Specter backs end to sanctions

Philadelphia Councilwoman Joan Specter has joined a nationwide drive to lift sanctions against South Africa. Specter met in New York yesterday with business leaders and local government officials from around the country to discuss ways to implement Nelson Mandela's recent call to lift sanctions against South Africa. Yesterday's appeal to business and governments was prompted by the establishment of the Transitional Executive Council in South Africa, a multi-racial interim government party which limits the power of the current white DeKlerk administration. In anticipation of Mandela's request, Specter proposed three bills in City Council last month that would lift prohibitions and encourage re-investment in South Africa. Members of District Six, a campus group which promotes South African interest and awareness, said Specter's bills would ultimately benefit the depressed South African economy. Tamara Dubowitz, co-founder of District Six, said "the approval would definitely be a positive step for South African interest." "Having family still in the country, I know. . . that the inflation and sanctions against the country have affected all," she added. Mike Fleshman, one of the program associates at The Africa Fund, a New York-based group that sponsors humanitarian projects for victims of apartheid in South Africa, said the goal of lifting the sanctions against South Africa is "to repair the mess that the apartheid system has left them." Specter's three proposed bills would repeal the city's prohibitions against South African investment. The bills will be proposed to City Council at an upcoming hearing . Specter's first bill amends the city ordinance prohibiting investment of city funds in banks which provide services that benefit South Africa. The second proposed bill would lift the prohibition against accepting bids on city contracts from corporations which engage in business in South Africa. Specter's third proposal would allow the Municipal Retirement System, which invests money for city workers, to invest in stocks, securities or banks which makes loans to the South Africa. Rafeek Bagus, an economics research fellow from South Africa, supported lifting the sanctions, but worried that the bills "would have no?direct contact to people" who are unemployed in South Africa. Still, he said, large-scale investment would boost confidence among South Africans. Bagus, who is a member of the African National Congress, said, "I quite agree that we should have investment in South Africa. It could be a confidence indicator for other types of investment in South Africa." Fleshman said that there is 40 percent unemployment among South Africa's black population. He said with investment and employment opportunities, companies, government and "good citizens with financial clout" can "help South Africa. . .recover from the legacy of apartheid."

Please note All comments are eligible for publication in The Daily Pennsylvanian.