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Af RICA General Motors 2 CONFIDENTIAL APRIL 1978 South African Ltd. DIPLOMATIC CABLE VOLUME Xl NUMBER 3 REVEALS BLACK HOSTILITY TO U.S. INVESTMENT . A m TK IN SOUTH AFRICA 3 SUBJECT: BLACK ATTITUDES TOWARDS Our Collective: FOREIGN INVESTMENT Barbara Barnes Carol Benglesdorf WesCohen PaddyColligan Jennifer 6 EDGING CLOSER Davis Michael Davis Charlie Ebel ISRAEL AND SOUTH AFRICA Mimi Edmunds Carolyn Fluehr-Lobban Peggy Halsey Janet Hooper Paul Irish 8 ZIMBABWE Tami Hultman Allen Isaacman Bill 8 RUNNING OUT OF GUNS AND BUTTER Johnston Marci Kerr Richard Knight 8 MILITARY SITUATION Reed Kramer Patrick Lawrence 8 ECONOMIC TROUBLES Richard Leonard Richard Lobban 11 A SETTLEMENT FOR THE SETTLERS Edgar Lockwood Andy Marx Bill 13 SOUTH AFRICA Minter Ruth Minter Susan Rogers 13 REGROUPING FORCES IN SOWETO Christine Root Karen Rothmyer Mike 13 ROBERT MANGALISO SOBUKWE Shuster Janet Siskind JinniStroman John Stroman Stephanie Urdang 20 NAMIBIA Roberta Washington Jim Weikart 20 SOUTH AFRICA WALKS OUT OF TALKS Sybil Wong 22 THINGS STAY THE SAME SAYS BISHOP 23 UNITED STATES 23 CORPORATE GIANTS WHO AID SOUTH AFRICA 24 WASHINGTON NOTES 26 GOLD RUSH IN PROGRESS Southern Africa is published monthly, 26 ANGOLA except for July-August, when bi-monthly, 26 RENEWED HOSTILITIES PROVOKE PROTEST by the Southern Africa Committee, 156 Fifth Avenue, New York, New York 10010. 28 MOZAMBIQUE 28 MOZAMBIQUE AND TANZANIA Subscriptions: Individual (domestic and BUILD COOPERATION foreign)/$8.00; Institutional/$18.00; Air mail: Africa, Asia, Europe/$20.50; South 15 OVERVIEW and Central America/$17.50. 16 NEWS BRIEFS 18 UPDATE Southern Africa is available on microfilm through University Microfilm, Xerox Com 19 GUEST COMMENTARY pany, Ann Arbor, Mich. 68206, and is listed in the Alternative Press Index. 29 BOOK REVIEW A MULTI-NATIONAL'S POLITICS IN AFRICA: LESSONS FOR REVOLUTION Distributors: Delhi Distributors, c/o NRS 31 SPECIAL ACTION REPORT Books, 1181 Amsterdam Ave., New York, NY 10027; Carrier Pigeon, 88 Fisher Ave BANK CAMPAIGN BUILDS STRENGTH nue, Boston, MA 02120; Third World Dis 33 ACTION NEWS NOTES tributors, 100 Worcester St., Boston, MA 02118; Liberation Information Distribu tion Co., 1622 New Jersey Ave. NW, Wash ington, DC 20001; Guild News Agency, 1118 W. Armitage Ave., Chicago, IL 60614

APRIL 1978/SOUTHERN AFRICA 1 111V epari0 of S e t

Confidential Diplomatic Cable Reveals Black Hostility

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2 SOUTHERN AFRICA/APRIL 1978 The past year has seen an intensifying campaignto end all black attitudes to US investment in South Africa. The report foreign investment in South Africa. To protest continuing is cautious, and meticulously quotes all points of view. Yet in foreign investment, many black South Africans have risked thefinal analysis the Ambassadoris forced to conclude: "[It] prosecution under laws like the Terrorism Act. Their mes must be expected that the role of American firms here will sage has been ignored by the US media. become increasingly controversial and rationalefor con It is an inconvenient message, challenging both corporate tinued presence wilrseem less and less persuasive to growing interests and the current "wisdom" of the US administration numbers of blacks." typified in Andrew Young's thesis that "change can come through the market place." The report, which was dispatchedas a telegram, acknowl edges growing African opposition to US investment. It has With such a policy in effect it is not in the Administration's never een publicly released. interests to publicize African opposition to US investment. Yet for over a year even its own Amabassador in South Southern Africa has received a copy of this important Africa, scarcely a man swayed easily by a hand ul of "hot document from an undisclosed source. We believe it to be heads,'"has been forced to admit that "among black youth genuine and are therefore publishing it in full. It contains and more militant groups as well as some businessmen, any information crucial to the many Americans now struggling foreign investment is viewed as propping up the South Afri and its social system." with the problem of what should be done about US invest can economy ment in South Africa, information deliberatelyconcealed by In March 1977, Ambassador Bowdler sent the State the Administrationin order to protect a policy ofcontinuing Departmenta long report analyzing in considerable depth economic links with South Africa.

Subject: Black Attitudes Towards Foreign Investment

1. Summary. Foreign investment is not as urgent an issue for South African blacks as housing, influx control, the police, education and homeland politics, and it is a more complex and abstruse one to deal with. However, among more politically-oriented blacks, question is increasingly being weighed of whether fbreign investment should been seen as an ally or obstacle in pursuing goal of a more demo cratic and non-racial society. 2. Some blacks, mostly older wage-earners, some business men and labor officials and most homeland leaders, regard foreign investment in any form as bound to have some beneficial spin-off for blacks in form ofjobs and higher status. However, a greater number of blacks support foreign invest ment only on a qualified basis, to be evaluated primarily as to whether it will bring about specific and immediate change. They would reject projects in homelands and investments which tend to reinforce apartheid structure. 3. Among Black youth and more militant groups, as well as some businessmen, any foreign investment is viewed as propping up the South African economy and its social system. They argue that jobs provided are marginal com pared to numbers suffering from apartheid. 4. US investment of $1.58 billion in SA is only 16 percent of total foreign investment but because of our free-world eco nomic leadership, our influence on South Africa is presumed to be predominant, major US affiliates in SA are seen by their employees as acting basically like SA creations despite good intentions of US managers. With heightened expecta tions from new US administration, call for disinvestment can Feeling of blacks that other countries pay only be expected to grow stronger and role of US firms increas ingly questioned. lip service to their plight, are bending their End Summary. actions to serve underlying economic and

strategic interests. PRO-INVESTMENT ATTITUDES: 5. Advocates of a higher level of foreign investment can be found among older working blacks often supporting a APRIL 1978/SOUTHERN AFRICA 3 number of people on a thin economic margin with a healthy QUALIFIED SUPPORT OF FOREIGN INVESTMENT awareness of the difference between a weekly paypacket and 7. Those blacks who justify foreign investment per se the consequences of unemployment. Some black business robably form a much smaller group than those, usually the men, mindful of their own interest in an expanding economy etter educated and politically more sophisticated, who see foreign capital as helping to generate sales revenue. accept fact that foreign investment is needed, but who say it Some prominent figures in black trade unions like Lucy must come up to certain standards or else it is unwelcome. Mvebelo, General Secretary of National Union of Clothing Supporters of this position feel that it contributes to goal of Workers, and most homeland leaders are strong investment proponents. Well-publicized efforts of Chief Sebe to attract orderly change. It appears to be a less disruptive solution prominent US firms to the Ciskei reveal his idea' of what than a call for withdrawal of investment which would result constitutes good politics in his homeland. not only in direct loss ofjobs and income to blacks but ripple effect through whole economy bearing hardest on blacks. 8. Prime test of acceptability by this segment of black opin ion is that foreign investment should bring about clear, specific and immediate change in the status of blacks. As $ ' : "'?'". ¢t, ,,t C iliof opposed to more gradual, evolutionary benefits expected from unconditional supporters of investment. They believe foreign firms have moreleverage with [SA government] over black working conditions than workers themselves. Foreign ...... investors are expected to use their extra influence and eco nomic power to step up promotion and training, to upgrade wage scales, to foster union activity and to desegregate facilities. C." 9. Qualified supporters of foreign capital would reject pro ducts or processes which seem to perpetuate or strengthen

Total disinvestment is very popular among students and other young urban blacks.

elements of state apparatus associated with their own subju gation, such as equipment for police, bantu administration officials and armed Torces, plus activities in nuclear area. French sale of Koeberg nuclear power reactors is viewed negatively. SASOL II coal gasification plant which has a strategic rationale fits this category but leading role of Fluor in construction has been overlooked. Fact that SASOL will enable thousands of blacks to be trained and employed in skills hitherto closed to them underscores complexity of Black businessmen and well-situated blue-collar judging these matters. employees of US auto producers say they would 10. Blacks advocating conditional acceptance of investment be prepared to see foreign firms bow out. generally would rule out investment in homelands. Apromi nent black in newspaper industry recently called homeland investment 'morally indefensible." Five or six US affiliates that have set up small operations in homeland growth areas have largely escaped attention. 6. Advocates of virtually uinlimited infusions of foreign capital usually advance one of these factors: 11. A few blacks who would accept continued foreign investment in qualified form would also assert there should 0 job creation, an argumnent strengthened by the current be a cutoff or strict limitation on nev. investment in SA. recession accompanied by severe black unemploynment. Although US loan capital is in fact more important at present They also point out that black opportunities to move up into time to SA economy, only most sophisticated critics seem more skilled positions and se'cure better .kage sand bencfits conscious of this. expand in periods of economic ifrowth. 12. Positin of Chief Minister Buthelezi of Kwazulu illus 0 Trickle-down effect, i.e. any improveni.nt inSA economny trates a duality of outlook on this subject. Whereas in earlier betters the lot even of l worers at the hottorn; more years he was an unabashed proponent of investment in SA over with prosperity goverrnment in. fee'l svc ire enough to including homelands. He has recently expressed doubt relax apartheid system and pe'rmit b'lac'k-white, incomne gap whether capitalism and free enterprise as practiced in Africa to narrowv. contributed towards relief of the black man's situation. 0 Opening the system to oiit, ide influences whiichi iay se't Meanwhile, however, he actively supports investment in strong economnic forces against incomp~atible po litical 'poli Kwazulu on a tri-partite basis with private white business cies such as job reservation and influx con trol. Fo reign firms men and government as partners explaining, "my people are are also supposed to take lead in bringingz enlightened labor unemployed... I cannot be calculating in spending the lives and wage practices, carrying both inoral and economic and meager well being of my people in strategies which are weight. careless of human needs." " 4 SOUTHERN AFRICA/APRIL 1978 THE CASE FOR DISINVESTMENT and 2 percent of employment in this country. US investment 13. A stand for total disinvestment has been taken by the is about the same as [Federal Republic of Germany] invest South African students organization (SASO) and the Black ment but much below that of Great Britain which is esti People's Convention. It is also very popular among students mated at 50 percent of total. Japan prohibits direct invest and other young urban blacks. It has some support among ment in SA but licensing, assembly and component agree black businessmen. One black businessman in Soweto sail ments make Japanese-branded products common. that as many as 50 percent of his colleagues share this atti 20. Despite modest total, American direct investment is tude. While this claim can't be confirmed, embassy has differentiated because of US leadership in the West, our noted several black businessmen and others, including some predominant economic strength and influence and our pro fairly well situated blue-collar employees of US auto pro fessed belief in democracy and racial equality. Sense of ducers, who say they would be prepared to see foreign firms expectation from US is reinforced by election of President bow out. Carter, whose inaugural statement declared that "We will 14. Disinvestment proponents are aware of South Africa's not behave in foreign places as to violate our rules and economic vulnerability. They share outlook of Prime Minis standards at home." ter Vorster who in his 1977 new year's message declared that events in Angola, South West Africa, Rhodesia and the township violence within South Africa "combined to create uncertainty in the minds of investors and loan banks .. These events harmed South Africa in no uncertain manner. If it were not for the basic soundness of our economy, it is difficult to foresee how we would have survived at all." 15. The disinvestment rationale sees foreign investment as propping up South African economy and thus its social system, perpetuating apartheid in all its aspects. Foreign capital is viewed as an insurance policy for South Africa's

