South Africa calls for vote on dropping racial policy

April 1, 1983

South Africa called for a landmark referendum on whether to drop its strict racial separation policy. The proposal, if approved by the country's 2.5 million white voters, would share limited political power with Asians and people of mixed-race descent, but not the the majority blacks. Prime Minister Pieter Botha staked his career on the proposal and said the referendum would be held at a suitable time.