The World : S. Africa’s Liberals Unite

Three white anti-apartheid parties merged in South Africa in hopes of boosting their collectively sagging fortunes with national elections looming. The formation of the new Democratic Party is an attempt to broaden the political base of white liberals, who have suffered repeated setbacks in recent years. The new party--”which rejects race as its basis,” according to a leading member--is to have three leaders, those who served as heads of the merging parties. They are Zac de Beer of the Progressive Federal Party, Wynand Malan of the National Democratic Movement and Denis Worrall of the Independent Party. The first major test for the Democratic Party will come in this year’s parliamentary elections, expected between late July and early September.