Just pull out and let us deal with the Japanese. survival, protecting against meaningful international sanc tions, despite repeated censure by international bodies. When white SA leaders boast over the West's dependence on South Africa's minerals, this confirms feeling of blacks that other countries pay only lip service to their p light and are in reality bending their actions to serve underlying eco nomic and strategic interests. 16. Radicalized blacks, most often of young, urban sector, see foreign investors as deliberately blind to inequities of the South African social system and indeed prepared to profit by it through low wages and submissive labor force it offers. This anti-capitalist reasoning contends that even if foreign firms offer minor reforms, it is only to create comfortable black middle class which will perpetuate exploitation of African masses. 17. Disinvestment advocates have a ready answer to argu Workers complained of inadequate training, job ments that blacks would be first to suffer if foreign firms job reservation, lack of union status, arbitrary withdrew. They maintain that black man in South Africa is already suffering and number who might lose their jobs is promotions, abuse and job insecurity. insignificant in terms of total black work force. They assert that acceptance of foreign capital on a conditional basis simply means that, once established in SA, management will be unprepared to violate law or custom and will accommo date itself to apartheid. BLACK ATTITUDES TOWARD AMERICAN FIRMS 18. Those black businessmen who are opposed to foreign 21. An embassy officer recently visited Port Elizabeth, a investment resent restrictions that confine them to a small center of SA motor industry, where GM, Ford, Volkswagen retail outlet in Soweto and forbid move to downtown and US tire firms are among most important employers. Johannesburg where black incomes are spent. Although While conspicuous presence of foreign subsidiaries naturally foreign capital is concentrated in industry and not in retail tends to sharpen black attitudes, US affiliates feel they are trade, black businessman is bitter at realization that any doing a good job and are well respected in black community. white entrepreneur, whether domestic or foreign, has However confidential meetings with members of one freedom to compete that he does not enjoy. workers' fiaison committee suggest otherwise. 22. Most of these workers complained of inadequate train ROLE OF AMERICAN INVESTMENT ing, job reservation lack of union status, arbitrary promo 19. American direct investment of $1.58 billion accounts for tions, abuse by SA foremen and job insecurity (car produc only 16 percent of direct foreign investment in South Africa tion is currently about half of peak level and layoffs and short APRIL 1978/SOUTHERN AFRICA 5 time are common). Although a number of these elected ried over instability and unrest and impatient with govern representatives praised specific company policies such as an ment inaction, has made start with black housing schemes, equal- ay-equal-work plan, free textbooks for their children advanced training, union recognition and even electrifica and oxer benefits, most liaison committee members agreed tion of Soweto. Foreign firms, especially auto industry, are that company acted basically like a South African creation suffering from recession and not disposed to assume leader despite best intentions of American management. ship with respect to labor practices. 23. President and secretary of Port Elizabeth branch of Fact that employees of US firms in Port Elizabeth seem National African Chamber of Commerce, both shopkeepers disaffected raises question of whether, as polarization of SA in New Brighton Township, said large US presence was society advances, even progressive-minded US executives almost irrelevant to them because 85 percent of wages can hope to achieve support among employees and in com earned by blacks-were spent in white areas. Both thought US munity, especially when separatedfrom workers by a layer companies had and were not using abundant leverage to of white SA middle managers. immediately desegregate and institute fundamental reforms Our impression is that blacks who reflect on foreign in their plants without fear of [government] reprisal. Like investment as an issue are now roughly divided between wise most members of neighboring colored township also felt that US firms were not doing enough. When one worker defended US firms, a heated argument ensued with her colored and black friends. Other community figures not In pre-Soweto period when most South African employed by motor companies, also leaned toward with blacks could visualize only a gradual process of drawal. Conceding that immediate consequence would be loss of US market share to foreign or local competitors, main improvement, American capital could defend point, they claimed, was one of morality. In words of a its presence. Advent of black consciousness and student activist, "just pull out and let us deal with the dissatisfaction with pace of events, has brought Japanese." a shift in attitudes.

CONCLUSIONS In recent past, foreign capital, in particular American those favoring disinvestment and those who would like to capital, could defend its presence in SA by claiming it see it remain in instances where it contributes to black followed progressive employment practices that set a stan as irations directly and in the near term. A smaller segment dard for others. In pre-Soweto period when most SA blacks ofblack opinion continues to favor investment on any basis could visualize only a gradual process of improvement in for the needed income it represents and because it is seen as their status, this argument carried weight. Advent of black contributing in an evolutionary way to improving status of consciousness, especially among urbanized young and dis blacks. Should be re-emphasized that number of blacks satisfaction with pace of events has brought a shift in atti holding well-defined opinions on this subject is still small. tudes. Measures which only relieve hardships like marginal raises, subsidized meals, school fee allowances, and personal 28. With radicalization of black attitudes, tendency to call loans are seen as panaceas which evade question of basic for disinvestment grows stronger. Added to heightened rights of workers. Moreover benevolence toward workers expectations from new US administration on South African which may impress stockholders at home fails to get at issue issues, must be expected that role of American firms here of whether presence of foreign firms represents collusion will become increasingly controversial and rationale for with and effort to profit from apartheid. continued presence will seem less and less persuasive to Even if foreign firms once enjoyed image as more forward growing number of blacks. looking employers, today domestic SA private sector, wor- Bowdler [US Ambassador to South Africa] Edging Closer Israel and South Africa

By Patrick Lawrence from diplomatic sources that in No naries fighting alongside South AFri When Rhodesian security forces vember and the beginning of Decem can troops in Namibia. staged an airborne attack on a Zim her, the Rhodesian army received sup At present, there is no wav either to babwean guerrilla camp at Chimoio in port from Isra'l. The type of attack confirm or negate claims of such direct Mozambique late last year, Tempo, the recalls Israel's attacks against Arab Israeli military involvement in south Mozambican weekly, reported the fol countries-a surprise attack using ern Africa. But the Israeli supply of lowing: "The type of attack in Chimoio strong aggressive air strikes and heli %\eaponryand other military-related seems to confirm information obtained copter transport, with the aim ofcom equipment to South Africa appears to pletely destroying every thing and kill have risen sharply in the past three or Patrick Lawrence is a member of the ing everyone. four years, -although available trade A year earlier, there had been un figures do not include military deals, Southern Africa collective. confirmed rumours of Israeli merce- so that specifics are difficult to find.

6 SOUTHERN AFRICA/APRIL 1978 Smuts was sympathetic to Weiz mann's predicament. The South Afri can leader had been trying to consoli date an Anglo-Boer political bloc among South African whites as part of the British empire. He recognized this and other similarities between Weiz mann's pursuits and his own. Chief among these was the view of each state as an outpost of civilization in an uncivilized world, and the func tion of each country as a strategic pres ence for Western global interests. The acceptance of Israel as such is now an accomplished fact. But such arguments remain highly visible in the apartheid regime's ongoing appeals for Western support. Today, the broadly stated ideologi cal attraction first manifest between Smuts and Weizmann has developed into complex material and political ties. Finance Ministers sign agreement recently in Cape Town. Senator Horwood (left) This development has ironic over with Israel's Simcha Erlich. tones, as many of South Africa's cur rent leaders, including Prime Minister Vorster were interned by Smuts for It is possible, however, to deduce ster's trip, an Israeli cabinet minister their pro-Nazi activities during World something of the long-term expansion visited South Africa for the first time. War II. The anti-semititism of the plans for commercial ties between It is again noteworthy that the official Nationalist Party was vicious and un Israel and South Africa. These now in chosen for the eight-day tour was concealed. Presumably Vorster and his clude broad private and public finance Israel's finance minister, Simcha Er cohorts have decided to curb this projects, increased trade in raw mate lich. aspect of their racism in the interests of rials and manufactured goods, and a Common Interests an alliance against what they regard as growing exchange of both information a greater threat, "die swart gevaar," The Tempo correspondent's obser and intelligence and the technology the black danger. related to it. Most recently, Pretoria's vations at Chimoio suggest an impor decision to accelerate plans to produce tant insight into the nature of Israeli Growth of Trade enriched uranium raises the specter of' relations with South Africa and, by Trade between the two countries trade in a commodity and its related extension, Rhodesia. In 1967, after the amounted to $3 million in 1961; in technology that Israel has long sought outbreak of the October war in the 1965, $7 million; by 1974, after Israel from its international trading partners Mideast, South Africa sent a defense had lost most other African trading without success. mission to Israel, according to a later partners and as the economic isolation Trade relations between the two report in the New York Times, "to of South Africa began to intensify, countries amounted to some $100 mil study tactics and the use of weapons." trade had reached its current level of lion last year. Israel prides itself on its The mission demonstrated one com $90 million to $100 million, excluding above-board approach to trade with mon problem that the two govern sales of diamonds and military hard the apartheid regime, but aspects of it, ment's have long shared: How to deal ware. [Value of SA trade with the such as the potential for uranium sales with an exploited majority that out world in 1976 excluding gold and and the extent of-arms agreements, numbers the colonizing population. defense items was $8.54 billion im remain hidden from public view. But beyond the examples of recent ports, $5.57 billion exports.] military history, there are also the For each country, the increased State Visits shared foundations of each state. When level of trade has particular strategic There can be little question, though, General Jan Smuts first met Chaim importance which probably outweighs that such relations are growing steadily Weizmann in London in 1917, the its actual size. For Pretoria, the Israeli and that they are increasingly signifi future South African prime minister connection represents a "bridgehead," cant in the economic, political, diplo was an important figure in the policy in the language of Israeli officials, to matic, and, ( uite possibly, the military making apparatus of the British domin the Common Market and the West in strategies of the two countries. No ion. Andhe was immediately attracted eneral, where South African goods where has this been better symbol to the Zionist leader's cause. Weiz ave encountered some measure of ized, perhaps, than in recent state mann, later Israel's first president, had resistance to importation. Israel has visits between Pretoria and Tel Aviv. taken great pains to relate the forma also imported South African goods only In 1976, South African Prime Minister tion of a Jewish state to the imperial to export them to African states that John Voster paid an "unofficial" visit to interests of the West in general and have severed ties with the apartheid Israel, the first by a South African head Britain in particular. He pointed out, system. of state since 1950. Significantly, the for instance, that a British-supported Vorster entourage was dominated by Palestine in its current location would Steel Export and Re-export officials of the South African defense greatly advance Britain's position in One very important sector of ex ministry. Just last month, in a visit that safeguarding the Suez and serve as a panding cooperation is in the iron and was first arranged at the time of Vor- regional stabilizer. steel industry. Last year Dr. Thamir APRIL 1978/SOUTHERN AFRICA 7 Agmom, a member of an Israeli trade described, it will help the developing mission visiting South Africa, told the steel industry; South Africa also repre Financial Times that semi-processed sents a practical export market for the iron and steel was being exported to sale of finished products. Perhaps most Israel by ISCOR (the state-owned important, South Africa is a source of South African Iron and Steel Corpora crucial raw energy supplies-coal now, tion). It was further processed at the enriched uranium later. Israel is al ISKOOR plant near Tel Aviv, which is ready reported importing some 40,000 a joint venture of Israel's Koor Metal tons of South African coal monthly for a Industries and of ISCOR, before being large power station. sold to Israeli companies which use it It is also worth noting that Israel to produce products ranging from elec earns considerable foreign exchange tronic equipment to household goods. by exporting polished diamonds. Be Much of this output is then exported to tween 50% to 80% of the uncut dia Europe or the United States. monds finished in Israel's cutting in According to a recent Washington dustry are of South African origin. Post story, 60% of South Africa's ex Western Strategy ports to Israel are ISCOR prodcuts, As a trade relationship, the require much of the balanace being accounted ments of the Zionist and apartheid eco for by uncut diamonds andcoal. nomies dovetail nicely. But it would be between the two Collaborations Links forged: South Africa's Foreign hard to underestimate the strategic countries' steel industries has greater Minister, C. P. Mulder (left) talks with importance of the relationship be ramifications than simple access to Premier Yitzhak Rabin in Israel, June tween the two countries. Both are cru Israel has long sought a regu markets. 1975. cial regional allies of the Western lar source of supply of certain highly powers, and yet both suffer degrees of specialized hard steels necessary for economic and political isolation. the sheathing of its Chariot tanks. It trained in Israel. It has also been For Israel, the development of appears that during his 1976 visit reported that the South Africans are importa collaborating with the Israelis in the heavy industry through the Vorster offered to exchange both the to sur development of a larger variant of this tion of raw materials is one key special steel, and South Africa's well vival; for South Africa, the develop developed steel technology for the up craft, and 40 South African engineers are reputed to be ment of bilateral trade and investment grading of Israel's old-fashioned steel and technicians they can be working on the project in the Haifa partnerships, wherever industry, in return for an Israeli com is crucial to growth without ship yards. ound, mitment to modernize 150 South Afri overt Western support-a possibility can Centurion tanks. Electronic suveillance equipment is South African import from that is clearly being considered. But another boycotts loom large for both countries, Israel. At least three firms, Tadirau, Other Military Collaboration and the West is showing signs of losing Elvit and Israel Aviation Industries There are other examples of a flow of control of them in such bodies as the have sold items including, according to UN and in the face of Arab oil embar military equipment from Israel to the Economist, complete radar sta South Africa. Perhaps the most well goes. There can be little doubt, then, tions, electric fences, anti-guerrilla at the West is encouraging the devel known involves the supply of six Reshef infiltration alarm systems and night war ships, equipped with Gabriel sur vision devices. opment of bilateral ties between its face to surface missiles. Three of these allies on the northern and southern have already been delivered, three Israeli Benefits flanks of Africa, and that such ties will more are scheduled to arrive in 1978; The South African connection car increase as the West tries to lower its under the agreement the crews are ries benefits for Israel, too. As already profile. 11

