Boston Mayor Raymond T. Flynn hosted a reception for the deputy president of the African National Congress (ANC) and his wife at Parkman House in Boston yesterday.

Walter and Albertina Sisulu, who arrived in Boston yesterday morning, are touring the U.S. hoping to maintain support for economic sanctions by American cities against South Africa.

At a reception attended by a number of Massachusetts mayors--including Cambridge Mayor Alice K. Wolf--and state legislators, Sisulu praised Boston for its pioneering role in establishing sanctions against South Africa.

"We are grateful to you. We are speaking to you today because of your record, and for no other reason," he said.

Speakers at the reception placed emphasis on the importance of continuing sanctions. "It is difficult to bring the house of apartheid down. It might be even more difficult to create an edifice of freedom," said Joey Moikangoa, a former ANC representative to the United Nations.

Sisulu elicited laughter from the group at one point in his speech, saying, "We are aware that there are people who are eroding the sanctions... your federal government is one of them."

Sisulu stressed that, while improvements in his country were being made, withdrawal of all sanctions at this time would be hasty. "It is unfortunate that they dropped the sanctions before their time," Sisulu said of the U.S. government. "Although they have done what they have done, they still have a duty to maintain sanctions."

Although the federal government has rescinded the 1986 policy that created sanctions against South Africa, many cities, Boston among them, have maintained their sanctions.

And Flynn said yesterday, "We plan to continue with sanctions."

Appeal for Help

Sisulu also made an appeal to the U.S. for help, particularly in education. "We would like you to help us train our people for the postapartheid period," he said.

The ANC would like to see sanctions lifted in three stages, beginning with sanctions against cultural activities involving participation in sports, Sisulu said. The lifting of sanctions against companies that sell arms to South Africa should follow, he said.

But the ANC has not set a date for the actual lifting of these sanctions. ANC officials said sanctions would be most effective if the U.S. follows ANC directives on when to lift restrictions.