Africanist Congress ofAzania (PAC)andotherpolitical parties andmovements, the partiallifting ofthestateofemergency andothermeasures haveoffered hopeand encouragement forabrighter future. Wehavealsoseenthebeginnings oftalks between theSouthAfrican Government andtheANC,andwewelcome theagreement reached between representatives ofthosetwosideson6August -thePretoria minute -in"hichtheSouthAfrican Government agreed, amongotherthings, to deadlines fortherelease ofpolitical prisoners andthereturnofexiles, while theARCagreedtothesuspension, withimmediate effect, ofarmedactions. I~the Australian Government's viewthePretoria minuterepresents asignificant step forward intheprocess ofpeaceful constitutional changeinSouthAfrica. Digitized by Dag Hammarskjöld LibraryBM/17--------~----------- Al44/PV.9S 72 (K~.Wilepski. Australia) Butwhilethoseagreements a~easignificant step,theyareonlythebeginning ofaprocess andnotitsend.TheSecretary-General notedinhisreportthatthe • information gathered bytheUnitedNations teamthatvlsited'South,Africa inJune showedthatthepolitical process ofdismantling the,DPartheid systemwas,stillat anearlystage. Indeed, forthatveryreasontherepor~, astheSecretary-General pointsout,doesnotcomment'indetailonsomeofthemajor ~ssuescovered bythe Declaration. Theprogress achieved sofaristobewelcomed, butitdoesnotyetrepresent theclearandirreversible changethattheinternational community hasdemanded in SouthAfrica. Muchmoremustbedoneinorderforthepromises thathavebeenmade already -andtheothersthatmustbemade-tobefulfilled. TheAustralian Gov~rnment urgesPresident DeKlerktoactspeedily onhiscommitments andto maintain themomentum forreformbyremoving, assoonaspossible, allthe remaining legislative pillars ofQPartheid, particularly theGroupAreasAct,the LandActsandthePopulation Registration Act. Weseetootheverytragiccycleofviolence inNatalandinthetownships arounrJohannesburq inrecentweeks,theimposition ofaquasistateofemergency inpartsofTransvaal andtheincreasing militancy oftheeztreme right,andwe increasingly hear,too,reports ofalackofimpartiality intherolethatthe SuuthAfrican security forceshavetakeninthis.TheSecretary-General's report referstotheurgentneedfortherequirement toendtheviolence tobeaddressed atthehighest level,andhewarnsoftheconsequences iftheviolence should conti~ue unrestrained. TheAustralian Government joinstheappealforallparties todowhatever isnecessary toendtheviolence andtoworktogether tobuilda peaceful SouthAfrica. Digitized by Dag Hammarskjöld LibraryRM/~7 Al44/PV.9S ,73 (Mr.Wilenski, Australia) \ Thebloodshed inthetownships cannotbedivorced fromthepolicies of I I aparthei~q thehomelands policies, themigrant-labour system, thevast differentials intheprovision ofthemostbasicservices suchaseducation, health andhousing. AstheSecretary-General's reportnotes,theUnitedNations team's reportillustrates alltoovividly thegravesocialinjustices inflicted by apartheid ontheblackpopUlation ofSouthAfrica. TheAustralian Government joinsinencouraging measures aimedatredressing thesocialandeconomic imbalances, particularly intheareasofhousing, education, employment andhealth, identified inthereportasmeasures thatwould goalongwaytowards addressing effectively theglaring inequities andtowards instilling publicconfidence inthedemocratic proc~ss andinnational institutions. Itisclearthatthetimefortheinternational community torelaxits vigilance hasnotyetcome.Itisnowasimportant aseverfortheinternational community tocontinue tospeakwithasinglevoiceinwelcoming thefirststeps towards changeandincontinuing todemand, asithasnowfor40years,the long-overdue abolition oftheoppressive systemofapartheid. TheAustralian Government believes toothatthestrictmeasures imposed bythe international community against SouthAfricahaveplayedacentral roleinbringing aboutchangeinSouthAfrica. InMayofthisyearameeting oftheCommonwealth Foreign Ministers Committee onSouthAfrica, ofwhichAustralia isamember, meeting inAbuja, agr~edthat,ontheevidence beforeit,thewaytoadvance the process ofnormalization anddemocratization inSouthAfricawastomaintain intact thefullrangeofsanctions nowapplying. Itagreedthattoreducethatpressure beforethenecessary changes ofsubstance haveoccurred wouldbetorunavery graveriskofaborting theprocess. TheAustralian Government iscompletely committed tothatpolicypursued bytheCommonwealth. Digitized by Dag Hammarskjöld LibraryRMl11 Al44/PV.9a 74-75 (Mr.WAlenski, Australia) Thetimehasnotyetcometorelaxsanctions pressure onSouthAfrica. Only
**Analysis**
The text appears to be a speech or statement by the Australian Government on the situation in South Africa, particularly regarding the apartheid system and the efforts towards peaceful constitutional change. It discusses the progress made, the challenges ahead, and the international community's role in supporting the process. The text focuses on political and social issues, with some references to economic and humanitarian aspects.

**Category**
Humanitarian aid and relief, International relations, Politics