*ZIMBABWE Running Out of Guns and Butter Military Situation Economic Troubles All things considered this rainy season has been a good Militarilywe are holding our own and could continue for some time but in economic temns things are almost one for the Zimbabwe liberation forces. With more guerrilla desperate. activity than ever and attacks reaching to Salisbury itself, the -Rhodesian businessman liberation fighters have shown themselves a credible mili tarv threat to the Smith regime. Despite the punishing raids the Rhodesians have made on those Zimbabweans living in The most telling blows registered by Patriotic Front guer (continued on page 10) rillas may have been not directly against tanks but against

8 SOUTHERN AFRICA/APRIL 1978 industry. There have been layoffs and mine closings. Rhodesia has not had the recourse that most countries have in hard times of borrowing on the international capi tal markets. Belgian, Swiss and Lux embourg banks have lent money to Rhodesia, but the interest rates have become extremely high. As a result capital investments have dropped sharply, by 19 percent in 1976. Divestment has also taken place in agriculture as farmers have left their land due to the war. This has meant a decreasing tax base for the Rhodesian regime at a time when expenses are increasing. Many Rhodesian business men think that Rhodesia is surviving on secret South African financial assis tance. With a shrinking economy, black unemployment has increased dramati cally. Every year 60,000 Africans enter the job market. "If it were not for the war and both the government and the uerrillas recruiting wildly, I do not now what half these guys would be doing," commented one industrialist. UN/Ciric Undeterred by 'No Work' sign, Africans line up in the hope of getting employment Smooth Transition at Salisbury factory. Smith hopes that the internal settle ment, even if it does not win full inter the Rhodesian economy. Last year the Sanctions Cost national recognition, will pave the way effect of the war, combined with eco The cost of keeping the economy for more international trade and in nomic sanctions and a world economic oing in the face of economic sanctions vestment. Certainly South Africa is slump, resulted in a 7 percent drop in as been an added burden. It is esti likely to bolster any "moderate" new the country's Gross Domestic Product, mated that the Rhodesian regime is government, especially if it goes ahead making 1977 economic performance paying 10 percent of the Gross Domes with its own internal settlement in the worst since 1945. tic Product in transport subsidies and Namibia. Spurred on by hard times, agricultural and export incentives. the Rhodesian business and manufac The cost to the Smith regime of Further, South Africa has slapped a 15 turing communities have been putting fighting the war increased 25 percent percent import charge on Rhodesian increasing pressure on Smith to stave over the previous year. Economists for goods which cost the country $20 mil off defeat and insure them some kind of the Standard Bank Group estimate lion in 1977. The South African mar economic future by including respect that the Smith regime is spending ket, which once took over 30 percent of able blacks in a majority rule govern $700,000 per day on the war, others Rhodesia's manufactured exports has ment. Estimating the chances for the put the cost at $1 million per day. contracted sharply, as South Africa future, Ian Hume, former World Bank itself is gripped by a severe recession. economist, now working for the Whit Furthermore, the regime is facing a The world economic slump has also sun Foundation, which represents shortage of white labor. Military call had a serious effect on Rhodesian perhaps the most sophisticated of the ups are frequent and have greatly dis exports. The world decline in steel usiness community, recently pointed rupted business. Until the age of 38, output has reduced the demand for out that if transition could be handled white males are liable for an annual 190 chrome. As one banker observed, smoothly there would be minimum days, over six months, duty in the "The Japanese who a few years ago white flight, major foreign investment reserve army. And they are liable for were quite willing in an expanding and foreign aid, an investment boom up to 70 days a year until the age of economy to turn a blind eye to sanc capable of sustaining even some land fifty. Given the army's shortage of tions now can be moral in obeying reform and better wages for blacks, the 1,500 non-Rho white manpower, them." And the repeal of the Byrd and the creation of 70,000 new jobs desian white "volunteers" or merce Amendement, which allowed imports annually. If, on the other hand, the naries take on important significance. of Rhodesian chrome into the US, has situation was allowed to deteriorate Emigration has also caused prob closed another market. There has also until the "socialist" wing of the guer lems as official statistics show that been reduced demand for other Rho rillas took over, he foresaw no future 11,000 whites out of a population of desian minerals such as copper and for the whites. 260,000 left Rhodesia last year. The nickel. There are important sectors among actual figure is thought to be much Symptomatic of the economy's prob the white community hostile to even higher since it does not include those lems are reported deficits of more than the most cautious of settlements with who have left on tourist or business $60 million incurred by Rhodesian the black majority. Powerful among visas. Railways and $10 million by the steel these are the white planters, with their APRIL 1978/SOUTHERN AFRICA 9 profitable cash crops, grown on the big likely to have to respond to the land group, the combination of military and plantations protected for their use by hunger of the African people, thus economic defeats has finally pushed the Land Tenure Act, which reserves threatening white domination of the Smith into seeking a solution in Rho over 50 percent of the country's land wide open spaces. desia which will preserve white eco area for white occupation and use. Any Nevertheless, despite the intransi nomic dominance, if not political black government, however tame, is gence of this fight to the last man supremacy. Li

Military Situation Military Base Attacked (continuedfrom page 8) In its boldest military action to date, refugee and transit camps in Mozam ZIPA made a very successful attack on bique and, to a more limited extent in the Grand Reef military air base west Zambia, the military initiative remains of Umtali on December 17. Many of firmly with the Zimbabwe guerrillas. Smith's terrorist attacks on Zimbab weans and Mozambicans living on both Both movements represented in the sides of the border originate from this Patriotic Front have active units inside base. Zimbabwe, although progress towards A ZIPA unit armed with artillery and forming a unified command has been light weapons attacked the large base, slow. ZANU's forces (ZIPA) have been and as the ZIPA communique phrased trained in Tanzania and cross through it, "an estimated 400 enemy soldiers Mozambique into the eastern areas of were immobilized and will play no fur Rhodesia, spreading out from there. ther part in the military oppression of ZAPU's forces (ZIPRA) have recently our people or in the criminal aggres been reported training in Agola. They sion against neighboring states." enter Rhodesia from Zambia, having to Twenty planes, eighteen trucks, and cross the Zambezi River. While ZIPA additional equipment were destroyed, forces have apparently dominated the and the power line from Salisbury to fighting in the last two years there are Umtali was cut, according to the com also indications of increasing ZIPRA munique. activity. 'Protected' Villages Zimbabwe Guerrilla The Rhodesian regime has tried to Widespread Attacks stop the liberation forces' successes by Liberation forces have attacked tar cutting them off from their rural sup gets in almost every part of the coun charged with involvement in an attack. port. One such measure has been the try. Salisbury's administrative control Attacks on "collaborators"--usually unpopular and not too effective "pro is virtually non-existent throughout tective villages" into which the army black members of the Rhodesian re has herded half a million Zimbab large areas adjacent to Rhodesia's bor ime's police and military forces weans. This measure has proven costly ders with neighboring African states. have the purpose both of making col in political as well as economic terms. Government services, such as they laboration with the illegal regime more were, are no longer provided and the Guerrilla fighters have been able to get costly than support for the liberation inside many of these guarded barbed people no longer pay their taxes. Many forces, and of bringing the war to the wire keeps where they hold political white farmers have abandoned farms urban areas. and the land is being utilized by their meetings and then help the villagers former employees. escape, thus being seen by the people This situation is the Buluwayo Action basis for ZIPA's claim to have semi literally and immediately as liberators. liberated 40% of the country. Attacks on economic targets have Salisbury imposed an even harsher also put pressure on the regime. Be rural policy in January. In the Maranke While the Rhodesian army still con sides actions to disrupt trade and warn and Makoni regions of Zimbabwe along trols the cities, the major economic off potential tourists, an attack on a the Mozambique border-a major areas, and the most important trans Bulawayo computer manufacturer in center of guerrilla activity-leaflets portation routes, it has been the case December contained a lesson for Rho were dropped by plane to inform the or sometime now that even major desian and foreign business. On De (largely illiterate)population of a dusk roads are safe only when traveled in cember 29 two armed men entered the to noon curfew which had been im police convoy. Handlettered signs offices of the Bulawayo firm, ordered posed on them as punishment for their warning against bombs reportedly the African night staff' to leave, and support for ZIPA forces. abound in Salisbury, and security planted explosives which caused se Youth under sixteen and domestic guards check purses and packages at vere damage. The men slipped off into animals (cattle, sheep and goast) were entrances of big stores in the cities. the nearby township and were not not allowed outside the family com ZIPA's attacks on white civilians on caught. pounds (kraals) at all. All vehicles (bi farms, roads and recreation areas Concern about the effect news of ccles and buses) were banned from appear to be part of an attempt to fur military defeats might have on Rho he tribal area and all schools and ther erode badly sagging white morale. desia's image has led the government stores were closed down. Curfew vio While ten white civilians were killed in to impose press censorship on routine lators were to be shot, and those who various incidents in the capital area dispatches by foreign correspondents assisted guerrillas hanged. By limiting during January, by February only one in addition to the long-established African civilian movement about their liberation fighter had been caught and internal censorship. own land, the racist police and army 10 SOUTHERN AFRICA/APRIL 1978 intend to consider anyone out during win in the field, as overall commander ate black politicians have been superfi curfew as a guerrilla and therefore a of the Rhodesian forces Peter Wall cial and incapable of affecting Rho military target. recently had to admit in a public state desian political and economic struc ment. The direct and indirect effect of tures in a significant way. The military The Struggle Continues guerrilla victories have forced Smith to activity continues, and is likely to Yet despite its brutal actions the seek a deal. To date the concessions he grow, as the population rejects the Rhodesian regime no longer expects to has made in negotiations with reoder- new fraud. l Settlement for the Settlers

