to harness all the excellent and democratic non-racial endeavours to rid our country of the evils of apartheid. This growing realisation of the present status quo cannot and will not last. It is up to all of us to encourage everyone to become involved in these proposals. It is only in this way that together we will be able to build a new future and find a new society in South Africa. Why is it then that the Government is dragging its feet with the implementation and the consideration of these proposals? One has only to read the bill of rights included in this constitution to see the restoration of the dignity of man in the South Africa God wants it to be.

As one who lives in the area, well conversant with all aspects of the whole territory down there, I feel the Government should make a concerted effort to please the wishes of the people. It would appear that Black, White, Coloured and Indian are all united in this and we would like this matter resolved once and for all.

I am glad we have the hon the Minister in our midst and I would like him to finalise this matter which comes from all sections of the people of Natal. I happen to be one of those people who would like this matter righted before I go to my grave. For a very long time the people of Natal have not been heard in the high precincts of our land in the way in which I have the opportunity of being heard today. I make this earnest appeal to the hon the Minister, now the Acting State President, to consider this matter very, very carefully because it comes straight from the hearts of the people concerned. All the people who have brought the matter to his attention are united on this.

Mr Chairman, I wish to approach this matter from an economic point of view and in doing so ask the hon the Minister how long we can afford the debilitating luxury of the economic folly of duplication?

Order! The House is not discussing that subject now. The hon member must come back to the question of the KwaZulu Indaba.

KwaZulu and Natal form one region and, despite all geographical description and dispensation, one component. Yet one finds there are two budgets for this region. One arrives at the ludicrous situation where there is a fragmentation … [Time expired.]

Mr Chairman, allow me to say immediately that nobody is dragging his feet on anything. There is a certain process involved which I am trying to describe to hon members and I think they are certainly entitled to hear what I have to say in this regard. Dr Dhlomo spoke in this regard on 26 October 1987 and he said the following. I quote:

I presume he meant the Indaba—

He was speaking as a member of that government. The question relates to the Indaba itself, which is a different institution. I quote him again:

I cannot give hon members all the information, but following from that Dr Dhlomo requested an official response from the Government to the Indaba proposals on 14 October 1988. In my reply to his request I explicitly reaffirmed my statement that there were differences of opinion on the principle underlying the proposals and that its details should be the subject matter of further discussions between our governments.

Recently I received a letter from Dr Dhlomo in another capacity, that of chairman of the Indaba Committee to which he had been elected subsequently, requesting a meeting with me. I have agreed to meet Dr Dhlomo as he has requested me to discuss this with him.

Finally, I would like to say that all hon members in all Houses have passed a Bill through Parliament to establish a negotiating forum and I think hon members will agree that these proposals should also be on the agenda so that all parties involved can have a discussion on these proposals.

Debate concluded.