Anger in South Africa

Press, Volume CXII, Issue 33095, 9 December 1972, Page 15

Anger in South Africa

fN.Z.P. A.-Reuter—Copyright) JOHANNESBURG, December 8. South African newspapers, sportsmen and officials are angry and disappointed at new moves by Australia to close its doors to sports teams not chosen on merit.

It is indicative of the gloomy prospects for South African sport abroad that new Australian support for United Nations economic moves against South Africa has been given far less attention. With the Government insistent that South African teams shall not be chosen on merit across racial lines, at least where the major sports of Rugby and cricket are concerned, the policy of the new Australian Prime Minister (Mr Whitlam) must mean the end of one of the remaining outlets abroad for South African teams.

However, the South African Government is likely to be more concerned to hold on to trade ties with Australia, which may become of great importance as the effects of

Britain’s membership of the E.E.C. are felt in South Africa. Dawie De Villiers, the Springbok Rugby captain of the late 60s and now a newly-elected M.P. for the ruling National Party, said that South Africa should not bar sporting teams, “but of course the general public might eventually feel that Australian teams are not welcome here.” For others, such as Mr Dave Marais, the controller of South African white soccer, the situation was not impossible. He sees the answer as selection on merit — “the only way we will be able to fight our way back into international sport.” Afrikaans newspapers, supporters of the Government, took heart from the fact that South Africa had suffered a far wider range of attacks from the British Labour Government of Mr Harold Wilson, and survived. The new Australian Government was apparently blind to the fact that the two countries needed each other, said the Johannesburg evening paper, “Die Vaderland,” while “Die Burger,” in Cape Town, gave dark warnings of the perils of Asian population explosions.

Both English and Afrikaans newspapers gave warning against hasty reactions, with the opposition press criticising the Government for insisting on apartheid in sport. The South African Broadcasting Corporation, through its programme "Editorial Comment” —which invariably reflects Government thinking —came up with a fine, whiteflannelled analogy. “Mr Whitlam has opened his attack with a stinging in-, swinger, but all that is needed is a straight bat. As every Australian and every South African knows, the shine wears off the new ball.” The “Natal Mercury” looked on the bright side, and found that one consequence of Mr Whitlam’s election was “that it is most unlikely that a Springbok Rugby team will again be called upon to suffer the hardships and indignities of a demo-dodging tour “down under.” But for Mr Jannie Le Roux, manager for the proposed Springbok Rugby tour of New Zealand next year, the prospect of demonstrations has still to come, though he said yesterday that he would play it entirely by ear, and “cross bridges when we get to them.”