Racial Discrimination in South African Sport
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Racial Discrimination in South African Sport http://www.aluka.org/action/showMetadata?doi=10.5555/AL.SFF.DOCUMENT.nuun1980_10 Use of the Aluka digital library is subject to Aluka’s Terms and Conditions, available at http://www.aluka.org/page/about/termsConditions.jsp. By using Aluka, you agree that you have read and will abide by the Terms and Conditions. Among other things, the Terms and Conditions provide that the content in the Aluka digital library is only for personal, non-commercial use by authorized users of Aluka in connection with research, scholarship, and education. The content in the Aluka digital library is subject to copyright, with the exception of certain governmental works and very old materials that may be in the public domain under applicable law. Permission must be sought from Aluka and/or the applicable copyright holder in connection with any duplication or distribution of these materials where required by applicable law. Aluka is a not-for-profit initiative dedicated to creating and preserving a digital archive of materials about and from the developing world. For more information about Aluka, please see http://www.aluka.org Racial Discrimination in South African Sport Alternative title Notes and Documents - United Nations Centre Against ApartheidNo. 8/80 Author/Creator United Nations Centre against Apartheid; Ramsamy, Sam Publisher United Nations, New York Date 1980-04-00 Resource type Reports Language English Subject Coverage (spatial) South Africa Coverage (temporal) 1980-00-00 Source Northwestern University Libraries Description Message by A.A. Ordia, President, Supreme Council for Sport in Africa. Some terms explained: Apartheid, Apartheid Sport, Banning and banning order, House arrest. Population and race classification in South Africa. History and struggle for recognition. Legal aspects and government policy. Latest manoeuvres: South African sports policy, Permit system, international hotels. Present position in some of the sport disciplines in South Africa. South African Council on sport (SACOS). Collaborators and stooges. White lies and South Africa's propaganda machine. White sports administrators and police intimidation of non-racial sportsmen. Sponsorship. Notable victories against South African racist sport. South Africa's present position in international sport. Format extent 75 page(s) (length/size) http://www.aluka.org/action/showMetadata?doi=10.5555/AL.SFF.DOCUMENT.nuun1980_10 http://www.aluka.org NOTES AND DOCUMENTS* NOTES AND DOCUMENTS* 8/80 April 1980 Racial Discrimination in South African Sport by Sam Ramsammy, Chairman South African Non-RaciaOym Cmmittee (San- Roc) O Li i'i, . c, ...,y, JUL j 1 0 S~r~ L-Note: This paper, published at the request of the Special Cgamittee against Apartheid, was prepared under the auspices of the South African Non-Racial Olympic Committee (SAN-ROC) The views expressed are those of the author and SANROC.7 *All material in these notes and documents may be freely reprinted. Acknowledgement, together with a copy of the publication containing the reprint, would be appreciated. 80-lo809 Contents Page Message by A.A. Ordia, President, Supreme Council for Sport in Africa.. i I. Some te ds explained ...ea... *00.... 1 Apartheid, Apartheid Sport, Banning and Banning rder, House-arrest Ii. Population and race classification in South Africa . .. 2 III. History and struggle for recognition. ....... 2 IV. Legal aspects and goverment policy ........... 9 V. Latestmanoeuvres..*0 . * ...*** ... 15 South Africa's latest sports policy, Pe iit system, international hotels VI. Present position in some of the sport disciplines in. 22 South Vfrica VII. South African Cotucil on Sport (SACOS) : . ...... 29 VIII. Collaborators and stooges . ............. 32 IX. 116tte lcs and South Africa's propaganda machine ..... 35 A. Wite sports adiiinistrators and police intimidation . 41 of non-racial sportsmen CI. Sponsorship......................* XII. liotable victories against South African racist sport . 51 III. South ;frica's present position in international sport . 