The World - News from May 12, 1989

The South African Cabinet minister in charge of a largely unsuccessful effort to draw black leaders into negotiations with the government on apartheid announced his resignation. Chris Heunis, the constitutional development minister, gave no reason for his decision, which came just a week after he proposed in a speech that blacks be given a role in Parliament. Also this week, Home Affairs Minister Stoffel Botha announced his resignation, saying he wanted to return to private life. Heunis, the leader of the governing National Party in Cape province, will resign from the Cabinet on July 1. Stoffel Botha, the party leader in Natal Province, will resign Sept. 6, when a general election is scheduled.