The South African Indian Council (SAIC), led by Amichand Rajbansi, decided to give the government's constitutional proposals 'a reasonable chance', provided the Indian community approved the proposals in a referendum. Major opposition to participation was led by the Natal Indian Congress.

The envisaged tricameral parliament would consist of an Executive State President; a Cabinet (to deal with general affairs) and three Ministers' Councils (for 'own affairs'); and, a legislative authority consisting of a House of Assembly for Whites, a House of Representatives for Coloureds and a House of Representatives for Indians. The President's Council, which had replaced the Senate in 1981, was retained.

Sources:

Kalley, J.A.; Schoeman, E. & Andor, L.E. (eds) (1999). Southern African Political History: a chronology of key political events from independence to mid-1997, Westport: Greenwood.

Liebenberg, B.J. & Spies, S.B. (eds) (1993). South Africa in the 20th Century, Pretoria: Van Schaik Academic, p. 478.

Reader's Digest. (1988). Illustrated History of South Africa: the real story, New York: Reader's Digest Association, p. 470.