The announcement in Salisbury on February 15 of an 'internal settlement' by Rhodesian Prime Minister Ian Smith and three black Zimbabweans came after two months of sporadic meetings at Smith's residence, and a series of carefully worded hints by various parties to the negotiations. The settlement grants majority rule without effective majority power. It calls for one man, one vote elections for a 100-seat legislature in which the whites will be guaranteed 28 seats on a separate voters roll for 10 years, enough seats, under the proposed con stitution, to block constitutional change. All white candidates would have to be cleared by Smith's Rhodesian Front Party. The initial agreement is also reported to have contained a variety of guarantees for the white minority, in cluding compensation for expropriated Signing of Settlement in'Salisbury, March 3. Left to right: Bishop Muzorewa, Ian property, payment of pensions and the Smith, Jeremiah Chirau, Ndabaningi Sithole. Settlement still faces major obstacles right to maintain foreign citizenship. despite signing. International acceptance is unlikely and the Patriotic Front has rejected it out of hand. The interim administration that will preside in the period preceding elec tions-scheduled for later this year will be formed through legislation any of the Patriotic Front guerrillas white colleagues, who want the blacks passed by the current parliament. In who wish to, might return home, be limited to deputy ministerial posts. effect, this will make the new govern retrained and join the nascent army of The blacks are insisting on having a ment the child of the settler regime; it Zimbabwe. This is a meaningless con majority in the councils. In Smith's was the need to have the accord ac cession, as returning guerrillas would yes, this removes the gradual change ceptable to Rhodesia's 260,000 whites, have to lay down their arms 'on trust.' element in the proposals, the only and passed by the white-minority leg Transitional Government basis on which the Rhodesian Front islature that Smith used to persuade Party would accept the settlement. A more serious impasse developed An early March report stated that the negotiating blacks to bend as far as over the composition of the transitional they did. the negotiators had agreed that De government. The announced settle cember 31, 1978, be the date for a ment plan calls for a two-tier structure Military Stay in Place changeover to the transitional govern composed of an Executive Council ment. While there was agreement that No sooner had the initial settlement made up of the four negotiators, which the chairmanship of the transitional been announced, than the negotiating would set policy and a Council of administration would rotate, there parties disappeared once more behind Ministers or Cabinet. Smith proposed were no signs that the general impasse closed doors to deal with substantive that whites and blacks have an equal had been broken. issues such as the future composition number of posts in each body, and that of the military forces and the actual he remain in overall authority. Under Patriotic Front form of the interim government. his plan, he would also appoint a chair Condemns Settlement The first obstacle-the future of the man of the ministerial council, with Reaction to the announcement out country's armed forces-was soon sur black and white ministers appointed in side the country varied from total mounted. The present composition of tandem to each government post. denounciation on the part of the the white-controlled security forces Smith stressed that this offer to have Patriotic Front, to caution moving will be continued, although Muzorewa whites and blacks share ministerial towards acceptance on the part of the managed to get Smith to concede that power went beyond the demands of his US and Britain. APRIL 1978/SOUTHERN AFRICA 11 "That these black men in Salisbury the issues that have some 40,000 peo Once back behind closed doors, should have been parties to such an ple fighting." Muzorewa bowed to pressure from agreement," Patriotic Front co-leader, Young's remarks were tempered by Smith, and from Sithole and Chirau Joshua Nkomo said in his swift re a subsequent statement issued by the who demanded that he sign or with sponse in Lusaka, "must rank as the State Department, which announced draw. He signed. This rift in the greatest sellout in the history of that they had adopted a wait-and-see UANC leadership might contribute Africa. " attitude in light of the still incompleted further to the lessening of his already He stated unequivocally that the negotiations, other home-front politi overrated popularity. armed struggle will continue. "We cal - factors, and Britain's role in the shall intensity it... because we believe settlement. Echoing Owen's words, it is the only way to bring about the the State Department said that to the Minimal Following required change." extent that the agreement would has As for Chirau and Sithole, they What Smith has conceded," he ten the end of white minority domina appear to command minimal following. continued, "is not majority rule, but tion of the political process, "it is a Chief Jeremiah Chirau has obviously one-man, one-vote for the election of significant step." been assigned responsibility for deli 72 powerless seats in parliament, and At the same time most Administra vering to Smith the support of con 72 dummies with no power.... We are tion specialists admitted thexy doubted servative traditional elements through not giving our lives for a constitution the endurance of any solution that did the extensive network of Rhodesian that is going to entrench the position of not include the Patriotic Front. appointed 'tribal chiefs,' who enjoy the black man and the position of the virtually no genuine support by the white man. We are fighting for a non Support for Muzorewa people of Zimbabwe. racial state. This alone disqualifies the Overestimated He served in the Rhodesian military whole thing. We cannot be party to a Whether or not the settlement will document that entrenches discrimina and as a prison warder, and was one of . " work has much to do with internal Smith's first black cabinet ministers tion support for the three black negotiators, the other twithout portfolio). He resigned eigh The response from ZANU, Muzorewa, Chirau and Sithole. teen months ago to head the Zim member of the Patriotic Front was Bishop Abel \iuzorewa has been babwe United People's Organization equally condemnatory. The agree touted in the western press as having ment, Robert Mugabe stated, "guar (ZUPO), wvhich was clearly backed by wide support inside the country. the Smith regime as a front for winning antees that white settlers will remain Smith, Owen and others who harbor possession of our people's stolen African support, support that failed to in this viess may well be deluding them materialize. land. The judiciary presently com selves. prised of racist and genocidal judges Chirau's lack of standing even in the will be preserved [and] the public The assessment of Janice McLaugh eves of moderate blacks was summed service will remain all white for the lin, the American nun who spent three up by one influential African in Rho foreseeable future." months in Salisbury until her arrest desia: "Just forget him. He was a mes The Patriotic Front has stated that it and deportation in September last senger in a government office and was would not allow elections under such a year, is that the following of Muzorewa made a chief by the present govern settlement to take place in Rhodesia, has been overstated. She recalls that ment." A white observer commented, saying the war would continue and the the rallies and meetings held by Muzo "Chirau is Smith's creation. When polling booths would be considered rewa were not as well attended as had Smith wants to say something, he uses 'military targets" of the guerrillas. been suggested in the western press. Chirau as a mouthpiece. That's gen erally known." Disenchantment in Muzorewa's Britain Moves Towards Acceptance leadership has recently been reported Rev. Ndabaningi Sithole, first presi in the Washington 'Post. Jonathan dent of ZANU, has a history as a mili Meanwhile, British Foreign Secre tant supporter of armed struggle, for tary David Owen wasted little time in Randal, writing from Salisburv says that "already there are \isible signs which he spent nine 'ears in prison. demonstrating that Britain is moving that the country cousins (who have But while he was still in jail his organi support of the settlement, towards come to call the political tune rather zation removed him as president, calling it "a significant step towards than the westernized townspeople as reportedly because he was displaying majority rule." Indicating that he felt was true in the past) are losing faith in an increasing willingness to compro that acceptance of the settlement by Bishop Abel Iuzorewa... Put simply. mise with the regime, and his inclusion the black population was likely, he said they do not understand why the bishop as a 'leader' in the current Smith nego would in that the British government suddenly gas e into Smith this week. tiations represents an insult to the such an event-find it acceptable as when grassroot support only days be thousands of militant fighters for Zim well. At the same time, he spoke favor fore had gathered in Salisbury to urge Ibabwe's independence. qbly of Bishop \iuzorewa. Owen mas him to dig in his heels." hope that Imxthreatening to accept the Smith himself scems to have serious Smith settlement he 0illput pressure It was not only grass r oots support doubts that his "settlement" can be on the Patriotic Front to lower its own that Muzorewa disregarded when he made to stick. \Vhile assembling his bargaining terms and accept some concluded the agreement \sith Smith. slate of politicians to help him \\ in the thing less than its present demands. At a meeting on February 12, only days hearts and minds of the Zimbabweans, Response from the US has been before the settlement announcement, and possibly still hoping that he may equivocal. Andrew Young's initial otl Muzorewa's United Africin National manage to split the ranks of the Patri the-cuff response emphasized that anx Council party leadership had passed a otic Front, Smith has maintained his Rhodesian settlement that did ,ot sttt(' of' confidence in the Bishop's 50,000 man army to lend necessary include the Patriotic Front opened the stand that 20, not 28 of the proposed force should the neo-colonial solution way to "black on black civil war. "The parliamentar'y seats be reserved for collapse or the Front continue to fight agreement does not, he said, "address whites. for a trul' free Zimbabwe. Dl

12 SOUTHERN AFRICA/APRIL 1978 SOUTH AFRICA Regrouping Forces in Soweto

With all its bannings, arrests and Sporadic reports in the western Soweto Students Appears Over." Same police attacks on demonstrations, the press are fragmentary and contradic newspaper, same reporter. Both outh African government has not suc tory. A Washington Post report on stories may have been accurate al ceeded in "pacifying" the black popu February 2 headlined "Most Blacks though recent South African press lation of Soweto. But it has made it Continue Boycott as Soweto Schools reports indicate that man students very difficult to unravel what is going Reopen" was followed within a week have stayed out of school. The banning on there, particularly from a distance. by another report-" Boycott by of the Soweto Students' Representa tive Council last October and the jail ing of many of its leaders makes it hard to find out. Even an informed observer like Robert Mangaliso Sobukwe Sipho Buthelezi, one of the founders of SASO (the South African Students Organization) and now the official Robert Mangaliso Sobukwe, external representative of the Black banned leader of the Pan African Peoples Convention, admits that he ist Congress, died in South Africa has trouble talking about recent events on February 26. in much detail. But Buthelezi takes a Born to a poor family in Graaff certain satisfaction in that fact. Reient in the Cape Province, he "At the present moment, there is a displayed exceptional ability at lot of reorganization going on," he help of loans school and with the explains. And it is hard to find out and grants was able to obtain a BA much about the reorganization pro degree at Fort Hare University. cess, all the better. A good deal of it is As a student activist he was elected intentionally secret. Many people took Repre President of the Students' the wave ofbannings in October as a sentative Council. message that the time had come to work He continued his political organize clandestinely. as a member of the African Na tional Congress, was arrested in Moving Underground the "Defiance Campaign" and was "There are two main streams," dismissed from his jobasa teacher. Buthelezi explained in a late February He played a primary role in the conversation with Southern Africa in founding of the Pan Africanist New York. "There are people who still Congress which broke away from believe open organization can be effec the African National Congress, tive and important. But a majority because of differences over both realize that underground work is less ideology and organization. The vulnerable." PAC adopted a more overtly na Robert Mangaliso Sobukwe Less vulnerable, but more difficult. tionalist stance, adopting the name "It is a very difficult thing to establish Azania for South Africa. He was Act, which provided for his con an underground movement," Buthe elected the first president in 1959 tinued detention for six years on lezi conceded. "Especially so when and led the anti-pass law protest in the island. you have had open organization and 1960 which won world attention Eventually released in 1969, he ave developed a mass movement. It when police opened fire on thou was immediately restricted to the is very difficult to maintain under sands of protesters demonstrating Kimberly area, placed under both ground activity during the period of at Sharpeville and killed 69. a ban and house arrest. mass movement and it is equally diffi The PAC and ANC were Even in these very difficult cir cult to channel the mass movement banned, Sobukwe was arrested, cumstances Sobukwe's spirit was into underground activity." convicted of incitement and sen not crushed. He had studied law Despite the difficulties, Buthelezi is tenced to three years imprison while in jail, and began to work as confident that the process of under ment on Robben Island. Fearing an attorney. ground organization is advancing. that Sobukwe's release would Officially totally silenced for the News reports offer hints that his con strengthen resistance, the govern past 16 years, his name continues fidence is justified. For instance, both the Washington ment continued to imprison So to live, as one of the symbols of the Post article announcing that the school bukwe at the expiration of his sen continuing struggle for liberation boycott was continuing and the subse tence, adding a special clause to of the people of South Africa. Law Amendment The struggle continues. quent article stating that it had come to the General an end cited the influence of an under ground successor to the Soweto Stu

APRIL 1978/SOUTHERN AFRICA 13 dents Representative Council. Report races. "The people were able to resist," ing on February 2 that only "a few Buthelezi said with satisfaction. "It just hundred black students trickled back shows the strength of the underground to Soweto's segregated schools," movement." Caryle Murphy attributed this largely Of course organizing the boycott of to "pressure to continue their boycott an election demands far less than from the newly formed militant organizing active resistance and revo Soweto Students' League." lution. Buthelezi makes no bones "According to one report," the story about the difficulties of the long road continued, "members of this clandes ahead. tine group burned hundreds of appli "From the very formation of the cation forms at one school." BPC in December 1972, we realized that we had to have parallel structures, Reporting three days later that the underground and aboveground. But it boycott had been called off, Murphy was very difficult. The leadership that noted that the Soweto Students we have is an elite leadership, which League had urged students to return resists underground work because to classes while emphasizing that it there is no limelight in it for them. opposed the "newly christened De That is why we must strengthen our partment of Black Education just as efforts to build worker leadership." vehemently as its predecessor, the Department of Bantu Education. A change in name hardly removed Chief Gatsha Buthelezi the causes of the struggle, as The Star He reads the same message in the conceded in a full page "Spotlight on large crowd that turned out in Soweto Black Education" on February 4. The recently to hear Chief Gatsha Buthe latest statistics show that South Africa lezi. While insisting that "people like still spends about 13 times as much on Gatsha Buthelezi have very little signi educating each white child as it does ficance because people know they are on each black. The 27,000 Soweto stu servants of the Vorster regime," Sipho dents who refused to write exams last Buthelezi does not deny the impor year and the more than 400 teachers tance of the crowd at the chiefs ap (half the teachers in Soweto) who pearance. However, he interprets it resigned to support them didn't like somewhat differently from western the term Bantu Education. They liked commentators, who seemed prepared even less the education itself and the to annoint Gatsha Buthelezi as the social function prescribed for it under leader of African resistance to apar apartheid. Different name, same theid. problem. Different strategies, same struggle. Dodging publicity: Soweto Community "People are fascinated by what the The Post pointed out that "sources Council candidate exits from meeting. elite have to say," Sipho Buthelezi close to the students also say that stu acknowledged. 'But not necessarily dent leaders are hoping that the daily because they agree with the politics contact at school will help reorganize Africa," government-sponsored elec being expressed. It's simply because at and revitalize the student movement." tions for a Soweto Community Council the present moment workers do not As Buthelezi maintained, "there is a ran into virtually unanimous resis have their own articulate spokesmen. lot of reorganization going on." tance. All told, less than 500 people Some people who go oppose Buthelezi voted in a city of over 1.5 million. totally. But it is a chance for people to get together and hear and express Election Boycott Community Actions some of their feelings. People go in Many other layers in the community In fact, the government had a hard thousands even to funerals because it are also actively seeking ways of con time finding candidates to stand for is the only place they can voice their tinuing organization. Out in the open, most of the 30 seats. At a nominating feelings."' the Soweto Action Committee has meeting two weeks before the elec tion, only 26 candidates showed up. Developing leaders and organiza emerged to replace groups which were tions through which those feelings can banned in October. So have a number And on their way out of the meeting, several of them made it clear that they be expressed and "the viciousness of of other ad hoc organizations. They elite leadership" can be combatted is have held meetings, issued state recognized how they would be re garded by their supposed constitu now the priority, Buthelezi believes. ments, and, according to Buthelezi, The process has only begun. provided a vehicle for underground ency. Rushing out of the hall, they hid organizations and activists to partici their faces behind hats and coat collars, "W e have a long hard struggle. We pate in community struggles. "They looking more like criminals being must counter the lies that bring false use open organizations as a cover to ushered out of a police station than hopes. Because we are really just start mobilize the people," he said. politicians facing their public. ing. Hence Steve Biko, was really a The election returns indicated that serious leader because he would Whoever is doing the mobilizing most of the public viewed them as trai alwavs say we have a long struggle. had an -impact,- as -evidenced by the tors rather than leaders. By the time That is why we put his words on the recent Soweto elections. Despite the the polls opened, no candidates at all back of the pamphlet we printed government's promise to make Soweto remained for 19 of the 30 wards. In recently-'A struggle without casual the most beautiful black city in only two wards were there contested ties is no struggle.'" El

