Hurley pushes Botha for reform

ARCHBISHOP DENIS Hurley of Durban and several senior South African clergymen will meet the state President, Pieter Botha in Pretoria on Monday in an attempt to persuade South Africa's leader to push forward with reform.
"I imagine the meeting will be about the involvement of black leaders in negotiations", Archbishop Hurley told the Catholic Herald this week. He would not be drawn on what the church leaders will be saying to Mr Botha. "We'll see how it turns out", said Archbishop Hurley.
He added that the delegation, which includes the Anglican Archbishop of Capetown, Dr Philip Russell, and representatives from the Methodist and Lutheran churches, will be gathering on
Sunday evening to plan strategy.
The meeting comes after a week of continuing violence, which has left scores of blacks dead in Durban townships following clashes with police and internecine conflict. It also follows the snubbing of Bishop Desmond Tutu, Anglican Bishop of Johannesburg, whose offer to meet President Botha was turned down.
Last week, at the end of their two day meeting in Hammanskraal, the South African Catholic Bishops' Conference made quite clear what they wanted the Government to do.
The SACBC said: "We add our voices to the call made upon the Government to lift the Stale of Emergency and to open urgent discussions with the real leaders of the people.•'