SPORT, DISABLED PEOPLE AND THE FIGHT AGAINST APARTHEID
PRODUCED BY DISABLED PEOPLE AGAINST APARTHEID
May 1983 SPORL DISABLED PEOPLE AND THE FIGHT AGAINST APARTHEID
CONTENTS
Page Silence in Sport .... „ r » Maggy Jones 2 South Africa and Its International Connections ... .vie Finkelstein 4 Racism in Britain - The South African Connection .. Sian Vasey 5 Apartheid of Disabled People sian Vasey 6
The Media, Disabled People and Apartheid ... Bernard Leach 7
Apartheid Disables ... „ Brenda Robbins 12
» Africans want a just share in the whole of South Africa. They want security and a stake in society We also want equal political rights because without them our disabilities will be permanent. "
Nelson Mandela 1963 Trial Closing Speech SILENCE IN SPORT Secrecy
Surely the paraplegic sports scene can't Alas, it is simple. Notices of the BPSS have been wound up? I thought, as I scanned (British Paraplegic Sports Society) AGM are the local paper for results, personalities etc, not circulated. There is little knowledge of at the time of the International Stoke who is on the Executive. There is little Mandeville Games. If you live in Scotland knowledge of whether the Executive is and compete internationally at any sport appointed or elected. If they are elected, you get Scottish coverage. Nothing, even in elections and nominations are not ilie SIA NEWS - in spite of requests. publicised. Within BPSS there is no "Right of Appeal" as exists in every able-bodied Understanding came when I received a copy sports organisation, consequently of the conditions which must be signed by competitors are afraid to protest. each international comeptitor. Aspirant international competitors would be unlikely Banned For Life to be selected if they had already contravened any of these conditions. The I listened to Sir Ludwig Guttman (deceased) conditions include the following:- upholding the right of South Africa to compete in international paraplegic games. "I agree not to impart to the news I distributed a leaflet on apartheid in health media, television, radio or other care in South Africa. One spinal unit in bodies any information particularly in South Africa - for white people only, respect of the GB Team performance, patients, nurses, doctors, must only be the personal details of any team white. Black patients go to a general member or any matter hospital for blacks. Coloureds (Indians, Chinese, mixed) go to a general hospital for "I also agree that any request made of coloureds. A black doctor wishing to me on the above shall be referred to specialise in spinal injuries had to come to the GB Team Manager. This Britain as he was not allowed, by law, to paragraph also applies to any practise in the "White only" unit in South professional or non-professional bodies Africa. I felt that these facts should be engaged in research. made known. I was BANNED from all paraplegic sports for life. There was no Is this sport? I have shown these regulations right of appeal. to members of the national governing bodies of able-bodied sports. Amazement! Disbelief! Sports NEED publicity. Had no competitors protested? How had it been possible to inflict such regulations? How had such an Executive Committee been able to stay in office. Vote them off! You can't treat people like that in this country!
South Africa: Basic Facts
POPULATION 29 million. 11',; white - 893 Black divided by government into:
3^ 'Asian' 67c 'Coloured' 80<7r 'African-.
HEALTH Average life expectancy 68 years for Whites 53 years for Blacks Average child deaths 3 per hour from malnutrition (Sunday Tribune: 1976) 15,000-30,000 per year from malnutrition (S.A.Dept. ofStatistics: 1974) (This figure does not include those who die from related diseases such as T.B.) The Gleneagles Agreement Personal Note Whatever YOU, personally, may feel about the participation of South Africa in sports, The National Council for Civil Liberties one fact is clear. The current policy for advised me to seek legal advice with regard able-bodied sports in Great Britain is that it to the ban imposed on me. Eventually I obeys the ruling of the United Nations and received the following letter "... I am glad the Gleneagles Commonwealth Agreement to say that Counsel has now advised that that South Africa is not to be recognised for you have a case which is worthy of taking to sporting purposes. SPORTSPEOPLE are not Court and I have therefore sent the papers permitted to represent Great Britain, to the Law Society to get the certificate England, Scotland, Northern Ireland or extended to enable proceedings to be Wales in any competition where South commenced against the British Paraplegic Africa is competing. Sports Society." This letter was forwarded to the British Paraplegic Sports Society. At The only conclusion one can reach is that their next Executive Meeting the ban on mm was removed. the spinally injured are not considered SPORTSPEOPLE. They are just "the disabled". They do not truthfully wear their country's colours. They are only allowed to do so because as "the disabled" they do not, somehow, really count. This is insulting to the quality of the sports, the commitment of the competitors and to the hard work of the coaches, escorts and organisers.