61 i Message by A. A. Ordia, President, Supreme Council for Sport in Africa South Africa advertises its sugar- coated "multinational" racist sports policy extensively. Supporters of South Africa in Western Europe and in the United States are forever seeking excuses for maintaining links with apartheid sport. Despite all these problems the United Nations, with the help of the Supreme Council for Sport in Africa and all the anti-apartheid groups, has succeeded in isolating South Africa from most international sports meetings. We hope the material contained in this booklet will help readers understand the racist nature of South African sportwhich directly contravenes the Olympic principle of non-discrimination,and inspire us all to effect the total isolation of South African sport until it abandons its policy of apartheid and racial discrimination. -1- I Some terms explained Apartheid: Literally means "separateness". It is the system of legalized separation of the races in South Africa and the legalized political, economic and cultural domination of the majority black population by the white racist minority. Apartheid sport: Apartheid sport is the application of the policies and practices of apartheid in sporting activities. Banning and banning order: South African law permits the restriction of activities and movement of persons opposed to the apartheid policies of the white Government. A person who is served with a banning order - cannot be quoted by the press or other persons - cannot attend any gathering or social function like a football match, wedding reception, etc. - cannot entertain more than one person at a time - is virtually excommunicated and silenced and barred from earning a living because of the numerous restrictions e.g. cannot have more than one person visit him at work or at his home, can only sit at a table with one other person, etc. House arrest: A person who is placed under house arrest is usually only allowed to leave his house to go to work - generally between 8.00 a.m. and 6.00 p.m. and on Saturday between 8.00 a.m. and 1.30 p.m. (i.e., if he has to work on Saturdays). At all other times he has to remain at home. Usually people who are house arrested are also banned. These restrictions make one a prisoner in his/her own home. -2- II. Population and race classification in South Africa As race mixing is prohibited in South Africa, the population is divided into four "racial" groups: I/ African - population: 18,759,000 The original inhabitants of South Africa. They are referred to as "Bantu" in Government and other administrative circles. By Government proclamation Africans have been grouped into nine "nations". Whites - population: 4,363,000 English Speaking: descendents of British settlers. Afrikaans Speaking: descendents of Dutch (mainly), German and French settlers. Afrikaans is a European language which evolved from 17th century Dutch. Coloured - population: 2,431,000 Persons of mixed African, Asian and white ancestry. Asian - population: 765,000 Mainly descendents of Indian indentured labourers brought from India by the British in the middle of the 19th century. Later Indian traders emigrated to South Africa. There is also a very small Chinese population. III. History and struggle for recognition Modern European sport was first introduced into South Africa by the British Army and early British settlers. Extra leisure time at the disposal of the settlers, combined with the excellent climate for outdoor activities, inspired the whites to form clubs and associations in the various sporting codes. Afrikaaners soon joined the British settlers. This was later followed by the formation of sports bodies by black groups. As I/ Figures extracted from Department of Statistics Republic of South Africa - 1978. -3- black groups were socially and residentially separated from the white racists, they belonged to separate associations. White sports bodies, although constitutionally barring blacks from membership, never had racial labels for their clubs or associations; it was always Durban Surf Club, Natal Football Association, Transvaal Cricket Union, etc. On the other hand, black clubs and associations, although constitutionally not barring membership of other racial groups, had names such as Durban Indian Golf Club, Transvaal African Football Association, Natal Coloureds Hockey Association, etc. No doubt this was due to the forcible separation of the different black racial groups socially and residentially. However, the establishment of "interracial sports boards" ensured mingling and competition between the various black groups. The white sports organizations refused to affiliate to these Inter-race sports boards. Between 1875 and 1910 most of the whites-only organizations, such as the South African Cricket Association, the South African Amateur Athletic Association, the South African Olympic Games Association were admitted to International and/or Commonwealth games federations. This gave them a "passport" to compete with or against national teams of other countries for international honours. Although white organizations held National Open Championships (in Golf, Athletics, Swimming, etc.) which were recognized by the international and Commonwealth games associations, blacks were always barred from taking part. Blacks were left out of South Africa's national teams even after they had gone abroad at tremendously great expense and sacrifice and, in many cases, proved their competence. It must be realized