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- WORLD, Page 56World NotesSOUTH AFRICAHeading for The Exit
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- Shortly after suffering a stroke three weeks ago, South
- African State President P.W. Botha gave every indication he
- would soon resume power. But last week Botha, 73, who was
- partly paralyzed by his illness, surprised even his closest
- colleagues by abruptly resigning as leader of the ruling
- National Party. He stays on, however, as President until
- elections, expected by summer.
-
- A caucus quickly elected Frederik W. de Klerk, 52, to
- replace Botha. Party leader of the populous Transvaal province
- and Education Minister in Botha's Cabinet, De Klerk has been
- heir apparent for the past seven years. He is a conservative
- and an apartheid advocate, a younger, more articulate version
- of P.W. Botha and, like him, happy with a glacial pace of
- "reform" that nonetheless maintains minority white control.
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- De Klerk is now the clear favorite to assume the job of
- State President when Botha steps down after leading the party to
- victory at the polls. Because splitting the duties of the two
- offices holds the potential for conflict, Botha's move
- increased speculation that he will call for elections sooner
- rather than later.
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