THE GREAT ILLUSION
First of all 22 percent of the whites did not even bother to vote which is approximately 700,000 voters, i.e. about half the votes cast in favour of the 'new constitution' (1,300,000). These whites who did not vote obviously see nothing better or worse In the 'new constitution'. They were not prepared to vote in favour or against it. Botha's move to draw all the whites together is therefore not a complete victory. Twenty-two percent of his white followers within the white racist republic are not interested in his political gymnastics
Of those who voted yes there are those who did not want to side with the Conservative Party and other so-called Verkramptes who called for a no vote against the 'new constitution'. Also a large percentage of the yes-voters belong to the monopolist class or its supporters. They feel the 'new constitution' will remove the necessary amount of apartheid so as to allow for more flexibility in production and therefore enable greater profits and at the same time allow for Coloureds and Indians to be drawn into national service so as to strengthen the already over-worked white security forces. This is an Indication of a stronger swing towards welding the monopolists and nationalist capitalists together - not for the betterment of the masses but to make easier the manipulation of money and manpower. Certain features of apartheid have become a spoke in the wheel of developing capitalism. This contradiction, within the system of capitalism itself, must be changed for the maintenance of monopolist power. Not, definitely not in the interest of the masses. For the 'new constitution' does not give the black majority any say in the running of their country. It merely _ advertises a dazzling bribe for Coloureds and Indians as the price for becoming better servants and protectors of the Botha-Malan regime as well as their blood-sucking national and international cronies
STATE OF CRISIS
Also to be considered are the 33 percent who voted no. Many of these whites are blatant right-wingers - Nazi-opportunists who are anti-Botha for their own aims. And in no way are they anti-Botha for the upliftment of the African masses. Others, ironically in the same voting group, did so for liberal reasons. Church bodies and liberal organisations, including the Progressive Federal Party, opted to vote against the 'new constitution' as they said it was merely a further strengthening of apartheid
Botha's landslide victory is not as sure and rock certain as he claims but as we have seen merely reflects the state of crisis in which the racists find themselves today. This state of crisis is not merely brought about by the racists alone but to a greater extent by the struggling black masses who are fighting for their rights, their freedom and their country; by the advancement of the armed struggle by Umkhonto we Sizwe, our people's army; and by the political mobilisation of the masses towards national liberation led by the African National Congress
The November referendumis a response to a state of crisis. Its results prove that the state of crisis still exists and was not smoothed over by the referendum, nor will it be solved by the planned 'new constitution'
RESIST WHITE RULE
It does not offer any change, as Botha and his western ideologues claim, but is merely an attempt to maintain power and oppress the African masses further in their own country. The 'new constitution' must not be opposed as something new but as part of the illegal rule of the white minority. We must strengthen our organisations, unite our unions, close ranks and fight for the right to vote for our constitution based on the Freedom Charter to ensure the right to vote for all South Africans in a united South Africa regardless of race, colour, sex or belief.
