World Notes South Africa

The African National Congress has repeatedly accused Pretoria of working hand in glove with its bitter rival in black politics, the Inkatha Freedom Party, headed by Zulu chief Mangosuthu Buthelezi. President F.W. de Klerk always denied improper favoritism, but last week he was forced to admit that the government had given covert funds to Inkatha in 1989 and '90 to organize % political rallies. A police spokesman said Buthelezi got the aid because he opposed international sanctions against South Africa.

De Klerk came clean after the Johannesburg Weekly Mail exposed the secret $90,000 subsidy in a front-page story based on official documents. The report also raised doubts about the government's denials that security forces aided Inkatha's armed attacks on A.N.C. supporters.

A.N.C. president Nelson Mandela once again demanded that De Klerk fire his ministers of Law and Order and Defense. The newspaper's disclosure, Mandela warned, could derail talks on a new constitution.