14 SOUTHERN AFRICA/APRIL 1978 Overview

Pressure is building on US banks and corporations to to allow greater black participation in society has been cease operations in South Africa. Students across the disproved in South Africa in the last ten years. The country are organizing against continuing university police state was built at the same time as the new complicity with such investments. The NAACP, the automated refineries, and the great factories, in the AFL-CIO, and several major unions have added their years of maximum economic growth and US corporate weight to the withdrawal effort. investment. Among the universities which have already divested Even the corporate micro-economics is wrong. themselves of stock in companies doing business in Black wages have grown in South Africa, but so have South Africa as a result of student protests are the white wates and inflation, the wage gap between white University of Wisconsin (about $8 million), eight and black in absolute terms is still growing. Oregon state universities and colleges (about $6 mil Thirdly, the corporations conceal the significance of lion), and the University of Massachusetts ($620,000). their particular roles in South Africa. These are not The corporations and their apologists have naturally small, peripheral corporations, manufacturing insig responded to the growing campaign with a vigorous nificant consumer products on simple machines in defense of investment in South Africa. Most of the back alleys. Significant US corporations in South Africa arguments are not new, although as pressure mounts are the heavyweights, and they frequently dominate corporations have shifted from the more honest old the sector of the South African economy in which they statement that "we are there because it is profitable," operate. General Motors, Ford and Chrysler, for to include an increasing element of "do-goodism," instance, control 60% of the auto market. They provide arguing that making profits is justified because they are advanced modern technology which isolated domestic also contributing to black social welfare and some ill companies could not afford, and have access to the defined "change." capital needed for the continuing expansion of a white Stressing the virtue of their job creation and training owned, white-controlled, white benefit-oriented programs, the corporations deliberately obscure and economy. camouflage the impact of their operations on the social, Fourthly, the corporations veil their cooperative political and economic structure of South African relationships with the South African government and society, using micro-economics to obscure macro the direct role that they play in the maintenance of the truths. South African state by the provision of strategic mate Firstly, they ignore the fact that the whole structure rials, technology, and technical services to the govern of the society is carefully designed to prevent general ment. ized equal opportunities for black and white, and never Fifthly, the corporations pretend to be unaware of admit that they benefit from the effects of that deliber the reality that their continuing profitable operation in ate design by way of a cheap, intimidate labor force. South Africa requires a constant level of stability and They refuse to acknowledge that the complex web of that the links between the corporations and the United apartheid makes a mockery of individual attempts at States government will inevitably involve the United "equal opportunity employment," by preventing States government in a similar quest for the mainte blacks from acquiring education, denying them politi nance of peace and stability while the black population cal rights and citizenship, prohibiting them from of South Africa seeks the total destruction of the system organizing effective trade unions, preventing any as it now exists. freedom of movement or job choice, and even prohib There is no way that the US corporate presence in iting them from organizing effective trade unions, pre South Africa can help in the struggle for liberation. For venting any freedom of movement or job choice, and this reason we fully support the current campaign even prohibiting any black from supervising any white. urging divestiture from all corporations doing business Secondly, the corporations deliberately ignore his in South Africa as a direct and effective way of building tory. The argument that economic growth automati pressure to move the corporations out of South Africa cally creates pressures that inevitably force the whites and help cut US economic support for apartheid.

APRIL 1978/SOUTHERN AFRICA 15 every so often. The mother of a 17 ban even more essential. As two town year-old detainee found three broken ships of Durban are considered part of teeth in his blood stained trousers. His fragmented KwaZulu, they could prac parents said they did not know why he tice there. However, neither township was under arrest. The Supreme Court has a supreme court, the commuting placed a temporary injunction on the magistrate hears criminal cases only, police, forbidding them to injure him. and potential clients leave the town Further investigations are being made, ship Tor work each day. but such investigations seldom bear Practicing in the rural areas would in South Africa. require the lawyers to leave their fruit homes in the city and establish prac 0 tices in areas where most have never been before. The government-a ppointed liqui More restrictions have been placed dator of the assets of the 18 organiza SOUTH AFRICA is the sub tions banned last October 19 has al ject of a recent Amnesty Inter on the rights of political prisoners, who already suffer under extremely harsh ready appropriated $345,000 from national report. In its first their bank accounts. major report on repression in conditions in South African jails, being accused the allowed few of the privileges granted that country, Amnesty prisoners. 0 government in Pretoria of condoning non-political systematic torture and murder of poli Permission to study past high school tical detainees by the security police. has been withdrawn. Those in the Change in South Africa? The regime Coinciding with the UN Anti-Apart middle of university courses will be announced a new phrase to replace allowed to complete them, but no new "bantu," a word despised by Blacks, in heid Year, the report marks the launch pris ing of an international campaign for the ones can be started. This means the title of the Department of Bantu release of an estimated 450 political oners will no longer be allowed to keep Administration and Development. their lights on until llp.m., but like all henceforth known prisoners, the repeal of discriminatory politiclprisoners will-be restricted to The agency will be and repressive legislation and an end as the Department of Plural Relations the 8 p.m. lights out. They will be Development. to torture. Amnesty concludes that limited to the prison library reading and this can only be achieved when the mate matter and to sufficient writing 0 whole apartheid system is dismantled. rials only for the three 500-word letters The report includes several accounts they are permitted to write each from prisoners who have been tor month. According to the New York Times, tured, pictures of wounded limbs and after nearly four decades of growth, battered faces, and profiles of seven South Africa is mired in a slump that prisoners of conscience. threatens to become permanent unless Donald Woods, former editor of the the regime agrees to abandon apart Daily Dispatch, who fled to Britain Censorship ... The government has heid. And there is little prospect of earlier this month said that those curtailed for three months all reporting that. people who allegedly hanged them of matters concerned with arms and Vorster's adamant stand flies in the selves while in police custocdy may well defense. Although publication on face of mounting pressures from the have been strangled by security police these subjects was not actually for country's own business community for using the "wet towel" torture tech bidden, the notice made it clear that racial reforms that would unplug the nique. Other torture methods de the Defense Act and the Official flow of foreign capital and start the scribed in the report include beatings, Secrets Act would be invoked against economy on the road to recovery. electric shock, murder threats, depri editors who did not comply. vation of sleep and food, and being Many of those seeking change recog In a different form, censorship is nize that the need for reform goes made to sit in the "invisible chair" for being applied by the police stations beyond rescuing profits and dividends several hours at a time. throughout the country, which have and involves the nation's stability. For been instructed not to give information while white living standards have been to reporters from the Johannesburg affected only marginally by the reces Star, the biggest circulation daily. This sion, blacks have born the brunt in the Winnie Mandela, leading ANC fig coincided with a complaint by Police form of unemployment. With more ure, was sentenced after a lengthy Commissioner General Prinsloo to the than a million jobless out of a labor trial. She was found guilty of breaking Press Council about an editorial pub force of perhaps six million, the coun her banning order by unauthorized lished by the Star. The newspaper is one liberal Mem visits from friends and relatives, and try is faced with what increasingly at loggerheads with the ber of Parliament, Ha Schwarz, holding conversations with two neigh government. bors in Brandfort, the small town in called "an economic time bomb." the Orange Free State to which she has 0 It was the worst year in memory for been banished from Johannesburg. manufacturing, construction, and re The two six-month sentences, which tail trade. The auto industry, once a were suspended for four years, are African attorneys practicing in Dur prime performer, reported passenger being appealed. ban have been given 12 months to car output off 16 percent, the lowest in leave the city and establish their prac a decade. Bankruptcies, pushing over tices in KwaZulu. The ostensible rea the 2,000 mark, reached record levels. son for this virtual banishment is the Profits almost everywhere were re Evidence that detainees, who con shortage of lawyers in the bantustan. It duced. tinue to be held without trial, are comes at a time when the increased To the distress of the business com being tortured and beaten up surfaces arrests make their availability in Dur- munity government ministers insisted

16 SOUTHERN AFRICA/APRIL 1978 that the nation must learn to live with A spokesperson for SWAPO said smallpox, all children between six and out the foreign money that had long Manning is one of about 1,000 white 15-years-old vaccinated against tuber underpinned the whites' rise to one of members of SWAPO in Namibia and culosis, and those between six months the world's highest living standards. South Africa. and three years vaccinated against Economic Affairs MinisterJ.C. Heunis measles. told an audience that the country Literacy and adult education classes would have to fill the gap by increased are being organized in prisons. The savings or by accepting a lower stan majority of these courses are being dard of living. STHE RHODESIAN ARMY conducted by prisoners who are al has been poisoning food regu ready literate. The aim is to turn pris larly as a method of killing and ons into centers for re-education. intimidation. At the end of Escom is paying almost double the December, 57 African civilians, most usual interest rate for a Swiss loan. The of them children, died, and 17 were high rate-seven percent-and the hospitalized after eating poisoned The government has taken over four short duration-three years-reflect canned food set up by the troops. In cinema companies in the country after foreign investors' lack of interest in September, 12 children died after eat discovering that the 71-year-old owner loans to South Africa because of the ing wild fruit that had been poisoned was involved in acts of economic sabo political climate there. by the army. Shortly afterwards, four tage and hostile propaganda against school children diedfrom eatingpoi Mozambique. 0 soned canned food they had picked up on their way home from school. The poisonings are not confined to South African technicians are being Zimbabwe. Food supplies being stored Canada has signed an agreement to sent to France to study nuclear power in Tete province in Mozambique were supply 12,000 tons of wheat to Mozam plants. They are to train on a mock-up poisoned by Rhodesian paratroopers. of the kind of nuclear plant France has bique. The contract represents Cana agreed to sell to South Africa. da s response to the UN Security South Africa's regime is expanding a Council's appeal for economic aid to pilot uranium-enrichment plant to Mozambique to compensate for the meet domestic needs. Rhodesian sanctions-busting con effects of sanctions against Rhodesia. tinues. A Zaire DC-4 plane that was 0 0 transporting a cargo of 300 tons of meat from Salisbury to Lubumbashi, Zaire, was shot down over Mozambique after In a deal which will net South Africa it had illegally entered the airspace jUS VISITORS TO SA . . . about $23 million in foreign exchange over Tete province in November. Its New Hampshire Governor over the next two to three years, Insu captured Belgian pilot recently dis Meldrim Thomson spent two lation Products is to supply an Ameri closed that he had made 35 similar trips weeks in South Africa as an can company with insulating rockwool last year. The deal was set up by a all-expenses paid guest of the con to augment a booming market as Gabonese firm known as African Trans servative South African Freedom Americans become more conservation port Airways with an office in Rho Foundation. On his return he praised minded. esia. The company made financial the Vorster government and said that Milton Weinbren of Johannesburg, arrangements with Balgolaise (Banque South Africa has a free press and free major shareholder and a director of the Belgo-Zairoise SA), owned by the elections, that the black ghetto of New Jersey company which has signed Belgian Bank Societe Generale de Soweto was "just wonderful," that with Insulation Products, has won con Banque. Soweto's houses were finer than those trol of Scotco Data Com. Inc., a tele of some of his neighbors, and that the vision production company on the East US policy towards the apartheid re Coast which will be used for stimulat gime was "meddlesome and un-Ameri ing trade with South Africa. ~THE MOZAMBICAN GOV can. While Rep. Robert K. Dornan (R 0 ERNMENT has initiated a series of efforts to restructure Calif.), was on a ten-day trip to South the nation. Africa and Rhodesia in January, he IN NAMIBIA, the 'health All private banks in the country have promised to "raise holy hell" over the minister' of Owamnbo, Toivo been transferred to the Bank of Mo disgusting hypocisy in American Shiyagaya was assassinated at zambique and a newly-created Peo policy toward Rhodesia when he re a meeting attended by three ple's Development Bank. turned to Washington. leaders of the Democratic Turnhalle All the assets and liabilities of the Alliance. The police reported that the private banks have been transferred, 0 gunman was killed after being pursued and anyone wishing to claim compen by black guardsmen. sation has been given 30 days to do so. International Metalworkers Federa Private bank staff have been prom tion secretary Hermann Rebhan, who 0 ised new jobs within the state banking spent two weeks in South Africa, said system and in other sectors of the on his return that he told South African At the end of last year, security country's economy. leaders "that if they want the world to police detained Peter Manning, the More than six million Mozambicans get off South Africa s back, they have to rst white member of SWAPO to be have so far been vaccinated against give all South Africans, whatever their held under the Terrorism Act. No rea infectious diseases. All Mozambicans color, freedom to meet their aspira son was given for his arrest. will have been vaccinated against tions."

