The Federal Congress of the National Party supports a set of constitutional reforms

The Federal Congress of the National Party (NP) supported a set of constitutional ‘reforms’ outlined by Prime Minister P.W. Botha, and explained to the Congress by the Minister of Constitutional Affairs, Chris Heunis. If enacted, Parliamentary rule, based on the Westminster model, would be replaced by a Presidential system. These ‘reforms’ made provision for the creation of the Tri-cameral parliament which catering Coloured and Indian people with real power still concentrated in white hands. The tri-cameral structure was specifically planned to maintain NP control of legislation. At a United Democratic Front (UDF) conference held on 23 January, 1983 in Johannesburg Allen Boesak called for the formation of a ‘united front’ of various organisations to oppose the state constitutional ‘reforms’.