Land ownership in South Africa

Press, Volume CXII, Issue 32977, 25 July 1972, Page 12

Land ownership in South Africa

Sir, —We are now told by Colonel Elderton that the Republic of South Africa should not be equated with South Africa! But the Government of the Republic of South Africa calls itself South Africa and, as such, places itself in alphabetical order between Somalia and Spain in the United Nations. The Government of the Republic of South Africa also issues many publications that explicitly refer to the country as South Africa (for example, “South Africa — In Fact,” “This is South Africa,” “South African Digest,” and “South African Panorama”). Colonel Elderton cannot include the independent nations of Botswana, Lesotho, and Swaziland as a part of South Africa. These three countries are separate, sovereign States and members of the United Nations. To include them would be akin to including New Zealand in Australia and claiming that the Commonwealth of Australia (to give the country its formal title) is not the same as Australia. —Yours etc., NIGEL S. ROBERTS, Lecturer in Political Science. July 24, 1972.

Sir, —None of Colonel Elderton’s obtuse distinctions contradict the South African Government’s claim that 12.59 per cent of the land of the Republic of South Africa has been allocated to the Africans who constitute over 70 per cent of the population of the Republic. The crucial point is that this land is neither rich in farmland nor in minerals. All the real wealth of South Africa — the gold, diamonds and uranium — remains exclusively in white hands. So much for Colonel Elderton’s separate but equal development!— Yours, etc., DAVID NOVITZ. July 24, 1972.