Sport in South Africa

Press, 10 April 1980, Page 20

Sport in South Africa

Sir, — That other countries play apartheid sport with South Africa, as John Leslie reports today, in no way excuses New Zealand for"doing the same. Lined up against the practices of these apartheid supporters (for that is what they are) is the policy of the South African Council on Sport and the increasing number of anti-apartheid sports people belonging to its affiliated bodies. They play most major sports codes. S.A.C.O.S. is recognised by the Supreme Council of Sport in Africa as the sole sports authority in South Africa. Included under S.AIC.O.S.’s wing is the South African Rugby Union, opposed by Danie Craven’s rugby board. I hope Mr Leslie’s stated curipsity (April 8) will lead him to find out more about these genuine non-racist. sports people, their activities, the harassment they play under, why they call for a complete ban on sports contact with other countries, and why we seldom see -or hear their views reported. — Yours, etc., A. J. CAMPBELL. April 8, 1980. Sir, — John Leslie (April 8) expresses “curiosity” about Mr Richards’s activities. Enlightenment may arrive in his letterbox from closer to home than Pretoria. A postcard to-Halt All Racist Tours, P.O. Box 9204, Wellington, will bring him regular news to explain the desperation of the “regular news” of every little “sporting” contact that Krugerrands can buy. Cricket with the Netherlands! Goodness gracious me. As for New Zealand’s “alleged sporting intentions” — it is not New Zealand, though it seems like it overseas, just something called the “Rugby Union”; and they do not have “alleged” intentions, they have regrettably definite ones. Are “we” the mi-

nority or are “they”? It hardly matters, for 1981. To play the ruling minority’s propaganda game is (in my opinion) economic and political half-wittedness. — Yours, etc., KEN McALLISTER. April 8, 1980,