Inside Report (5)

Meanwhile, the split in South Africa's National Party may be a boon to freedom of the press in that country.

A recent report to the government urged greater controls on the media; it looked to be one of the key issues in the 1982 session of Parliament. But the official opposition party spokesman on the media says that political events now are working against adopting the proposed press restrictions: The National Party seems preoccupied with the split in its own ranks.

The party's right-wing splinter, led by Dr. Andries Treurnicht, may become an ally of greater press freedom since it is having trouble finding media support for its own cause, says the opposition spokesman.