Aspects ofApartheid. (Forthenamesofthemembers ofthesubsidiary bodiesof theSpecial Committee, seeannex! tothepresent report.) 4.TheSpecial Committee decided unanimously tosubmitthepresent reporttothe General Assembly andtheJecurity Council. -3-11.REVIEW OFDEVELOPMENTS INSOUTHAFRICA A.general pQlitical cQnditiQns 5.DevelQpments intheperiodunderreview(August 1988toAugust 1989)underline thefactthattheimpasse continues inSouthAfrica, inspiteofar..umberof internal andexternal developments. WhiletheapartheiC regimehasmade pronouncements concer"'ing prQpos~d changes inthepolitical structure Qfthe country, its"reform" planfailstofulfilthedemands oftheblackmajority for fullpolitical rights andmaintains thefun,amental aspects ofwhlteminority rule.Theplanreflects further theregime's concern with ~ver.ting international actionagainst SouthAfricaatacritical juncture foritseconomy. Withan arsenal ofrepressive legislation alreadr inplace,therenewal ofthestateof emergency fQrthefQurthconsecutive yearmarkedPretoria's intention tocontinue ~uppressing theapartheid QppositiQn. Italsounderscored theregime's unwillingner~ toe~~ablish theconditiQns that ~ouldcreatethenecessary climate fornegotiations, eventhoughsuchdemands havebeenmadebyboththenational liberation movements andtheinternational community. 6. Not:~'.i.t·'lstanding thestoiteofelller':l.:!ncy, internal resistance totheregimewas ableto~~'~oup andadapttoconditions, andindoingso,experienced a resurgence. Apartheid opponents undertook acQ-ordinated campaign ofdefiance of repressive laws,notonlytoma':ethoselawsineffectual butalsotoregainthe political spaceandmomentum to~ontinue peaceful opposition totheregime. Whil, suchactions strengthened thegrowing alliance 01forcesagainst theregime, they alsopointed tothefallure ofthestateofemergency todisrupt thefunctioning of a~ti-apartheid organizattons. 7.Anwnberofpolj~· ~!developments h~qehadanimpactonsouthern Africa. The evolving rel~xation inpolitical relations amongthemajorPowersisimproving the climato ofinternatior,: co-operation andisleading toanactivesearchfor peaceful settlements tQregional conflicts, notably inNamibia. Theeconomic sanctions against SouthAfricaad0pted byanumberofMemberStates have contributed topositive developments intheregion. Pretoria appears tohavefelt theimpactevenQfthecurrent limited andunco-ordinated sanctions. Economic growthhasslowedowingtoseveral fartors, primarily theburdenoftheforeign debt,lackofnewinvestment anaIj'daccesstocapital markets. The vulnerabillty oftheeconomy tosan~c~ons wasvisible inSouthAfrica's conduct of theundeclared waragainst Angola. Itiswidelyaccepted thatadiminished military capability, asaresultofthemandatory armsembargo, reverses inthe battlefield, combined withasluggish economy andagrowing opposition to conscriptiQn amongwhites, werecritical factors inpersuading SouthAfricato enterinto n~gotiations withAngola annCuba. H.Attheinternational level,thus,SouthAfricafinally signed anagreement withAngolaandCuba,undertheauspices ofth&UnitAdStatesofAmerica andwith thesupport oftheUnionofSovietSocialist Repu~lics, whichistobringaboutthe independence ofNamibia through theimplementation ofUnitedNations Secudty Council resolution 435(1978)of29September 1978. Suchhopeforpeacewas elusive inotherStatesoftheregionthatfacedacritical situation, partlyasa resultofPretoria's aggressive policies againstitsn,ighbours. -4-9.Notwithstanding positive developments inNamibia withregardtothe implementation ofSecurity Council resolution 435(1978), Pretoria undertook no fundamental initiatives todismantle theA9AL~~ system. Itwasforced, however, torelease hundred~ ofpolitical detainee~ fo~lowing asuccessful hungerstrike and toundertake otherstepsconcerning po'iticaJ prisoners, ittransferred NelsonMandela, theleaderoftheAfrican National Congress (ANC),toaprivate prison, andreleased Zephania Mothopeng, thele3derofthePanAfricanist Congress ofAzania (PAC),aswellassenior ANCmemberHarryGwala.1/Butmostof
**Analysis**
The text appears to be a report on the political and social developments in South Africa, specifically focusing on the apartheid regime and its impact on the country and the region. The report highlights the regime's attempts to reform, the resistance of the black majority, and the international community's response. The text also touches on the economic implications of the apartheid regime, including the effects of sanctions and the country's economic growth.

**Category**
Humanitarian aid and relief, International trade, Employment