The government and the African National Congress warned Saturday that time was running out for conservative blacks and whites to join the democratic process.
Both sides were hoping for meetings with the Freedom Alliance of pro-apartheid whites and conservative blacks before Parliament votes on a new constitution. The vote is expected Wednesday."They have done their constituency a disservice," ANC general secretary Cyril Ramaphosa said of the Freedom Alliance groups, which include the Inkatha Freedom Party and the white Afrikaner Volksfront.
On Monday, Parliament will end a three-day debate on the 200-page constitution, and any amendments would have to be discussed Tuesday. On Wednesday, Parliament is expected to pass into law the document, which was negotiated during two years of talks involving the government, the ANC, and about 20 other black and white groups.
The new constitution will guarantee blacks and whites equal rights for the first time. President F.W. de Klerk's National Party holds the majority in Parliament, guaranteeing its passage.
The Freedom Alliance, which boycotted the negotiations, opposes the constitution on grounds it does not guarantee sovereignty for whites, Zulus and other ethnic groups. The alliance says an ANC government will destroy minority groups' cultures and ultimately lead to civil war.
The ANC is expected to win the most votes in the country's first multiracial election April 27. The Freedom Alliance says it won't take part unless its demands for ethnic autonomy are met.
The government's constitutional affairs minister, Roelf Meyer, said the Freedom Alliance had until Monday evening to "come forward with concrete proposals" to end the standoff.
"Everybody was aware of the fact that we were going to have this (parliamentary) session and that this session is about approving the constitution, and that is it," he said.
Alliance spokesman Rowan Cronje said he believed there was still time to resolve the differences.