Talking Drums's coverage of the apartheid regime of South Africa
The two issues on which all African states agreed in the eighties were the resistance to the apartheid regime in South Africa and the demand for independence in Namibia. While some states opened up dialog, all were in favor of sanctions and many actively supported the liberation movements even with arms. There was a quite visceral reaction to the continued support of the regime by the US and UK (and Israel to some extent). Throughout those years, there was continued pressure for boycott, sanctions and denunciations of Pretoria - Reagan and Thatcher's legacy speak for themselves standing as they were on the wrong side of history.
There were the daily atrocities of apartheid in everyday life and then the lowlights, say the Langa massacre at Uitenhage in 1985. The National Pary would undertake cross border raids bombing of its neighbors ostensibly to harrass the African National Congress whose leaders were in jails. Cubans would commit troops to the fight in Angola and Mozambique. ArchBishop Desmond Tutu would receive the Nobel Prize piling on the pressure. Talking Drums would cover it all (even a bloodthirsty Mengistu of Ethiopia would denounce the South Africans when he assumed chairmanship of the OAU). Talking Drums would highlight the ironies and the twists and turns of the struggle. Read on...
Selections from Talking Drums's Coverage of South Africa
Israeli policies in the Middle East may be abhorrent and certainly her support for apartheid South Africa must be condemned by all who have the interest of black Africans at heart yet the fact of under-hand deals between Israel and a number of African countries cannot be denied.
The significant thing about this pronouncement is how Nigeria-Israel diplomatic relations have come to be such a hot, major issue in Nigerian politics. It only shows how seriously the pro-Israel lobby has been working in Africa to reverse the OAU stand against Zionist racism and Israel's support for apartheid South Africe, its militarism in the Middle East, and its policy of destroying Afro-Arab co-operation.
The preamble of the charter declares the determination to eliminate Colonialism, Neo-colonialism, Apartheid, Zionism and to dismantle aggressiva foreign military bases and all forms of discrimination particularly those based on race, ethnic group, colour, sex, language, religion or political opinion. This has always been the stance of the OAU. What puzzles me is the presence of the word: Zionism in an African Charter?
On the continental scene, President Boigny’s flirtations with apartheid South Africa in pursuit of a dialogue policy with that racist country drew sneers for himself and his country.
Current Chairman of the Organisation of African Unity (OAU) Mengistu Haile Mariam has called on the UN to render moral, political and material support for promoting development and peace in Africa and live. up to its commitment to human freedom, dignity and equality in Southern Africa.
In a message to the 38th session of the UN General Assembly in his capacity as Chairman of the OAU, Mengistu said the inhuman system of apartheid in South Africa and Pretoria's continued illegal occupation of Namibia were matters of extreme concern for Africa.
The National Party should stop wasting time and demolish the apartheid policy. South Africa has room and resources for all races. These must be open to all to avoid the inevitable conflagration
Nigeria has renewed its call for mandatory economic sanctions and total arms embargo against the South African government.
Addressing the current session of the General Assembly of the United Nations, a member of the Nigerian delegation, Shettima Ali Monguno, said that complete isolation of the apartheid regime in the economic and military fields as well as political pressure on the western powers would help to resolve the Namibian question on the basis of the UN resolutions.
The National Party should stop wasting time and demolish the apartheid policy. South Africa has room and resources for all races. These must be open to all to avoid the inevitable conflagration
In Zaire President Mobutu Sese Seko warns daily that democracy, freedom and human rights should not be used as ammunition by his opponents yet he remains the darling boy of American policy in Africa. And in Southern Africa the perpetrators of apartheid policies are kept in power through the connivance of the United States. Such are American policies which generate frustration among certain Africans and are also likely to whip up anti-American feelings in them.
The struggle against apartheid has for long pre-occupied progressive and peace-loving forces in the world. Anti aparthied champions have been demanding effective measures to put an end to the policy of racial discrimination in South Africa and condemning the latter's illegal occupation of Namibia. The United Nations for its part has been urging an all-embracing and mandatory sanctions against the Pretoria regime.