Power To The Spinally Injured SPORTSPEOPLE among the spinally injured ARISE! Lift up your heads. Announce to the Press - including SIA NEWS - the pride of your achievements. PUBLICISE the shameful conditions you have been asked to sign. UNITE! Act as a team! The Spinal Injuries Association has shown what can be achieved when the management of an organisation is in the hands of the consumers - the spinally injured. Let the sportspeople turn to the able-bodied sports organisations, and, as the women control the Women's Amateur Athletic Association, let the spinally injured gain control over their sports. \ $$^ WAV" ^'" /»/• <** SOUTH AFRICA AND ITS INTERNATIONAL CONNECTIONS
•i :i:e modern world all states are low wages both in the mines and through >nfluenced by events in other parts of the South Africa that lead to periodic uprisings. globe. This is nowhere more clearly seen than in the international links between The rebellion in South Africa has been Britain and South Africa. British investors smouldering for some time - in fact it is a have vast amounts of capital invested in the way of life in that country. From time to mines and industries of South Africa. In time it explodes as happened in the Soweto addition the two countries are firmly tied by uprising of 1976 when hundreds of very many years of mutual trade. Britain schoolchildren were killed by the South therefore depends on South Africa as a African police. This internal conflict is place for investments and as a market for bubbling over into neighbouring countries - exports. In return South Africa is an the most recent example involved South important source of foreign profits and raw African troops invading and killing people in materials, as well as some manufactured Lesotho. The South African racists have goods. been involved directly, or indirectly by fermenting dissident groups which it pays Multi-nationals and arms, in Namibia, Angola, Mozambique, Multi-national companies invest capital Zimbabwe, Zambia, Lesotho, Botswana and wherever it is profitable to do so. The Swaziland. There can be do doubt that as British companies transfer their money to long as the vicious apartheid system South Africa because apartheid ensures that continues to exist black South Africans will low wages are paid to black workers in oppose and fight against their oppression South Africa. The South African State and they will be supported by the immediate controls these workers so that their wages surrounding black states. Racist South always remain low and profits high. What Africans will find that they have to may not be appreciated is that British firms increasingly intervene in these 'front-line' which have companies both in South Africa states in order to maintain their present and Britain will (a) shift production to South apartheid state. As the conflagration Africa where they can use cheap labour, spreads the major powers inevitably become consequently making British workers involved (as they have already done). redundant, and (b) be inclined to introduce Britain, too, will find itself caught in the the South African way of controlling web of this conflict and the possibility of workers into their British companies so that racial wars on a world scale seems similar profits can be created in this increasingly likely. Undoubtedly such racial country, consequently worsening the wars will worsen the racial conflicts that standard of living here. These economic already exist in this country. links with South Africa therefore directly affect British people by increasing un The apartheid system of South Africa, employment and worsening living standards. therefore, has three effects on the lives of people in this country: The Gold Chain *A shift in capital investment so that Britain, too, is dependent upon South Africa British workers are made redundant. for mutual trade. Trade locks the two economies together so that any disruption in * It encourages British companies to production in one country has an immediate extend apartheid's systems of control effect upon the economy of the other over workers so that profits can be country. This is particularly true of South increased at the expense of living Africa's gold production. Western conditions of British workers. economies depend upon South Africa's steady supply of gold to ensure the smooth * It threatens to involve the people of flow of world trade. Threats to this gold this country in a world conflagration supply threaten world trade. involving millions of people in wars. The Smouldering Rebellion Vic Finkelstein The apartheid slave-like conditions in the mines are designed to prevent any strife occurring in the gold mining industry. However it is these atrocious conditions and RACISM IN BRITAIN - How Is Our Society Racist? THE SOUTH AFRICAN CONNECTION It is organised in such a way that it tolerates the oppression of black people. It People ask DPAA why it is opposed to South >.-.i many of the characteristics of the Africa participating in sport for disabled apartheid system:- people. South Africa is a long way from Britain, so why should we be bothered. There are plenty of problems to keep us Immigration laws, "hich are designed busy here. We say that there are three main specifically tc ceep Mack people out. reasons to be concerned. Denial of promotion into positions of leadership. 