National Party South Africa

White South Africa's problem, as voter Peter Gray sees it, is that the Conservative Party would create "economic disaster" by antagonizing the world, and the liberal Democratic Party would allow black revolutionaries to trample over the white minority. What the country needs is "something middle of the road but more liberal-minded" than in the past, the banker believes.

The National Party, which ruled South Africa as a white dominion from 1948 until it negotiated itself out of power and allowed all-race elections last April, hopes to revitalize and redefine itself at a three-day national convention beginning Thursday in Johannesburg. The task of Frederik W.

The National Party, which ruled South Africa as a white dominion from 1948 until it negotiated itself out of power and allowed all-race elections last April, hopes to revitalize and redefine itself at a three-day national convention beginning Thursday in Johannesburg. The task of Frederik W.

South Africa's ruling National Party, which created apartheid in 1948 and began dismantling it in 1990, will hold its political convention Wednesday and Thursday to announce its parliamentary candidates and present its platform for the country's first multiracial democratic elections. In a keynote address, President Frederik W.

South Africa's ruling National Party, which created apartheid in 1948 and began dismantling it in 1990, will hold its political convention Wednesday and Thursday to announce its parliamentary candidates and present its platform for the country's first multiracial democratic elections. In a keynote address, President Frederik W.

South Africa's ruling National Party, battling to hold onto white voters nervous about apartheid reforms, meets in this southeastern coastal city Thursday and Friday for its first provincial congress since President Frederik W. de Klerk's election 11 months ago. Its biggest problem is retaining white support long enough to prove that the reform process can bring the country together and end its international ostracism.

Former President Pieter W. Botha, dissatisfied with the changing policies of the South African government, has withdrawn from the National Party that he served for more than 50 years, a newspaper reported Saturday. The Afrikaans-language newspaper Rapport said Botha, 73, who resigned as president last August after 11 years in power, was upset with the wide-ranging reforms introduced by his successor, Frederik W. de Klerk.

After ruling South Africa for nearly 40 years, the National Party is in its toughest election battle yet, not so much to retain its immediate hold on power here as to shape the country's future. To win the whites-only parliamentary election next month is not enough; President Pieter W. Botha's Nationalists want to win big, soundly defeating their critics on both the right and the left.

The ruling National Party attempted Thursday to put the best face on an election setback, its worst in 41 years of rule, saying the slim parliamentary majority has given the government a clear mandate for modest racial reform and, ultimately, relinquishing some white control of South Africa.

Ailing President Pieter W. Botha resigned Thursday as leader of South Africa's ruling white National Party, and Education Minister Frederik W. de Klerk, a more conservative politician, was swiftly elected to replace him. Although Botha said he will retain the job of state president, the move appeared to signal the first step toward the end of Botha's 10-year rule, a decision hastened by a mild stroke the 73-year-old leader suffered two weeks ago.

It was a strange afternoon, by anyone's estimation. On a rural rugby field, white Afrikaners were grilling red meat on a smoky braai, or barbecue, as their ancestors have done for four centuries. Nearby, young Zulus performed traditional dances to the beat of cattle-skin drums. And filling the stands were 5,000 Zulu and 300 Afrikaner supporters of Mangosuthu Gatsha Buthelezi. One of the Afrikaners even came dressed for the occasion in full Zulu regalia.

South Africa's ruling National Party, rocked by troublemakers from its right-wing opposition, meets in the Orange Free State capital of Bloemfontein on Wednesday to formally draw up its constitutional proposals. Some 1,200 Nationalists will gather for the federal congress to consider a draft document, which recommends that the post of president be abolished and replaced with a multi-party Cabinet made up of candidates from black and white parties with proven support.

In the 16 months since President Frederik W. de Klerk steered his country onto the road of apartheid reform, he has portrayed himself as the impartial manager of the transition to a new constitution. But these days, De Klerk is showing signs of grander political ambitions. The president and his aides still plan to guide the old South Africa to its death.

The leather-bound records of Parliament give testament to the unimpeachable liberal credentials of Harry Schwarz: He has fought the government for years, fiercely bucking the apartheid system and the ruling National Party's political machine. So it should have come as quite a surprise when the government asked Schwarz, 66, to be its ambassador to the United States, the point man in Washington, and did not even insist that he change political parties.

The right-wing Conservative Party gained ground Wednesday against the ruling National Party in a parliamentary by-election, indicating that the number of whites worried about apartheid reform continues to swell. The election in Randburg, a suburb northwest of Johannesburg, was seen by both parties as an important test of white support for President Frederik W. de Klerk's reform initiatives.

As black waiters quietly cleared luncheon dishes, member of Parliament Hennie Bekker invited questions from a small group of his white constituents in a private restaurant room a few days ago. A white-haired woman, speaking Afrikaans, wanted to know what the National Party planned to do about segregated neighborhoods. Were they on the way out? And, if so, how would whites be able to maintain the "standards" of their neighborhoods? The genial politician smiled nervously.

Two explosions Saturday devastated offices of the ruling National Party a day after death threats against President Frederik W. de Klerk and anti-apartheid leader Nelson Mandela prompted a major tightening of security around national leaders. No one claimed responsibility for the bombs.

The ruling white National Party's five-year plan of "new action" for apartheid reform, a platform for its expected victory in September's elections and a blueprint for the country's future, makes it clear that South Africa's rulers have chosen slow, steady change rather than a quick overhaul, political analysts say. The plan, approved at a party congress last week, has disappointed many liberal whites who had hoped the probable president, Frederik W.

In a historic break with the past, President Frederik W. de Klerk announced Friday that his white National Party, which created apartheid and denied blacks the vote for four decades, is opening its membership rolls to all races. "The new South Africa demands that those who belong together through inner conviction should come together," De Klerk told a meeting of the party's provincial congress in Durban. "The existing restrictions on membership . . .

South Africa's ruling National Party, battling to hold onto white voters nervous about apartheid reforms, meets in this southeastern coastal city Thursday and Friday for its first provincial congress since President Frederik W. de Klerk's election 11 months ago. Its biggest problem is retaining white support long enough to prove that the reform process can bring the country together and end its international ostracism.