South Africa ‘will not fall to Communist forces’

Press, Volume CXVI, Issue 34129, 15 April 1976, Page 16

South Africa ‘will not fall to Communist forces’

Trouble will break out in South Africa and blood will be shed, but the Republic will not fall to Communist forces, according to Mr John Field-Dodgson, who has just returned to New Zealand after five years in Pietermaritzburg, Natal. “Communist forces are there. They are in Angola and are moving into Mozamique,” said Mr FieldDodgson. “The South African military advisers state publicly that the obvious intention of the Communists is to come across Angola, through Zambia, across Mozambique and move down Rhodesia to South Africa, which will be their ultimate goal,” he said. Mr Field-Dodgson said that South Africa was too strategically placed for an invasion; the United States would come to its aid. “Rhodesia is doomed. Everyone is calling for a democratic society — one man, one vote — but it just

won’t work,” said Mr FieldDodgson. “It would work if all citizens were educated as they are in New Zealand, but they are not. Unless children attend a private school it seems to me that they receive a very biased education towards South Africa. They learn only about South Africa, and get very little international education.” MUD-HUT BACKGROUND “To a majority of black people who live in a mud hut, a vote means nothing. They wouldn’t even know what it is. All laws are invested in their chief, and what he says goes. The situation would exist where he would say vote for this person or else,” he said. "I am convinced that if Britain had been stronger when Rhodesia made its Unilateral Declaration of Independence, the situation would have been saved,” said Mr Field-Dodgson. There could have been racial harmony in the country. South Africa was stronger economically than other Southern Africa countries, and as long as the status quo was maintained it could remain politically stronger than its neighbours. Mr Field-Dodgson said there was a genuine attempt by the South African Government to amend and improve the policy of apartheid. “In the five years I was there there were considerable changes.” The city council in Pietermaritzburg had opened parks and public areas to all races, — the first time this had been done in South Africa — and buses were completely integrated. “There is no law in South Africa against this. It has just been accepted over the years,” said Mr FieldDodgson. MIXED SPORT At club level there were racia’ly mixed hockey and cricket teams. “There were general grumbles from Government level, but nothing was done about it,” he said. “I blame adverse publicity on the South African Government. I feel they have not done as much as possible to tell the rest of the world what is going on, particularly Australia and New Zealand,” said Mr Field-Dodgson. However, it would take a long time for total intergration, as the situation was very complex. There were still black-to-black confrontations, not only between tribes, but within tribes. “It is the African way of life. They have lived by the spear, and will do so for some time,” said Mr FieldDodgson.

“In theory the Southi African development policy! could work. A big thing’ later this year will be Trans-’ kei’s becoming independent. However, it will be difficult for her to become economically independent. There are nine of these homelands, that will eventually gain independence. This is what the Government wants. It gives these people a chance to gain experience in politics,” he said. Mr Field-Dodgson, who studied agronomy at the University of Natal and! worked with many South', African farmers, said agri-i

ii culture in the Republic re- ' | lied less on machinery than ;’did New Zealand farming, land advisory services were . lacking. ; “About 90 per cent of the - agriculture production in > South Africa is provided by , 10 per cent of the farmers, i There is a tremendous range i in farmer ability.” he said. I On a farm of 1000 acres I : they might employ 20 to 30 I black South Africans for I nominal wages of $4O to $5O I > a month, with home and j , food provided. Unless they « j were good workers the L Africans were kept on jobs '(that needed very little man•l agerial skill.