‘Black future’ screening again

Press, 24 May 1977, Page 17

‘Black future’ screening again

“Separate Development — the Black Future,” lan Johnstone’s Feltex Awardwinning documentary for TVI, will be screened again on Sunday night. The programme is one of a series made by Johnstone in South Africa last year on the state of race relations there. The series was partly prompted by New Zealand’s attention to South Africa as the All Blacks prepared to leave on their tour. The Black Future” examined aspects of the South African Government’s policy of separate development, and gave particular attention to its consequences for black nationalism and black consciousness. lan Johnstone feels that the programme brought first-hand information on South Africa and the situation that existed there to the people of New Zealand. It was topical, and influenced discussion. “The Black Future” included an interview with the Prime Minister, Mr Vorster; Chief Buthelezi, chief executive councillor of Kwa Zulu; Dean Des-

mond Tutu, of Johannesburg; and politicians of the Transkei. There were also sequences filmed in Soweto shortly before the major riots. Johnstone believes that if the documentary were to be made again, taking into account everything that happened in South Africa since the trip, it would not differ greatly. However, the State Security Bill is now law; the South African Government’s policy regarding sport has been slightly eased, and the Soweto and black township situations have been soothed.