Negotiators from the African National Congress, government and the right-wing Freedom Alliance met Tuesday to try and resolve an impasse in last-minute talks to secure right-wing support for political reform in South Africa.
The talks deadlocked late Monday when the Freedom Alliance refused to commit itself to the electoral process until a final deal had been negotiated.The ANC and government, the principal architects of reform, want the commitment before a deal is negotiated to prevent the Freedom Alliance from reneging at a later stage.
The Freedom Alliance, comprised of white separatists and conservative black homeland leaders, seeks more regional autonomy that contained in a proposed constitution supported by the ANC and government.
Speaking shortly before Tuesday's resumption of talks in the coastal city of Cape Town, government negotiator Roelf Meyer said it was unlikely a deal would be struck before Parliament enacted the constitution Wednesday.
Political observers said discussions with the right wing would probably continue after the enactment of the constitution with a recall of Parliament in January to make minor constitutional amendments.
In a related development the Afrikaner People's Front - a member of the Freedom Alliance - refused Tuesday to sign an agreement with the ANC saying the deal did not have the support of negotiators in Cape Town.
The ANC said the agreement between the secondary negotiating teams was to have created mechanisms to further investigate how white desires for self-determination could be accommodated.