Vortex

There were even more dramatic changes among the somber faces of the men and women filing slowly in past temporary metal and bomb detectors. Most wore business suits and many carried bulging leather briefcases. Unlike past gatherings in South Africa’s legislative chambers, however, those assembling for this first, full working session of the new Constitutional

Convention represented all of the nation’s varied races and ethnic groups. Some were lawyers and politicians. Others were farmers or doctors or teachers or businessmen,

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people with no experience in government. Despite their obvious differences, they had one important thing in common. All had opposed Vorster’s regime at the risk of imprisonment or death.

“Although innumerable problems remain to be settled, one thing is clear:

apartheid in South Africa is a thing of the past.

“With so many of the extremists on all sides dead or in prison, the way may finally be clear for others to lead South Africa’s separate peoples toward a better future together. The political settlement that emerges from this convention’s closed-door conference rooms is unlikely to be perfect, but it just might be workable.

“For CNN headline news, this is Tom Stavros, reporting from Cape Town,

South Africa.”

The camera cut away to show the network’s Atlanta studios and anchorwoman.

“In other South Africa-related news, reports that Witwatersrand mining operations were back to fifty percent of prewar levels sent commodities prices tumbling at exchanges around the world. Commerce Secretary Reid hailed the news as a ‘firm signal that the battered global economy is on the mend.”

“

MARCH 23-HEADQUARTERS, ALLIED PEACEKEEPING

FORCE, DURBAN

Both Gen. Jerry Craig and U.S. special ambassador Edward Hurley had kept their offices and headquarters in Durban instead of moving them to either

Cape Town or Pretoria. Part of their rationale for that was military common sense. After all, Durban was a central strategic point. Ships arriving at the city’s deepwater port supplied the U.S. and British units stationed throughout South Africa.

But their biggest reason for staying put was political. Both men were determined to avoid even the slightest appearance that the American and

British military presence in South Africa meant they were dictating every last word of the country’s new political framework. Periodic plane trips between

Cape Town and Durban were a small price to pay for making it clear that

South Africa’s ultimate fate rested in the hands of her own people.

“Hot off the fax machine, Jerry-a genuine historical document. ” Edward

Hurley couldn’t hide his excitement or his relief. He plopped a mass of thin papers on Craig’s desk, threw himself into a chair, and exhaled loudly. He looked more as if he’d run a race instead of just walking over from his office.

Craig arched an eyebrow.

“The Convention’s over?”

Hurley grinned.

“Christ, no. I expect they’ll be squabbling over the fine print for months yet. But that pile there—he pointed to the document on the desk-“shows the broad outline of what they’ve already agreed on.”

Unable to restrain his curiosity any longer, Craig flipped randomly through the pages, scanning boldfaced headings. “

“Powers of the Central

Government. Powers Reserved to the Provinces. Rights of the Individual’

He looked up.

“So what’s the gist?”

“Fundamentally?” At Craig’s nod, Hurley leaned back in his chair, looking even more professorial than ever.

“Not quite one man, one vote, but they’re headed there. For now, a lower house elected by popular vote, but with an upper house where every group has an equal voice. They’re trying to set up a system where everybody participates, but no one dominates. “

Craig chuckled softly.

“Good luck to them making that work. “

Hurley nodded, agreeing.

“Yeah. It is sort of like trying to figure out how many angels can dance on the head of a pin. “

The ambassador pointed to the section headed “Rights of the Individual.”

“What’s in there is more important than the rest, anyway. Guaranteed freedoms of religion, speech, assembly, and all the rest. Equal pay for equal work. Plus equal access to education through integrated schools and universities. The whole idea’s to shift more power to the individual—no matter what his skin color or tribe is.”

“No trace of apartheid?”

“None at all. After your setup in January, nobody even said boo when they proposed stripping away the last vestiges. I’ll say it again, General, you can come over to the State Department whenever you want. We need good diplomats.”

Craig just smiled. He knew the ambassador well enough now to know that no insult had been intended.

“What about all that socialist doctrine the

ANC people were spouting earlier? Nationalizing key industries and the rest?”

Hurley laughed.