’Bok manager appeals to protesters

Press, 3 August 1981, Page 1

’Bok manager appeals to protesters

From

KEVIN McMENAMIN,

in Wanganui The Coloured assistant manager of the Springboks, Mr Abe Williams, told antitour protesters at W'anganui yesterday that they were not helping him in his fight to end apartheid. A small group of about 14 protesters was on hand when the team arrived at its Wanganui inner-city hotel soon after midday, and Mr Williams went through the police lines and spoke to them. A number of the protesters

were church people and Mr Williams engaged them in friendly discussion for about 10 minutes. “My job is to work towards the abandonment of apartheid and I assure you I am doing my best in this regard, but these protests are not helping,” said Mr Williams. In an obvious reference to the tight security which surrounds the team, Mr Williams said it was difficult for him to spread his message. To a remark that the protesters were not against the Springboks as individuals, Mr

Williams said that this was not his impression. He asked how protesters could be held to be friendly when he and the team had to be continually protected from them. Mr Williams undertook to try to arrange a meeting between four or five protesters and the Springbok management on the condition that they promised to act peacefully. He could not say when such a meeting might be held. While Mr Williams was talking to the protesters about 40 tour supporters gathered across the " street.

There was the inevitable exchange of views between the two groups, but the pro-tour people seemed intent mainly on welcoming the Springboks to W'anganui. Even the protesters conceded that the Springboks were unlikely to strike much more than token opposition in Wanganui. The anti-tour marches in the city have been small, the numbers reaching no more than 300. There is doubt that this number will be on hand on Wednesday when the Springboks play Wanganui. Mr Don Milne, the spokes-

man for the Wanganui antitour umbrella organisation, Action Against Apartheid, said there were a few HART members in Wanganui, but he knew of no outside interest in a Wanganui protest. He said his organisation’s planning was for a static protest outside the ground on Wednesday and whether there would be a march to the ground would depend on discussions today with the police and the local rugby union. Church services were also being arranged for midday on Wednesday. The Springboks spent a

quiet day yesterday. Some accepted offers of a round of golf, but most were content to spend the afternoon relaxing in their hotel. Police are also moving into W'anganui, but their numbers are difficult to estimate. There has been a change in the special task force to deal with major confrontations. For the first two weeks of the tour it was the “red” squad, but they have been relieved by the “blue” squad which will be in the field for the next fortnight.