PRESIDENT Nelson Mandela opened the South African parliament yesterday with pledges to press ahead with privatisation and the gradual lifting of foreign exchange controls and a promise of tough action against crime.
But his speech failed to fulfil expectations that it would detail government plans on the question of foreign exchange controls, whose continued existence is seen by many economists as an obstacle to foreign investment and accelerated economic growth.
Mr F.W. de Klerk, leader of the National Party which governed South Africa for 46 years and which is now the biggest opposition party, called on the Mandela government to implement its laudable goals - encapsulated in the African National Congress slogan "a better life for all" - instead of simply reaffirming them.
Speaking in the wake of the hijacking of a Supreme Court judge and amid continuing concern about the growing audacity and apparent omnipresence of criminals, Mr Mandela offered assurances: "We are closing in on [criminals]. We shall demonstrate convincingly that, in our young democracy, crime does not pay."
The Freedom Front leader Mr Constand Viljoen, who has a good personal relationship with Mr Mandela, said: "We think the President is a bit wishy washy on the idea of law and order."
In his speech opening the first parliamentary session after the adoption of the post apartheid constitution, Mr Mandela conceded that improved policing techniques alone would not suffice to eradicate crime in South Africa, considered one of the most violent countries in the world with very high murder, rape and robbery rates.
"When all is said and done," he said, "success depends on our whole society adopting a new value system."
Mr Mandela was optimistic on the economy, saying it had "turned the corner towards consistent expansion . . . [with] strong signals of a robust industrial revolution in the making".
On foreign policy - before a planned visit next week by the US Vice President, Mr Al Gore - Mr Mandela made only a fleeting reference to the recent furore caused in the West by a planned arms deal with Syria.
"We shall not falter in our contribution to the resolution of conflict and promotion of peace throughout the world," Mr Mandela said.
"In this context. . . we shall continue to approach the issue of the manufacture and sale of weapons with circumspect ion," he added.
Mr Mandela's speech drew a mixed response. Mr Tony Leon, leader of the small but vigorous Democratic Party, predicted that investors would be disappointed in the lack of substance, particularly on the implementation of the government's macro economic strategy for accelerated growth and job creation.
"I think it was long," said Bishop Stanley Mogoba, leader of the PAC. "It does underline a typical. .. weakness of the government trying to do everything.
"`Focus' is my comment," he said.
"I think it was great," said the Inkatha Freedom Party's Mr Hennie Becker. "Only he [Mr Mandela] could bring that homely atmosphere to parliament."