APRIL 1978/SOUTHERN AFRICA 17 military presence since the invasion of the US, however, abstained from vot Angola in 1975. ing on the resolution, partly because of Countering with increased activity, domestic political pressure on both SWAPO guerrillas recently destroyed governments to recognize Rhodesia's a bridge near the Ruacana Dam and forthcoming black-white government. mined access roads to the project. Smith and his African negotiating The death toll mounts in the town partners are also hoping that their ships of the Namibian capital, Wind agreement will produce an end to the hoek, meanwhile, as SWAPO support guerrilla war in spite of the threats of I w ers clash with backers of the Turnhalle Patriotic Front leaders Joshua Nkomo I I~I L Democratic Alliance. At least eleven and Robert Mugabe. So far, however, persons were killed in the clashes in the fighting has continued, and all NtA hrl '], (,n- ,n -~r-r frnr indications are that the war will pro Winchester Hit Katutura township at one point ceed unabated. For SA Arms Deal mounted a protest strike. Rhodesian security forces launched an attack on Zambia in early March, A grand jury in New Haven, Conn. Protests Scuttle Ali Fight shortly after the signing of the internal last month returned the strongest in accord. Sources in Salisbury say up dictment to date against a US firm for In South Africa wards of thirty guerrillas were killed in violating the arms embargo against Strong pressure from civil rights and the raid; the Zambians said casualties South Africa. anti-apartheid groups in the US has were mostly civilian. The Olin Corporation is charged on forced promoters of the Ali-Spinks 21 criminal counts for conspiring ille rematch to call off the fight slated for 2,000 Protest Apartheid gally to ship rifles and ammunition, Bophuthatswana, a black reserve or At Davis Cup and faces possible fines of $500 and "homeland" in South Africa, cancelling $10,000 on charges that its subsidiary, an agreement with the Southern Sun Two days of demonstrations against Winchester Int., falsified export docu South Africa's apartheid policies ac Corporation, a South African hotel companied the playing of the Davis ments on 3,200 firearms and 20 million chain. Cup tennis competition's North rounds of ammunition worth about Critics argued that holding the fight American zone finals at Vanderbilt $1.2 million. in Bophuthatswana could lead to a University in Nashville, Tennessee. The material was allegedly shipped major public relations victory for Pre via arms dealers in the Canary Islands, More than a thousand protesters toria and the Bophuthatswana govern rallied on the Vanderbilt campus on Austria, Greece and Mozambique to a ment, which is so far recognized only Friday, March 17, the first day of the South African wholesaler, Jones by South Africa. Taylor. US-South Africa matches. Some 2,000 Rhodesian Settlement on Trial demonstrators turned out the next day In February, the US government for a protest march organized by the tightened the arms embargo by pub Rhodesian Prime Minister Smith's NAACP and other groups. lishing regulations prohibiting the internal settlement hangs in the bal export of any US-origin products for The demonstrations, which were the South African military or police. ance as military and diplomatic maneu largely peaceful, attracted wide press Even so, charges of continued viola vers continue on both sides. coverage. The Patriotic Front has rejected the South Africa's tennis team was de tions are still being heard. accord signed by Smith and African feated in the matches. Bombings Hit Port Elizabeth politicians Muzorewa, Sithole and Chirau on the grounds that it perpetu South Africa Revamps Johannesburg radio reported several ates white privilege. The settlement 'P.R.' Effort incidents of violence in and around the package leaves the army, police and city of Port Elizabeth last month. civil service in white hands, with Faced with increased criticism of its A black woman was killed and three racial policies across the U.S., the persons were injured on March 10 whites also exercising a veto over con stitutional changes through their par South African government is focusing when a bomb exploded in the black an ongoing public relations effort on township of New Brighton. The bomb, liamentary representatives for ten years or the life of two parliaments. what it considers key and influential which had been placed in a garbage leadership sectors. can, was similar to a bomb that ex The Smith regime suffered its first major setback in the campaign to sell In early March South African eco ploded two days earlier while a black nomics minister J.C. Heunis spent five man was carrying the container that the internal accord to the Western world when the UN Security Council days in Washington and New York on housed it in downtown Port Elizabeth. just such a mission. In New York he In addition, fires broke out at two passed a resolution condemning any settlement negotiated under the aus told 140 Jewish leaders that South schools in the Queenstown township. Africa and Israel were both "minority Police said they suspected arsonists. pices of the Smith regime as "illegal and unacceptable." Both Britain and peoples adhering very strongly to the principles of the Western world." He Namibian War Heats Up also said the two countries continue to The Namibian independence move experience "the application of double ment, SWAPO, has charged that South UPDATE is written by Africa standards" at the UN and other inter Africa is beefing up its forces in Nami News Service, which also pub national agencies. bia--contrary to Pretoria's public pro lishes a weekly digest available to In Washington Heunis met with 100 nouncements. And a BBC correspon individuals for $28 per year. representatives of US corporations dent just returned from nortern which do business in South Africa. He Namibia confirms the allegation, re Address correspondence to P.O. also met with Ambassador Alan Wolff, porting that local residents say they Box 3851, Durham, NC 27702. deputy to the President's Special Trade have not seen so large a South African Representative, Robert Strauss.

18 SOUTHERN AFRICA/APRIL 1978 Black Prisoners and the Question of Identity by Kamara Mtengenezaji ways simmers just below the surface of period of the movement law enforce a seemingly uninterested black prison ment agencies were recognized as the Do African-American prisoners army that protected wealth and power, identify with South Africa's black population. In most prisons there is what you and their image came under heavy prisoners? wanted to be a This question is not a simple one to might refer to as a politicized core of public attack. No one African-Americans who identify with cop. Those who had the most interest answer. Identification rests largely on quo launched being struggle in general. Yet it is extremely in maintaining the status knowledge of the situation and difficult for them to organize and put a vast psychological campaign to in prison makes it difficult to get their beliefs into more than minimal change that image. The floodlight of information that accurately depicts the action without the kind of support the media attention was shifted from cen factual conditions under which African prison movement enjoyed in the late ter stage to far right, and with it, the prisoners exist. sixties and early seventies. Since then, gullible consciousness of the American Depending on which prison you find the FBI has been training prison public. It was a brief struggle, which yourself in, state or federal, East or guards and officials in counter-revolu the public lost because it is not usually West coast, levels of identification laws acknowledge that some tionary tactics to enable them to ferret aware of the subtle psychological vary. If we out, isolate and elminate revolutionary at work in media programming, mani areas of the United States are more politicized than others, this is easier to organizers, or those with potential, pulating its consciousness. leaving only the unpolarized blacks This shift came in conjunction with understand. If there happens to be a who are kept under control by racism thousands of cop movies and books that and murder. Their existence is one of constant struggle for survival against the tools used by officials to suppress *.. what is relevant is them, which is usually other prisoners. whether the public identifies Sna Quentin is a prime example of this, with oppressed people every where Chicano and Aryan gangs are treated somewhat sympathetically where, and if not why not, and because they unwittingly or consci how can we peak their interest? ously help keep African-Americans too busy struggling against them to be flooded television and movies. The prison in such areas, the inmate popu effective in much else. The tools used by prison administra revolutionary, the anti-hero was out l'ion's political consciousness will and the cop was in. The Police Stories, be on a par with the avail tors to control the revolutionary poten most often tial vary with the prison), but whether the SWAT's, and a host of others crowd ability of radical information. I say every channel, invading your homes, radical information because most of us it is McNeil Island, Walla Walla, Fol som, San Quentin, VacaVille, Sole your minds and pushing American are still remembering the exposure in consciousness back into the nostalgia recent years of Intelligence infiltration dad, CMC, Tracy, Lompoc, Chino or Terminal Island, the same oppressor of the past when African-Americans, and liason with establishment media, Aryans, Mexicans and others knew which indicates the truth will not be lurks behind the mask regardless if its smile is benevolent or demonic. their place and anyone talking of presented raw, but will first be 'pro Those Brothers who are daily faced change was a "Pinko-Commie.' cessed' before being nipple-fed to the Everyone has gone back to sucking the American public. This mutual coop with this intense pressure often grow frustrated with outsiders who once poisoned teat with Big Brother holding eration reflects joint effort to protect the bottle. the status quo by distorting the infor supported their struggle by exposing the prison system, but are now spend In conclusion, the consciousness mation the public needs to make accu and the level of identification of the of the situation, be ing a lot of time and money trying to rate assessments identify with or form relations with average African-American risoner is cause action is based upon information not much different from tat of the it is inaccurate, conclusions and countries or people outside the United and if States, at the neglect of the most average so-called 'Free' citizen. The decisions to act may be incorrect. So, availability of accurate information appears to be low on the potential source for change in this identification country who are locked up in prisons. makes them parallel each other. There surface. fore, we declare it is really irrelevant a political Yet the attention focused on prisons However, when viewing during the height of the struggle has whether an African-American prisoner movie, like A Luta Continua! or watch not significantly changed the condi here identifies with a black African ing news films of Soweto, the Brothers tions brothers and other prisoners prisoner over there. In a larger sense, are galvanized on the spot, which indi exist under. If anything, exposure what is relevant is whether the public cates support in meaningful ways al served only to make the system more identifies with oppressed people sophisticated, therefore, more dan everywhere, and if not, why not, and Kamara Mtengenezaji is a prisonerin a gerous. how can we peak their interest? That to penitentiary and a long What happened to sever public sup me seems to be the question that West Coast needs answering. time supporterof the southern African port from the prison movement? Some liberation struggle. of us may remember that during the A Luta Continua!

APRIL 1978/SOUTHERN AFRICA 19 %NAMIBIA South Africa Walks Out of Talks

United Nations Walvis Bay: "Inviolable and non-negotiable part of Namibia."

Representatives of the five Western televised interview on CBS's "Face the control of the United Nations; it de governments meeting with SWAPO Nation," he said the West did not manded that South Africa withdraw and South Africa over the future of appreciate "the situation on the ground completely from the territory and Namibia had little to say after South in-Namibia." The Western proposals accept UN authority in the transitional African Foreign Minister Roelof Botha would lead to an armed takeover by period. The five Western nations are walked out of the February New York SWAPO and "a total and complete col now proposing that the elections for talks before they had been more than lapse," he said, resulting in Namibia's the assembly that will write an inde "being governed by a Marxist terrorist briefly underway. US Ambassador orctaization."1 pendent Namibia's constitution be Andrew Young muttered something ut many observers of the talks monitored by the UN-but there is no about nobody liking the Western posi clear statement about the UN con tions which meant they must be good. remained puzzled by Botha's com trolling the process. The South Afri The State Department would only go ments. Sources at the United Nations cans are also left in effective adminis as far as saying, through spokesman say South Africa knew of the Western trative control of Namibia during the Hodding Carter, that as far as the US positions before the talks began. The transitional period-a UN Special was concerned, "the ball is in South proposals advanced by the Foreign Representative would oversee the Africa's court. It is up to them; there is Ministers of the five Western members transition, but would remain second in nothing the West has to do." of the UN Security Council-the US, power to a South African appointed But, as is usually the case with US West Germany, Great Britain, France, Administrator-General. Overnment statements, the truth is and Canada-are so favorable to South ar more complex. The aftermath of the African interests in Namibia that many South Africa would also be allowed sixth round of "contact talks" on Nami believe Botha has failed to admit the to retain 1500 of its troops in the area; bia in less than ayear has left SWAPO real reason for his abrupt walkout. these would be confined to the north in a position of relative diplomatic ern bases ofGrooffontein, Oshivello or strength, South Africa intransigent and Western Proposals both. A military section of the UN on the road to instituting an internal The current Western proposals in Transitional Assistance Group would settlement, and most probably the ball fact reflect a considerable retreat from replace South Africa's troops, but pri in the West's court, with no outlet the position adopted unanimously by mary responsibility for maintaining law passes available. the Security Council at the time of the and order during the transitional passage of Resolution 385 in January period would still rest with the existing The Walkout 1976. That resolution called for free police force. Botha's walkout February 12 was elections, leading to an independent It is generally believed that, al angry and dramatic. On a nationally Namibia, under the supervision and though South Africa has been por-