After years of sporadic incursions into neighbouring states, South Africa's latest invasion of Angola would not have made world headlines but for the severe setback inflicted on the freedom fighters of the South West Africa People's Organisation (SWAPO), who for the past seventeen years have been fighting for their country, Namibia's independence from apartheid South Africa.
There is an aura of "cleverness" and belligerence around Mrs Thatcher's defence of her invitation to Mr Botha that gives the impression that the lady is herself not totally convinced about the wisdom of her action but is determined to go through with it because nobody dictates to her.
But then nobody will presume to want to dictate to the Prime Minister of Her Majesty's Government. The questions that we ask are based on the very "virtues of being British" that Mrs Thatcher extols so eloquently regularly, "the fairness, freedom, determination in the face of adversity..." and we suggest that APARTHEID, which Mr Botha breathes, practises and preaches does not fit in with these "British virtues" and as persuasive as Mrs Thatcher undoubtedly is, we doubt that even she imagines that she can dissuade Mr Botha from his religion, over an afternoon's lunch.
"Well, for starters, immediately Mr. Botha, the chief carrier, steps down from the plane he would be whisked away in a specially constructed car to avoid any contact with the Anti Apartheid demonstrators who are expected to cause trouble," he said.
South Africa has blackmailed the West into accepting a morally indefensible position, by this constant harping on the country being a bulwark against the threat of communism and should therefore be supported at whatever cost.
Mrs Thatcher takes up the refrain about the strategic importance of South Africa not just to Britain but to the Western Alliance as a whole and this position is supposed to be at risk unless South Africa remains in the safe hands of Mr Botha and his apartheid disciples.
Such posturings must necessarily sound very strange indeed to the battered and abused Blacks in Namibia and South Africa whose only aspirations are taken as fundamental and basic human conditions that everybody takes for granted in the West.
Apartheid, the monstrous and devilish South African government headed by Prime Minister Pieter Botha is corrosive and morally wrong. It is corrosive because the system saps and demeans the human mind and intellect thus reducing those affected to human vegetables. It is morally wrong because God the creator of the world we live in, said He created all men and women equal and in his own image. So why should a man be judged and governed by the colour of his skin and not by the content of his mind?
The Supreme Council for Sports in Africa has urged a wholesale boycott of British Athletes and sporting goods because of the British government's failure to prevent the English rugby tour of South Africa this month.
The hounding of ANC partisans from their bases in Mozambique concretely illustrates the current sad state of the liberation struggle.
This development has arisen thanks principally to the present occupant of the American White House whose policy of "constructive engagement" with the apartheid regime is but a euphemism for giving it respectability. In pursuance of this policy, Mr Ronald Reagan has sought to deceive the unwary and to dull the collective consciousness of African governments as to his true intentions with regards to the liberation struggle.
the president of the Supreme Council for Sports in Africa (SCSA) has told a news conference in the Ethiopian capital that the SCSA had passed a resolution calling on OAU member countries not to the part in the Los Angeles Olympics "in which supporters of the policy of apartheid and Britain will participate"
In a resolution, unanimously adopted, the participants condemned the continued military, economic and moral support of the United States Government to the racist regime in South Africa. It also condemned the continued use of the US veto at the UN Security Council of sanctions against the apartheid regime in its murderous activities against the majority of Africans in southern Africa.
the signs pointing to a possible boycott of Los Angeles persist. The boycott call is in protest against the tour of apartheid South Africa by British rugby players last month.
So the obvious questions that need to be asked are: What are African juju men doing in the face of Apartheid and colonialism in Namibia and South Africa?
Three African countries - Ethiopia, Angola and Upper Volta stayed away. Ethiopia and Angola joined a Soviet Union led boycott and Upper Volta refused to participate alongside what it called supporters of apartheid in South Africa - a reference to England which sent a rugby team to the republic.
