World Notes SOUTH AFRICA

If all goes as planned, blacks will soon be represented for the first time in South Africa's national government. But there was no cheering in the townships last week, as State President P.W. Botha introduced legislation to create a national council. Its purpose: to plan a new constitution that will give blacks a role in national politics.

As far as black leaders are concerned, the body will be just one more powerless, white-dominated institution. The council will probably not even have a black majority, with most of the 36 seats taken by white, Asian and "colored" officials who are already part of the structure of apartheid. Most prominent blacks have sworn not to sit in the new assembly, which some have called a toy telephone. Said Mangosuthu Buthelezi, chief minister of the KwaZulu black homeland: "Black leaders have long passed the point in history where they can be used as rubber stamps for the real intentions of the country's white political leadership."