20 SOUTHERN AFRICA/APRIL 1978 trayed by the press as contentious over tribal armies, commandos and shoot SWAPO supporters feared that the the number of its troops to remain ing clubs. pressures, the fanfare and publicity reports have it that South Africa Walvis Bay surrounding the meeting with the five wanted a minimum 3000-it was really Western foreign ministers, pressures the SWAPO counter-proposals that Finally, SWAPO added an item to emanating not only from the West but rompted the walkout. Ironically, the agenda that was deliberately also reportedly from several African WAPO proved both tougher and omitted from the Western proposal: frontline states including Tanzania and more flexible than had been expected, Walvis Bay. Calling South Africa's Mozambique, might cause SWAPO to and many observers speculate that the recently announced "annexation" of make significant concessions at the liberation movement caught South the territory's only deep water port "a talks. calculated aggressive act to hold an Africa and the Western powers off Namibia at ransom," Far from having collapsed, however, guard independent with its shrewd bargaining. SWAPO said the annexation "would SWAPO proved itself adept at diplo render Namibia an unnaturally land matic footwork. Expecting a blud SWAPO Position locked country." geoned SWAPO, the South African Despite its insistence all along that "As far as SWAPO is concerned," Foreign Minister left the talks when the negotiations adhere strictly to the Sam Nujoma, the movement's presi they proved, in fact, to be real talks. conditions set out in Resolution 385 on dent, told reporters a few days later, UN supervised elections and complete "Walvis Bay is an inviolable and non The Next Step South African withdrawal, SWAPO negotiable part of Namibia." According to Nujoma, the Western Now the Western powers must showed itself willing to compromise at Africa is likely to the most propitious time. It agreed to powers were unwilling to include Wal make a move. South allow a token force of 1500 South Afri vis Bay in the parleys. Sources say that Io ahead with plans for an internal set can troops to remain until after the during the talks the US negotiator tlement. elections but stipulated that they must Donald McHenry compared Walvis South Africa's major trading art be quartered not in the north, as the Bay with the US base at Guantanamo ners, the Western powers now have West had proposed, but close to the in Cuba. Nujoma told Southern Africa two options. They can either move to South African border at Karasburg, far that the "Gang of Five" thought the apply real pressure, in the form of eco from the movement's own troop con question of Walvis Bay should be nomic measures, to force South Africa centrations near the Angolan border. reserved for discussions between into a genuine transfer of power, or South Africa and the future indepen they can remain inactive, thus tacitly SWAPO modified its demand that dent Namibian government. It is un accepting the phony settlement. The the UN Special Representative take likely that the two sides will reach any second is the more likely scenario, but over all administrative power from agreement on this major point of con SWAPO's stand has stripped the veils South Africa in the interim period but tention. off the diplomatic dancers, who have refused to accept the Western proposal After the South African Foreign all along been most concerned with that administrative control continue to Minister left the talks, Nujoma called seeking a settlement palatable to South be exercised by the South Africans. Botha a "coward," and later described Africa. If they go along with the inter SWAPO proposed that the Special him as having acted like "a badly nal settlement they will be forced to do Representative be given veto powers brought up child." so without the respectable cover of over the actions of the Admiistrator Why the Walkout? international endorsement they had General, and restricted the South Afri So what really accounts for South hoped to achieve via their negotiated can's role "to answering questions intransigence? settlement. relating to handing over of Namibia's Africa's unexpected Diplomatic sources believe it had more SWAPO in the meantime is pledged files, treasury and other public prop to do with the West's inability to deli erty." to continue fighting; diplomatically it ver a compliant SWAPO than with the may benefit from the respect it has SWAPO has also demanded the dis specific points of either proposal. Ac earned in the international community arming of the South African police cording to many observers, SWAPO for its adherance to vital principles force and the dismantling of the Bantu has been under considerable pressure without what might be regarded in stan tribal authorities, security forces, to ease its negotiating positions. Even some circles as undue obstinacy. FI

South Africa's Foreign Minister Botha (left) seen with foreign ministers of five Western countries during talks. Louis De Guiringaud (France), Donald Jamieson (Canada), Hans-Dietrich Genscher (West Germany), Cyrus Vance (US), David Owen (Britain). APRIL 1978/SOUTHERN AFRICA 21 Things Stay the Same Says Bishop

James Kauluma, who was elected as tion of what will become of this group Namibia's first Anglican Bishop of after independence. African descent last October has been "There are places where people completing work on a master's degree express more fear of black soldiers than at Union Theological Seminary in New of white ones," the Bishop said. "They York. He plans to return home perma are armed with machine guns and they nently in the spring. He recently paid a have no discipline." two and a half week visit to Namibia, Bishop Kauluma himself is from the and Karen Rothmyer of Southern northern region but he was unable to Africa talked to him about conditions visit his home village because of the inside that country on his return. dangers posed by mines and military maneuvers. He said that Namibians While some of the more obvious arriving from the border area told him, signs of apartheid have disappeared in among other things, of seeing white Namibia, the government shows few k military men serving with UNITA signs of being ready to give up real forces. power, according to Bishop Kauluma. Political Maneuvers At the same time, he says, the pro What the white minority govern tracted struggle being waged by the ments of Namibia and South Africa government against SWAPO is in cannot achieve in Namibia by force, creasing feelings of black unity the Bishop said, they are attempting throughout the country. not very successfully-to win by favor. The removal of certain signs of apar Bishop James Kauluma SWAPO meetings continue to be theid is most obvious in Windhoek broken up despite the fact that they are according to Bishop Kauluma. "In given the shirt by a relative who served now legal, but considerable encour stores people say, 'Come in, yes, what in World War II. agement is given to people to attend can I do for you sir," he recalls. "The rallies for government candidates post office is no longer segregated. Tribal Armies running in upcoming South African Blacks are moving aggressively and Not all the repression comes from orchestrated elections. there is a feeling among some whites white troops, Bishop Kauluma noted. In one case, Bishop Kauluma said, that something is happening that they A large number of black Namibians he talked with people who were going can't prevent. who [have been recruited into "tribal" to attend a government meeting in a At the same time, however, he armies-working for the government black area of Windhoek where free noted, apartheid housing laws are still appointed chiefs, ed.) have been given food was being given out. "People in force and only two hotels are de weapons and a few months training by came up to me and they said, 'We're segregated. South Africa. They frequently terror going to eat but we are not going to You see this mixture of things ize local populations, raising the ques- vote for them." El changing but things staying the same," Bishop Kauluma said. Steyn (the South African-appointed Administra tor, General Martinus Steyn) abolishes one law and replaces it with new restrictions." THE FINANCIERS SAY GRACE At the Chase table toasts with Harassment in North gelatin over At the military level, harrassment red black for wine, and arrests of black Namibians appear For bankersamerikan a plate at least temporarily to have decreased in the mid-section of the country, but Dripping with cheeks of continue unchecked in the northern proud Soweto children region. hors d'oeuvre plate People are afraid of the South Afri can army, not the freedom fighters," Smashed femurs and fibulas fresh, Sharpeville fresh, said Bishop Kauluma, who spent one side dish week in the northern part of the coun 12yearoldgirls try where military activity is most yet hiccupping from intense. "The staff at one of our mis Selous Scout rapes sions there told me that army people All garnished with sunken come every few days in searc of free eyes of dom fighters. They told me that in one old women of Nyazonia case they interrogated an elderly priest who defiantly remember all. on the grounds that he had a shirt that - Prexy Nesbitt they said lookedlike some kind of army shirt." In fact, the priest had been

22 SOUTHERN AFRICA/APRIL 1978 %UNITED STATES Corporate Giants Who Aid South Africa

by Neva Seidman Raytheon-one of the largest US Fluor and the Badger Company, two arms contractors-acquired the US companies contracted to construct Badger Company in 1968. Badger is SASOL II, the South African regime's now a major subsidiary in construction new multibillion-dollar oil-from-coal and energy services. Raytheon refers plant, typify several increasingly to the SASOL contract as a "key con important trends of transnational cor tract . . . [which] is especially signifi porate involvement in apartheid. Two cant because it gives Badger entree aspects are especially noteworthy. into an important new area of the First, the project re resents a transfer energy field: coal conversion tech of technology to the South African nology. Badger has grown rapidly in regime, with the companies maintain the last decade. Raytheon's net sales of ing little or no direct ownership. energy services grew from $1.3 billion Second, these two corporations, like to $2.2 billion between 1971 and '75. many other major US investors in Like Fluor, Raytheon is increasingly South Africa, have strong ties to the involved overseas. Its sales outside the US government. US in 1976 totalled $806 mn., an Fluor and Badger are international increase of $55 mn. over the previous year. Furthermore, construction firms, primarily con this market has cerned with energy-related projects. grown more rapidly than most, Fluor is based in Los Angeles. Its sub accouting in 1974 for 27 percent of Raytheon's sidiary, Fluor Utah, is contracted to total sales, and 33 percent the South African parastatal, SASOL, in 1976. to provide "engineering, procurement No time wasted-With US aid SASOL and construction of ash-handling The growing size and overseas in and grows apace. volvement catalyst-preparation facilities, as well of firms like Badger and as management of wet-screening and Fluor largely reflects changing tech nologies, coal-handling operations." Fluor will which have led to growing be paid $2.2 billion, and finish the job, economies of scale. The average con which it calls a "megaproject," in 1981. tract for such firms grew from $13 mn. in the mid-'60s, The project apparently represents the to about $100 mn. in 1974. At the same time, the companies second largest contract ever obtained over 400 percent between 1972 and apparently need to find new by Fluor. 1976, rising from $412 mn. markets to $1801 outside the capitalist developed mn. Its after-tax profits coun The South African contracts rose from $8 tries-a need are also mn. to $65 mn. which has grown with important to the Badger company, in the same period. the recent recession. a Much wholly-owned subsidiary of Raytheon. of Fluor's business is overseas. Over nine-tenths When Badger's role in the project of its 1976 orders was were outside "substantially increased to include the US, compared to four-fifths in 1975 Easy Credit engineering and procurement and about half in the of facili early '70s. In 1973, ties to recover and purify Fluor was esti Governments have been eager to by-product mated to "have about chemicals produced a 15 percent help corn panies based in their coun in the new com share in the worldwide plex" in 1976, Raytheon business of tries win the new, huge contracts. As a referred to the engineering new contract as one of Badger's and building major pro result, customers like the South Afri three cessing facilities. Fluor most important in that year. is active in can, Iranian and Brazilian regimes Brazil, the Federal Republic of Ger which form much of the new market many (FRG), Indonesia, Iran, the the companies look toward-have Expanding Overseas Netherlands, Saudi Arabia, South been able to get easy credit for their Fluor has grown spectacularly since Korea and the UK, and -alsohas signifi l)rojects from gover mental export the late 1960s. Its revenues grew by cant interests in domestic and foreign inancial agencies in the capitalist oil and gas production. The company dexelo)ed countries. SASOL, for emphasizes that, largely "by virtue of example, expected western govern Neva Seidman is the co-author of the the type of customer involved," its ments to provide recent study credit for all but S250 on US investment in overseas investments are as safe as inn. of the cost of SASOL II. However, southern Africa, South Africa and US those within the US-an interesting under ptIblic pressure, the US Ex-Im Multinational Corporations, published belief in view of its involvement in Bank backed out of providing credit by Lawrence Hill & Co. South Africa. but the \Vest German government

APRIL 1978/SOUTHERN AFRICA 23 liberals hoped that Woods' advocacy of Bank aid to South Africa of disseminat international ostracism of South Afica ing "malicious nonsense," in a letter to would even convince Control Data to allmembers of the House and Senate change its long-held position that it Banking Committees that arrived just and other American companies play a before the House hearings. He im progressive role by staying in South plied that the Washington Office on Africa. Africa and other endorsers of the leaf But some liberal Democrats ap let were lying to members ofCongress, peared convinced that American cor and were "orchestrating attempts to Congress Airs porate and government involvement influence your decision on this mat Disengagement Debate in South Africa should continue. Rep. ter." He insisted that South Africa was Bruce Vento, the Congressman from repared to "abide by any standard of A House Banking Subcommittee St. Paul where Control Data is based, emocratic institutions" applied on a hearing at the beginning of February had nothing but glowing praise for its non-discriminatory basis' to the on whether the Export-Import Bank operations in South Africa and its Export-Import Bank, and demanded should continue to finance trade to endorsement of Leon Sullivan's equal full hearings at which South Africa South Africa provided a rare Washing employment code. Rep. Les AuCoin could present its case. ton forum for a debate about the broad said apartheid was wrong, but politics A preliminary measure of the issue of corporate disengagement. shouldn't be mixed in with Ex-Im strength of the pro- and anti-South The witnesses represented the Bank's function to promote American African forces will come in the second groups usually pitted against each exports and jobs. The right-wing was half of March when the House Banking other on this issue. The church-based represented by Rep. Henry Hyde Subcommittee votes on an amend Washington Office on Africa, the Oil, from outside 'Chicago, who accused ment to be offered by Rep. Tsongas to Chemical and Atomic Workers Inter Maguire of applying a double standard the Ex-Im Bank authorization bill that national Union and Congressmen to South Africa and Communist coun would end all financing for South Andrew Maguire and Charles Diggs tries. Africa. Consideration of the issue will urged an immediate end to all official begin in the Senate soon thereafter. financing of trade with South Africa. The South African government and Senator Clark's recent recommenda On the other side were the voices of its Washington lobbyists are pulling tion to cut off Ex-Im Bank funds for corporate liberalism, represented by out all the stops in their attack on advo South Africa will probably be a major Control Data Corporation, and global cates of disengagement. The Washing influence on how his colleagues react. free trade, represented by an associa ton law firm of Collier, Shannon, Rill For organizing materials on the Ex tion of capital goods producers called and Edwards set up a press conference Im Bank campaign, contact the Wash the Machinery and Allied Products outside the hearing room after Donald ington Office on Africa, 110 Maryland Institute. Even the South African Woods appeared before the House Ave., N.E., Washington, D.C. 20002. embassy had selected a witness, an Africa Subcommittee. Retief Van afrikaner banker from the Finans Rooyen, counsel to the South African bank in Johannesburg. police in the inquest into the killing of Carter Rejects Congressional advocates for even Steve Biko, claimed that he just hap partial economic disengagement from pened to be in Washington as a tourist, South Africa Tariff South Africa are a small group, but and just happened to have personal President Carter has rejected a their number is growing. White liber friends at the law firm who helped him recommendation from the Interna als on the House Ad Hoc Monitoring set up the press conference. Van tional Trade Commission to impose a Group on South Africa, including Rooyen told chuckling reporters that 30-percent tariff on ferrochrome Reps. Maguire and Paul Tsongas, have Woods was telling them "the big lie" imports from South Africa. The tariff been influenced by the growing oppo that Africans want American com was being sought by hard-pressed sition to corporate involvement in panies out. The press conference domestic ferrochrome producers who South Africa, and particularly by the turned into a shouting match when claimed they couldn't compete with few prominent whites who now take Van Rooyen finally started to answer cheap labor and economic subsidies this position. questions about how Biko died. available in South Africa. In 1977, one Briefings by banned editor Donald The lobbyists also took on anti-apar half of American ferrochrome imports Woods before the Ad Hoc Monitoring theid groups directly for the first time. came from South Africa, mostly from a Group and the Africa Subcommittee Donald deKieffer, the lawyer handling Union Carbide subsidiary. the week before the Ex-Im Bank hear the South African account, accused Heeding the advise of chief trade ings were well attended. Some of the sponsors of a leaflet opposing Ex-Im negotiator Robert Strauss, Carter