The vast majority of the indigenous people of South Africa have with additional courage and determination, totally rejected the so-called tri-racial parliament. They realise the danger inherent in the latest crusade to consolidate apartheid in order to give the inhuman system some legal credibility
In this regard, it is a testimony to the undaunted spirit with which apartheid is being resisted that in spite of the un paralleled harassment for which white apartheid police is notorious, the multi-racial party, the United Democratic Front, consisting of 700 anti-apartheid organizations, launched and carried out a boycott of the elections. In the end, while apartheid radio is glibly describing the dismal turnout as a sign of the unpreparedness of the non-white racial groups for democracy, the whole world is aware that one further attempt to legitimize racism has hit the rocks.
Neither the apartheid regime will be able to contain him nor will Bishop Tutu be able to justify his non-violent stance any longer if he is to face the political realities of his people.
Nigeria's Chief Abraham Ordia, honorary President of the Supreme Council for Sports in Africa (SCSA), has urged all African nations, whether in the Commonwealth or not, to close ranks in the "war against apartheid."
Now that the expected demise of the OAU on the withdrawal of a member nation has turned out to be somewhat premature, it is hoped that those who have survived will turn their attentions on to the real problems that confront Africa: famine, drought, debt, under-development and apartheid.
the British police have finally caught up with what they believe to be just the tip of an iceberg in a major scheme to help apartheid South Africa with oil purchases.
The Government of Israel collaborates closely with the apartheid government of South Africa, supplying it with all kinds of weapons, knowing full well what they are needed for. It is even rumoured that Israel has supplied South Africa with the know how to build the nuclear bomb and Jewish immigration to South Africa is among the highest.
the Incomati accords between racist South Africa and some frontline states had created operational difficulties for African nationalists and warned that such a situation could put racist South Africa at an advantage.
Today, with Namibia and South Africa remaining as the final bastion of domination, the OAU Liberation Committee should have a single focus - the dismantling of the racist and illegal machinery of apartheid.
So the two main people who can do anything about the madness and the slaughter that is taking place in South Africa have opted out of confronting the reality. Mr Botha says that the black people in South Africa cannot feel the injustice and daily degradation that they suffer unless it is pointed out to them by communists and they cannot attempt to do anything about their suffering unless instigated by communists.
The Organisation of African Unity (OAU), has demanded the immediate and unconditional release of Nelson Mandela, the application of the Geneva Convention about prisoners of war in relation to combatants fighting against apartheid, and the end of racial discrimination in South Africa.
The Olympic gold medallists Tessa Sanderson and Allan Wells.. condemned apartheid policies and said they themselves would not take part in sports in South Africa, advised African politicians not to dwell on the activities of a few sportsmen who go to South Africa, to prevent African sportsmen and women to exhibit and develop their potential at international meetings.
"We are disappointed with the Reagan Administration's African policy, especially the so-called 'constructive engagement' with South Africa.'
Maj-Gen. Buhari said that the policy had emboldened the apartheid regime in South Africa to defy the United Nations and destabilise the governments of the frontline states.
Obviously, it would look to us from the evidence presented by Judge Kannemeyer that murder most foul has been committed; the police planned it, instigated it and executed it without provocation and the Law and Om Minister tried to cover it up for them. It would look that the police officer who gave the order does not need to be criticised but has to be prosecuted as well the Minister censured but that would probably meant the blacks in South Africa would be accorded the same status before the law and mean a dismantling of apartheid system.
urged all peace-loving nations "and all those who believe in oneness and the spiritual value of man" to redouble their efforts to eradicate apartheid in South Africa. A statement issued in Accra to commemorate the ninth anniversary of the Soweto uprising
The script of a proposed six-million dollar movie on the evils of apartheid, the first to be produced by a Nigerian, has been presented to the Chairman of the UN Special Committee for Action Against Apartheid, Retired Major-General Joseph Garba.
Last week, under cover of darkness, South African commandos attacked Gaborone, capital of neighbouring Botswana. In the raid, 16 persons, one of them a six-year-old girl, were killed. A South African spokesman claimed that the attack had been directed against the "nerve center" of the African National Congress. Prior to this, Angolan authorities had on May 21 apprehended a South African patrol in Cabinda, northern Angola. The patrol was on a mission to sabotage an Angolan refinery
Obviously there are not many African leaders who will have the normal courage to condemn anything that happens anywhere on the continent except in apartheid South Africa. The result being that most of them spend most of their energies looking over their shoulders and making meaningless and non-effective speeches at international gatherings.