1) The world is a closely built economic and political svstem and what happens The higher proportion of in one country must have an effect on unemployment amongst black people other countries. than whites. 2) Racism is a dangerous problem in Consumers - Black people are not seen Britain. The existence of a racist to exist as part of the consumer state in South Africa provides an society. example that racists will feel worth copying. Black peoples culture and history are 3) Disabled people know the importance denied within the education system. of fighting segregation. We have to be Housing - Denial of equal opportunity sympathetic towards black South within the area of housing. Africans who suffer legalised rigorous segregation. Justice - Systematic denial of civil Racism Affects Everyone liberties and rights by the police and of justice by the courts. If you believe it is right to treat someone cruelly because they are of a different race It is hardly surprising that these denials lead or colour then you would be described as a to a loss of hope and a build up of racist. In Britain only a minority (such as resentment in black people. members of the National Front) admit to being racist. The majority would probably not see racism as having any real importance to their own lives. 'Non-productive Bantu' are officially It is not enough for white people to ignore classified as follows: the issue of racism and come to terms with 1.The aged, the unfit, widows, women with the racism in our own society. Each dependent children and also families who individual is responsible for his or her own do notqualify under the provisions ofthe action or inaction and also for those of the Bantu (Urban Areas) ActNo.25 of 1945 for society in which he or she lives. Where family accommodation in the European something can be done to defeat racism it urban areas; must be done. 2. Bantu on European farms who become Stoke Mandeville superfluous as a result of age, disability or the application ofChapter IV ofthe Bantu The issue of South Africa participating at Trust and Land ActNo. 18of1936.or Bantu Stoke Mandeville is an area where positive squatters from mission stations and black action can and must be taken. Disabled spots which are being cleared up; people and especially the athletes must face up to the issues and refuse to take part in 3. Professional Bantu such as doctors. sports meetings that include South African attorneysragents, traders, industrialists. teams. By not doing so they are supporting etc. Also such persons are not regarded as racism. essential for the European labour market... 'OfficialGovernment circularNo 25 1967) Apartheid In Housing APARTHEID OF DISABLED PEOPLE In the post war years, Britain needed to swell its workforce and encouraged Disabled people in Britain live under what immigration from the Commonwealth. could be called a form of Apartheid. That is These immigrants ended up living in the to say they are separated from the worst accommodation in deprived inner city mainstream of society in a great number of areas. In South Africa people who are not ways. For example through lack of part of the labour force are generally made transport and lack of care facilities they are to live in the Bantustans. These are living unable to participate. There are separate areas out in the wilds, with only the schools, separate clubs, separate housing, minimum of amenities. Working black South separate colleges, separate workplaces and Africans live in the poor urban areas, often separate sports. In South Africa blacks have separated from their families. If more separate schools, separate clubs, separate labour is needed it may be found on tap in housing, separate colleges, separate the Bantustans. workplaces and separate sports. It is ironic then that it should be within the area of The Fight Back disability, i.e. at Stoke Mandeville that There is a constantly active guerrilla South Africa and Apartheid are able to gain movement in South Africa, which threatens some measure of credibility. to destroy the fabric of life in white South Africa. There are uprisings such as those in Why No Outcry About Stoke Mandeville? Soweto where many people were killed. The general lack of protest from the media etc about South Africa's participation at Racial violence in Britain takes different Stoke Mandeville is an example of tne way forms. In the areas where black and white in which the disabled are seen as live together there is the fear of racialist unconnected with mainstream activity. attack. It can take a more organised form When able-bodied irtspeople attempt to in race riots which we have had in Britain play with South Africa there is usually a since 1958. They are sometimes caused by national outcry. Jimmy Hill for instance neo-facists, while riots such as those in was forced to bring back the football team Brixton are explosions of anger from within that he took out to South Africa such was the black community. the weight of public opinion against him. Public opinion, however, does not seem It is clearly possible to draw parallels unleashed when disabled sport is between South Africa and Britain in their contravening the Gleneagles agreement. It patterns of racism leading to conflict. We shows that the abilities of disabled should learn from our knowledge of the sportspeople arc held in very low esteem unrest in South Africa and understand that and that their sport is hardly considered to it will harm us if we do not fight against be sport at all. racism both here and in South Africa. Sian Vasey
