African appeals to N.Z.

Press, 18 June 1976, Page 1

African appeals to N.Z.

An appeal for New Zealanders to help black South Africans bring about a peaceful change instead of "encouraging a bloody racial conflict” has been made by a black South African woman living in Christchurch. The woman, who does not wish to be named for fear of repercussions on her family still in South Africa, is married to a New Zealander and has lived in Christchurch for about two years. Commenting on the riot caused by enforced teaching of Afrikaans in schools in Soweto, near Johannesburg this week, the woman said that the South African Government was able to instruct blacks completely in the language so that they were even further restricted in learning.

If blacks learn only Afrikaans they would be unable to read books or in-

formation or watch films from other countries. Afrikaans was taught in about 95 per cent of black schools. The South African was encouraging white immigration to fill skilled jobs instead of giving opportunities to blacks, she said. Blacks could do factory work, teach, be nurses, or fill unskilled jobs such as farm work or as servants in the homes of whites. White immigrants by going to South Africa condoned apartheid.

There was a serious shortage of skilled labour, and although there was a search for white immigrants, there was widespread unemployment among blacks. The woman said that New Zealand could teach the South African Government to choose sports players on the basis of merit instead of race. “New Zealand is condoning apart-

heid by playing games in South Africa.” There were whites with a conscience who had tried to do something about the “brutal system,” she said, but they had to leave the country, or were sent to Robben Island (for political prisoners), or had their rights restricted. When addressing a white, a black had to cal! him “baasskap,” which is a very strong version of, “Yes, sir.” “International peace and security is threatened by apartheid in South Africa. Apartheid must be eradicated and will be eradicated peacefully with the participation of governments, organisations, and peoples all over the world,” she said. The South African regime had no right to represent South Africa. It was a settled minority regime buttressed by apartheid, “which has con-

demned by the United Nations as a crime against humanity.” Foreign investment was making the Government better able to resist any challenge to apartheid. “Most English-speaking whites do not share the ideology of the Afrikaners, but do have a pragmatic acceptance of segregation and no desire to change.” The woman said that it was unlawful for a white and a black to drink tea together in a cafe anywhere in South Africa, unless they had a special permit.

In South Africa, her marriage would be considered null and void, and any children would be considered illegitimate. “I am appealing to New Zealanders to help us bring about a peaceful change instead of encouraging a bloody racial conflict,” she said.