The South-African Government, determined to stem the tide of protests against the apartheid system introduced emergency measures recently to clamp down on the people. Over 1,200 have been arrested.
The SUN continued by saying "We condemn South Africa's apartheid as evil and doomed. Yet suppose the Afrikaaners surrender power tomorrow to the Black races. What reason do we have for believing that the freedom will suddenly flower there when it is dead and dying everywhere else in the African continent?"
It is therefore hypocritical for government of Britain to cont advancing its argument that because Rugby operates outside the umbrella government control, the Tory Government could not restrain the Lions from giving official approval to apartheid
The current confrontation between the native inhabitants and the settler community in South Africa can be compared to the biblical story with the hope that invisible Hand is backing the downtrodden blacks. But in employing stones against the might of the apartheid regime, the blacks obviously are in need of divine intervention.
The inhuman treatment being meted out to the oppressed blacks of South Africa deserves all the condemnations African and world leaders have been pouring on the obnoxious apartheid regime in Pretoria.
The Pope has expressed "deep sadness" over the continuing bloody clashes in South Africa and called for an end to racial discrimination and violence in this apartheid republic.
It is rather noteworthy the way in which apartheid policy in South Africa resembles the policies of the different European colonizing powers with regard to their erstwhile colonies as they "prepared" these colonies for "independence".
the Secretary General said it is high time that Africa, through the OAU took more urgent measures towards fighting apartheid. He said Africa should alert the international public opinion or need for South Africa's partners to understand that the root cause of struggle in South Africa is the disregard for human dignity.
Even African military or dictatorial regimes who are also guilty of similar violations of fundamental human rights have, on many occasions, spoken publicly against the apartheid regime of South Africa.
The statement indicated that the apartheid system of its very nature - cannot be reformed and appealed to Governments and notably to Washington, to end all co-operation with Pretoria. It Amegah, also condemned the close collaboration between Israel and South Africa, notably the nuclear field.
An appeal seeking the release of, and state pardon for the jailed musician, Fela Anikulapo-Kuti, has been made by a US-based anti-apartheid group of recording artists and producers to the Federal Military Government.
Last Monday, President Ronald Reagan, after extensive consultations with his key advisers, announced selective economic sanctions against the apartheid policies of South Africa. The sanctions included a ban on exports of computers to South African security organisations and on further sales of nuclear technology to the government.
The leaders of Ghana and Ethiopia have called for mandatory and comprehensive sanctions against the racist South African regime to accelerate the total elimination of colonialism and apartheid. They also called on all African states, peace-loving and democratic forces, to redouble their support to the liberation movements and to intensify their campaign for the complete isolation of the pretoria regime.
He called for comprehensive, mandatory sanctions against Pretoria, saying that this was the only language it understood, at a time when its isolation from the rest of the world was increasing daily.
"Translated into the simplest language, this problem means nothing but that we must preserve South Africa white. Preserving it white can mean only one thing - namely, white supremacy. Not the leadership or the leading role but complete control - supremacy".
Senegalese President Abdou Diouf has called on Western countries to exert pressure on South Africa to grant independence to Namibia within the framework of the United Nations resolution 435 of 1978 and end apartheid. Mr Diouf said it was the moral duty of the international community to press both for Namibia's independence and the abolishment of apartheid in South Africa. He was speaking during a state dinner hosted for him by President Kaunda.
At one time, it was the independence of Rhodesia, as it then was that occupied all the discussions at these meetings and this current one is expected to be dominated by the South African problem. The sanctions matter is something that is very close to the hearts of the majority of members, and Britain is currently the odd one out.
But then, the South African situation is so unnatural and unjust that, it does not matter how much Mr Botha and his friends resist it or how much comfort Mrs Thatcher gives them, the apartheid edifice will collapse. What then will provide a focus for the Commonwealth and what ties will bind member states together and what identification will there be for member states that will have some relevance to present day realities?
