South Africa

Press, 20 May 1987, Page 20

South Africa

Sir,—See Mrs Mandela stirring up the blacks and urging the use of the necklace; 300 innocent people have already been burnt to death by this sickening, inhuman, barbarous act. See the black minority church leader, Bishop Tutu, screaming "to hell with President Reagan" for opposing sanctions. See the malnutrition, despair and death being caused by sanctions, supported by the Labour Government. See Oliver Tambo and other A.N.C. V.I.P.S of violence. See what the Prime Minister has shamefully committed New Zealand support to. Thankfully, good supplies of independently produced video films showing both sides of the African situation are now available in New Zealand; films which are not permitted to be shown on the Government-con-trolled and directed New Zealand television. The New Zealand public have had enough. Sufficient New Zealanders have been to South Africa to know the Labour Government is trying to deceive us. The truth is out. An election is pending. — Yours, etc., BERT WALKER. May 16, 1987.

Sir,—Because I study South Africa with historical detachment and care' about people’s welfare, I must oppose the Broederbond’s elected South African white dictatorship. Like L. R. Wilkinson, I laothe necklacing, but I understand the fury of people against collaborators betraying their movement and leaders. I also loathe South African whites’ brutality, the gunning of children, firing of

homes, parcel bombs, the perverted justice that hurled Steve Biko against concrete walls then drove him naked, agonised, dying; 200 miles, floggings, induced alcoholism, separation of families, the theft of Homelands. It appears that Mr Wilkinson does not. I do not want Soviet control;of South Africa, nor do the Soviets, the A.N.C. or Hart — that is Bfoederbond propaganda. But the Soviets again are helping the majority and the oppressed. White colonialism took blacks’ lands and livings, capitalism steals their wealth and then, post-liberation, threatens democracy, almost necessitating oneparty rule. — Yours, etc., SUSAN TAYLOR. May 13, 1987.