South Africa

Press, 16 September 1987, Page 18

South Africa

Sir, — I remind V. J. Hitchen (September 11) that within South Africa anti-apartheid supporters found to be in possession of African National Congress literature are vulnerable to detention, etc. However, when it suits the white minority South African Government, it manipulates its own laws by allowing public access to excerpts of A.N.C. literature. The A.N.G, while being referred to by South African Government sources over the years as “insignificant,” “having little support," as well as “infiltrated (by informers) from top to bottom," has survived; and now, even pro-apartheid people outside South Africa are clutching at straws. Let V. J. Hitchen ponder that taxpayers here can make only minimal protest about the amount of money spent on defending this country against a so-called “enemy” which the Government and some business persons find convenient to trade with. Remember what'Abraham Lincoln said about fooling people? — Yours, etc., . T. KENNETH EBER MARTIN. September 11, 1987.

Sir,—The Reformed Churches of South Africa, in close liaison with the National Party, were - the main architects of apartheid, quoting their God. and Bible to justify a particularly odious form of man’s , inhumanity to man. As between the papacy, Mussolini and Hitler in the 19305, there is complete "understanding” between the Reformed Churches and the .Government, dissent from other denominations through the South African Council of Churches provoking the ultimate fascist scream of hate — "communist!” There is an unparalleled resurrection of fascism in South Africa, where neoNazi Afrikaners form a fastincreasing militant, totalitarian force against democracy. One can only wonder, aghast, that an evil such as apartheid could emanate from churches supposedly dedicated to Christ and through Him, the brotherhood of man, to be defended here by pro-South African correspondents and used by paranoid fanatics as a convenient vehicle for their personal anti-communist vendettas. — Yours, etc, ARTHUR MAY. September 15, 1987.