While black and liberal white US students on predominantly white educational campuses are incessantly urging their University teachers administrators to pull out the investments of their institutions from companies doing business with apartheid South Africa, it is also very reassuring to underscore that predominantly black Universities throughout the US have not been left behind in the struggle.
"with the system of apartheid one cannot even speak of violations of human rights, it is a question of their being purely and simply negated. This is the reason that African public opinion is less and less able to understand the passivity of certain Western governments, who are normally so sensitive to human rights' issues, in the face of what has become a real genocide of the black South African people today.
Thomas Sankara on his part reiterated the militant commitment of the Burkinabe people to the Libyan people's cause.
The two leaders pledged to stand together with the people of Africa to make 1986 a year of the final attack against apartheid, and of the proclamation of a democratic, free and independent state in South Africa. The two expressed their solidarity with and decided to give their support to the frontline states in the fight against aggression carried out by the racist Pretoria regime. They urgently call on all African peoples to give material and moral aid to these countries.
But President Reagan should not stop there. For a long time, he proclaimed himself unconvinced by sanctions arguments when it was advocated as a way of solving the South African Problem and he only imposed cosmetic sanctions last year when he saw an historic congressional defeat staring him in the face. Obviously, he has now been converted to the sanctions gospel. On South Africa. he already needs no convincing about the evil nature of apartheid - he himself has always proclaimed it, the difficulty was only that he was not persuaded that sanctions were any good either as a punishment or as a means of dismantling an evil regime. Now that he is calling on all his allies to join him to impose sanctions it should not be difficult to extend it to South Africa.
In South Africa, while Winnie Mandela's defiant stand in the wake of apartheid suppression wins more white souls to the black cause, two tribal wars that have left nearly 80 dead threaten to undo all that has been done in the name of black emancipation.
The Zulu-Pondo confrontation left 58 dead just before Christmas and in the New Year 18 people have lost their lives in another tribal conflict.
The USA rejected sanctions as an effective means of ending apartheid in South Africa but apparently thought differently when it came to Libya, the statement noted.
Everyone knows that the basic cause of the US Administration's dangerous and aggressive attitude to Libya is that Libya stands opposed to America's leadership of and spokesmanship for world imperialism in almost all its aspects.
The reasons and their implications are clear. The US is the strongest supporter of the racist apartheid regime in South Africa; Libya stands against this and is committed to the ending of this regime. The US is opposed to all liberation movements which are struggling to free their countries from oppression - Libya, in fact, currently provides material and moral assistance to at least 100 liberation movements all over the world.
Against the back-drop of the Gleneagles Agreement which forms a part of Commonwealth leaders' support for an international campaign against the apartheid regime, this writer argues on why countries and sportsmen who maintain sporting links with South Africa must be punished.
The Supreme Council for Sports in Africa (SCSA) has described the scheduled boxing bout between Britain's Frank Bruno and Gerrie Coetzee of South Africa as "an insult to Africa in general and African sportsmen in particular"
A walk down Lambeth Way will never be the same again.
The borough's noted Brockwell Park is to be renamed Zapjanie Mothopeng Park after a jailed South African anti-apartheid campaigner. Well, how about a stroll through Myatts Fields? Sorry, it's to be the Shapurji Saklatuala park now. Shapurji who? He was a celebrated Indian communist. You could cool off with a plunge in Sreatham Baths. Bad luck, it's the Mangaliso Sobukwe pool.
Recent disturbances in South Africa have led to hundreds of people dying in street riots, while the intransigent Botha government flexes its muscles in the face of mounting international pressure. What's to be done?
American colleges and universities have recently been actively involved in the struggle against apartheid policies in South Africa. In most cases, predominantly black universities have been on the forefront of the struggle.
this new development constitutes reversal in the fight for the liberation of Southern Africa, which is one of the cardinal objectives of the OAU. It has arisen partly because of the limping contributions which member states have made to the overall struggle, thus leaving Angola and Mozambique, who have had no time to consolidate their hard-won independence, to bear the brunt of South Africa's aggression.
The success of South Africa's policies therefore represents Africa's collective failure.