'If our policy is taken to its logical conclusion, as far as the Black man is concerned, there will not be one Black man with South African citizenship." \DrConnie Mulder, Minister of Bantu A/fairs: 1979* 8 subsequently learnt that this clause had Most of the coverage was reasonable, -" -
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GAMES h)
i' •>: : VII •:• >n ! Apartheid And Disabled People The fight to stop South African participation in the Stoke Mandeville Games is part of the campaign against Apartheid, but it is also about the right of disabled people in any area - work, leisure, politics - to be treated like anyone else. The press caricatures of the demonstration are reinforcing stereotyped attitudes. %$ 4 •Jf> *** »fe''//„ f°e^ -.^ 13 should provide these services for all South Sport And Apartheid Africans, regardless of colour but it chooses The inequalities that exist in health care not do do so. Instead it leaves its black facilities obviously extend into the area of population at constant risk from poverty, disabled sport. The South African and all the disabling diseases that go with it, Government and its ardent racists and provides the absolute minimum of supporters are constantly trving to deny health care to cope with an insurmountable apartheid. South Africa sends a mixed team burden of illness. to the Stoke Mandeville Games, in that 4 or so members are black. By sending in a few Black Disabled People taken black sports people they are trying to Given this apartheid policy black disabled dodge the resistance to their racist laws. people have virtually no chance of surviving. The International Stoke Mandeville Games Many spinally disabled people in England Federation (ISMGF) gives support to South know full well the difficulties we have in Africa in is deception. Joan Scruton, staying physically well. What chance would Secretary General of ISMGF claims that the we envisage of surviving from say a spinal South African Sports Association for the injury if we lived on the bantustans? If a Disabled, SASPD, is "completely raciallv spinally injured person leaving a black integrated" and "was the first in South hospital manages to return a year later for a Africa to overcome apartheid in sport". check-up, they are doing very well. Many never return for their check-ups. The Token Black Competitors Bantustan environment has killed them off. Black disabled people are issued with poor What Joan Scruton fails to point out is that quality wheelchairs which break easily and in 1975 the white SASPD requested have a repair service which is infrequent permission from its government to include and unreliable. Whites on the other hand, token blacks in their teams in order to claim can afford to buy better quality private that they are totally integrated. The wheelchairs and pay for them out of their SASPD instructed its selectors that ut least disability pensions. Note that black disabled 15% of the team must be black. If sport in people receive J of the pension that is given South Africa truely integrates and selected to white disabled people. on merit, then 80% of the South African team would be black. One white bowler who had represented South Africa at ISMGF I •' ' ' '"' Neiteltri'e 16 The Gleneagles Agreement The United Nations has repeatedly Joan Scruton and the ISMGF- are totally condemed apartheid and called for an aware of the United Nations policy, but they end to all sporting and other links with choose to flout it. They are also well aware South Africa. UN policy states: that they are breaking the Gleneagles agreement, yet they still insist on inviting a " there can be neither South African team. Members of the ISMGF adherence to the principle of collect OBEs, CBEs etc for their work in the merit selection nor fully area of disability. The same people that integrated non-racial sport in receive these awards are the supporters of any country practising apartheid apartheid. We have seen how the black until the apartheid system itself population is disabled by the apartheid laws, is eradicated." Its no accident that the same people who support the oppressive South African Britain and all other Commonwealth Government also dominate disability sport. countries are committed by the Gleneagles agreement to discourage Brenda Robbins all sporting contact with South Africa. The agreement states: **A*A*AAA*VV*****0*0*M**l**0*0*A0*00A**A0*t " it (is) the urgent duty of each of the governments vigorously to combat the evil of apartheid by witholding any form of support for and by every practicable stop to discourage contact or competition by their nationals with sports organisations, teams or sportsmen from South Africa or from any other country where sports are organised on the basis of race, colour or ethnic origin.' °Ot/« Wcj '*'0'0Cf**e it*">g *«fte For further information contact: Disabled People Against Apartheid c/o AAM Health Committee 13 Selous Street London NW1 Tel: 01 387 7966 Printed by Preston Community Press, 0772 54520