Dictatorial powers in S. Africa Constitution

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BM Box 5355, London WCIN 3XX THE new, notionally "liberalised" South African constitution hands virtually dictatorial power to an Executive President, who will in many respects singlehandedly control Parliament and the Bills passing through it.

The much publicised and controversial racially-based threechamber Parliament - from which South Africa's majority blacks are, of course, excluded - is transformed into little more than a rubber stamp.

Among the President's powers will be the right to:

*Determine sessions of Parliament.

*Dissolve Parliament.

* Appoint Ministers.

*Proclaim or terminate tial law.

*Declare war and make peace.

*Appoint and remove civil servants.

*Chair the Cabinet.

It will be the President's sole prerogative to decide whether a matter is of concern to only one or to all of the three chambers of Parliament: once he has decided there will be no right to appeal or question his decision.

He will also be able to recommend amendments of his own to any Bill, even if already approved by Parliament - and refer the amended Bill back for endorsement.

He will, by combining the office of State President with that of Prime Minister, also be Commander in Chief of the Defence Force, and will preside over the cabinet. To remove him from office would require the joint action of a majority of each of the three Houses of Parliament. Terry Smith analyses the new political arrangements of apartheid In addition, the Constitution offers a rigged system of Committees which ensure that the facade of involving Indian and Coloured representatives does not involve ceding any control. There would be a white majority on joint standing committees of the three Parliaments; a white majority to elect the President, and a white majority on the Council to advise the President. .

But even before this Constitution was pushed through a referendum, it had become plain that real power in South Africa has been transferred out of the arena of Parliament and the Cabinet into the hands of the powerful State Security Council, headed by Prime Minister Botha.

Cabinet Ministers are not allowed to attend SSC meetings without invitation. The SSC includes Defence Minister Pik Botha and a few other hand picked government ministers.

But also on the Council are the head of the National Intelligence Service, the Chief of the Defence Force (army), the Commissioner of Police, and the Directors General of Foreign Affairs and of Justice.

Since the beginning of 1982 the SSC has been under the administration of the National Intelligence Service, and commands a wide national and international network of influence

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Republican contingent marching at the height of the 'H' Block Blanket protest. ITES