Since the white referendum in November 1983, with its large majority in favour of the new apartheid parliamentary system, the attempt of the regime to impose the constitution on the Coloured and Indian communities has been a principal focus of political activity in South Africa.
The lines between those who are prepared to participate in the new structures and those who reject them completely, have been growing clearer and sharper. This has involved the beginning of a concerted campaign for a boycott of the elections to the Coloured and Indian chambers of parliament, due to be held on 22 and 28 August respectively. It has also seen the declaration by several Coloured and Indian political parties that they would be participating in the elections.
Until mid-February there seemed to be a possibility that there would be a referendum of the Indian and Coloured communities to test the acceptability of the new scheme before proceeding with elections. Those favouring participation were divided on whether to call for a referendum first. Even those who rejected the constitution, while definitely opposed to taking part in elections, were to some extent divided on whether to call for a referendum. The United Democratic Front, for example, failed to reach consensus on the issue at its first conference in December.
From early January the situation began to clarify. The Coloured Labour Party decided to call for direct elections to the Coloured House of Representatives. At its conference in January, at which the decision was taken, it was revealed that the Prime Minister had informed the party leadership of his opposition to a referendum as early as April 1983. In February 1984 the government announced that there would be no referendum, and that elections would be held in August. By March six Coloured and five Indian political parties had registered for the elections.
In spite of the large number of registered parties, there is no reason to expect a high poll. The membership figures of the parties are unknown or kept secret, and several of the parties are internally divided over the question of elections. Meetings to explain the Labour Party's decision were boycotted. In general the parties appear not to be trying to organise public meetings, but are holding house-meetings instead.
Registration of voters is compulsory, and boycott campaigners are not asking people not to register. Nevertheless registration of the Coloured electorate appears low: just over 50 per cent were thought to be registered by May, shortly before the deadline for registration.
The boycott campaign is widespread and seems to be well organised and gaining in strength. It is being led primarily by the UDF and the Indian 'congress parties', as well as other organisations opposed to participation in apartheid structures, such as the Azanian People's Organisation (AZAPO).
The UDF campaign is being conducted partly through the collection of signatures to a petition rejecting the constitution and expressing support for the UDF. It is also holding mass meetings calling for a boycott throughout the country.
The petition and boycott campaigns have been conducted in the face of repressive action by the regime, mainly through harassment of activists collecting signatures or action against leading figures of the UDF of the kind reported in this and previous issues of FOCUS. In May, 26 UDF supporters were fined for holding an illegal gathering in October 1983 in the form of a 'motorcade' on the eve of the white referendum.
Security police raids on AZAPO offices and the houses of AZAPO officials on 22 May were linked by the press both to preparations for the commemoration of 16 June, and to the election boycott campaign.