continues to guarantee about $200 inn. gileIs point of view, the companies Fluor and Badger, like other trans for Deutsche Babcock to prov ide a pros ide technolo gy key to its eneigy national cor)orations, are able to steam pressure svsteim for SASOL II. progr ail, which it hopes will counter organize fbreign credits-another act an oil boycott. In addition, tile quality valued by the South African Technology, Management and Capital companies provide overall manage regime. Corporate access to western For the companies, South Africa's ment, which the size of the project governments export credit agencies white minority regime is an important makes crucial, and which is available in iave been mentioned. Fluor also has large, new customer. From the re the main only from the United States. "lines of credit" with 13 banks, extend-

24 SOUTHERN AFRICA/APRIL 1978 decided that the issue of restricting erations Subcommittee of the Senate Because of the earlier security barriers to trade was more important Appropriations Committee holds a vir breach, extra precautions were taken. than opposing South Africa's repres tual veto power over the research plan, Access to the hearing room was re sion. Senator Clark and Black Caucus and has so far refused to release the stricted to one door, and sign was Chairman Parren Mitchell strongly funds that were appropriated last sum posted at the door that the briefing was disagreed. Clark said he regretted that mer. The group is therefore working closed. Carter hadn't taken the opportunity to with a minimal five-person staff using Inside, an aide to Downey noticed a signal US disapproval of South Africa's money from other internal AID young woman tape recording Woods' policies. sources. confidential remarks. The aide asked The Congress has ninety days to The project has approached at least the woman to identify herself. She pro overturn the President's decision. three groups of American and African duced a congressional ID card, identi Rep. Andrew Maguire has introduced academics in the last few months to fying herself as Eva Neterowicz from a resolution opposing the President's subcontract part of the research, but the office of Rep. Dan Rostenkowski decision, but no vote is expected to be has not met with any success. AID (D-Ill.). taken on it. appears anxious to make the study It was later determined that she left Ferrochrome producers had unsuc appear independent of State Depart Rostenkowski's office in October, cessfully sought a similar tariff in 1975, ment policies on southern Africa, and 1977, and joined the law firm of citing purely economic reasons. This particularly to involve Africans from deKieffer and Associates. The firm is year they also stressed the horrors of the region in its work. registered as an agent for South Africa apartheid, hoping to benefit from Car and is paid approximately $150,000 ter's human rights policies and the Agents Eavesdrop annually for legal and lobbying work. Neterowicz is assigned to the South growing attention being given to For South Africa southern Africa policy. African account. Jack Anderson has reported that One result of the ruckus caused by South African agents slipped into these two incidents is the recall of the closed congressional briefings and Johannesburg Star's Washington cor Second Try on AID Study obtained unauthorized information respondent. Apparently the South twice in January. African Department of Information A one million dollar AID study on On January 18, an uninvited official didn't like the way he reported on the development in southern Africa begun of the South African embassy attended affair. last August still hasn't gotten off the a State Department briefing restricted ground. to members of Congress and their Commerce Issues Limited The project was beset with difficul staffs. ties from the start, partly in the form of Again on January 31, an employee of Arms Embargo Regulations internal differences between AID a law firm representing South Africa Validated export licenses for all Assistant Administrator for Africa posed as a congressional aide to get commodities and technical data in Goler Butcher and project director into another off-the-record briefing? tended for the South African military Roger Ernst on how the study should The first incident may have been or police will no longer be granted, be run. Ernst submitted a research inadvertent; the second was deliber according to new guidelines published plan last year which Ms. Butcher ate, and one Justice Department by the Commerce Department on rejected. In January, he left the pro source told Anderson the second February 16. The new guidelines im ject. eavesdropping "could be a potential plement the decision taken by the Ernst's replacement is Roy Stacey, violation of US espionage laws. Administration to deny all exports to who has worked for AID in the Ivory The first briefing was arranged by the military and police following the Coast and Botswana. Most recently Reps. Thomas Downey (D-N Y) United Nations Security Council deci Stacey worked on the Sahel aid pro Andrew Maguire (D-N.J.)and Edwad sion in November. gram of the Organization for Economic Markey (D-Mass.). After they learned The Administration still has not Co-operation and Development about the uninvited guest, they joined decided whether or how it will restrict (OECD) in Paris. The Club des Amies in writing a sharp, private letter of pro sales of the larger ..gray area" category de Sahel, encompassing both donor test to South African Ambassador of commodities with military use sold and recipient nations, has frequently Donald Sole. to other South African government been held up by people working on the Two weeks later, according to An agencies or private purchasers. State AID study as a possible model for derson, newspaper editor Donald Department sources indicate that southern Africa. Woods appearedbehind closed doors some additional restrictions might be The study has also faced problesm on Capitol Hill to testify about abuses placed on such sales, but that a prohi with the Congress. The Foreign Op- by the South African government. bition of future sales is very unlikely.

ing to a imLximum of about S50 m. at \xas invsol sd in arranging the Fluor Government Ties rates of up to I percent oer LIBOR SASOL contract. Thc Ohio \ttornic and one of Fluor's baiks is Chase Main General filed suit against Fluor anl Both Fluor and Ray theon have close hattan, which has a lon record of mak Manufacturers Hanover in 1976 for ties to the US government. Raytheon ing, big loans to South Mrica. There is ci inspiring to conceal the deal, so that is one of the 25 largest militaiv con ls,,o some evidence that Manufacturers Manut aetirers Hanoxcr could buv tractors in this countrv. In 1976, its Hanover, another bank which has pro Fluor stock bcfore the price wiit tip sales to the US go\srnment totalled vided major credits to South Africa, after the contract was am ounced. S857 inn., or 35 percent of all Raytheon

APRIL 1978/SOUTHERN AFRICA 25 sales, and were $27 mn. higher than ploved by the US government is a from-coal test plant, a design and feasi the year before. Ravtheon's chairman director who xas deputy associate bility study of a coal-to-methanol pro and chief executive is a member of the administrator of' manned space flight ject for the Energy Research and industrial advisory council to the office for NASA in 1961-'63. Fluor has also Development Administration, and the of the Secretary of Defense. Among had several major contracts from the 1976 construction contract for the first Raytheon officers previously ema- US government, including a 1974 oil- large-scale oil-from-coal demonstra tion plant. The Energy Network Fluor, Raytheon and Badger all have Gold Rush In Progress broad interests relating to energy; Fluor has been involved in the design Despite nation-wide anti-apartheid sensitive than the American con and construction of various nuclear group activities in the US, and some science." related plants-both power plants and considerable victories, sales of Kruger Precise figures for Krugerrand sales uranium enrichment projects; Ray rands have been climbing again. This in the US are hard to come by; Inter theon has a subsidiary "engaged prin is true in Europe, too, and seems to gold does not advertize such potenti cipally in providing conventional and reflect an international middle-class ally harmful data. But total world sales nuclear power plants." The corpora nervousness about the falling value of in 1977 were a high 3,300,000 coins, tions have undertaken major projects money. (Poor people worry too--but and experts estimate that more than a for most of the oil giants, both in the they can t go out and buy gold coins.) third of the sales were in the US. In US and abroad. Fluor is also linked to January 1978 worldwide sales were another major investor in South Africa Sales have probably been boosted 669,000 coins (as against 203,000 one and Namibia, Newmont Mines, by the clever advertizing of the SA year earlier). With the price of gold through the joint ownership of Pea Chamber of Mines and its US agent, running at over $180 an ounce that body Coal, the largest coal producer in Intergold. Last year $4 million was makes a handy income for South Africa. the US. spent promoting the so-called "ounce It is especially valuable income of love." because it comes in the form of foreign University Ties exchange, which Vorster's govern Finally, like most powerful corpora Nevertheless opponents of South ment needs to buy such things as oil tions, Ffuor and Raytheon have close Africa's repressive racism might have and airplanes overseas. links to the universities, the nurseries expected that the exposure in late 1977 If one third of the 669,000 coins for their next generation of standard of the Pretoria regime's desperate were sold in the US in January, as they bearers. J. Robert Fluor, the coin brutality, as evidence by the police had been on average over the whole of pany's president (the Fluor family still killing of Steve Biko and the baning of 1977, then US citizens gave South ownus 9 percent of its shares) is chair the last major black organizations, Africa $40 million in just one month. man of the board of trustees of South would make people a little queasy Not a bad prize for the world's most ern California University. Raytheon's about buying the coins. But, as one racist state. directors include a Dartmouth trustee, foreign journalist commented, "the Seems like it's time for some folks to two Harvard overseers, and a Harvard American pocket has proved more hit the streets again. E professor. D1

%ANGOLA Renewed Hostilities

Z Provoke Protest The Germans and Swiss are buying some 45000 Krugerrands aweek. Early in February the Angolan Am Most of the incidents in the south Maybe thic" know something Youdon't. bassador to the UN officially registered involved South African troop move a protest with the Secretary General ments and violations of Angolan air against continued South African and space by South African reconnaissance Zairean violations of Angola's territory. planes. Several times South African In a letter distributed to all memher forces shelled Angolan border towns in states of'the UN, Ambassador Elisio de the provinces of Cunene and Cuando Figueiredo detailed 22 incidents initi Cubango, and in late December, 1he Krugerrand ated from Zaire along the northern and South African troops attacked an eastern borders and 14 incidents along Angolan army unit. There were no the southern border with Namibia. casualties. The violations occurred between early South Africa has admitted none of Advertising the lucrative Krugerrand October and late January. these actions, but it did officially

26 SOUTHERN AFRICA/APRIL 1978 announce that its troops had crossed the Angolan border late this February in "hot pursuit" of SWAPO guerrillas. The announcement came just as SWAPO and the South African For en Minister were sitting down for s in New York with the Foreign Ministers of the five Western mem bers of the Securitv Council over future independence for Namibia. South Africa said it had killed 18 guer rillas. Captured UNITA Soldier Angola provided more evidence of South African-supported counter insurgency in February when it pre sented a captured UNITA soldier to the press. Inocente Parente Vieira was cap tured by the Angolan armed forces in September in southeastern Angola. The 27-vear-old Vieira is a native of Bie in soutl central Angola. After fighting in Lobito, he crossed the Namibian border with other defeated UNITA troops in February 1976. Several days later South African personnel carriers brought him back to Angola. Vieira said he was then chosen for further training and returned to Nami bia. "Once inside the frontier wire fence on the Namibia side," he told reporters in Luanda, "we were picked up by a Puma military helicopter and taken to a local South African military base," which he added, was "recently built and had South African troops." He received training for eight w\hen the Angolan government says it Cabinda) we will be satisfied," Neto weeks, and in July re-entered Angola confirmed that Zaire amassed 3000 said in mid-January. "When the Presi with other UNITA troops. South Afri troops on its border including 40 mer dent of Zaire contacted us to try to can troops entered Angola last July and cenaries of undetermined nationality. normalize our relations, we responded: August at the border town of Cuangar, Earlier, Angolan armed forces cap very well, but on the condition that and the operations, Vieira said, were tured a sergeant in the Zairean armed Kinshasa stop the infiltration of these to culminate in the proclamation of a forces, and according to another cap elements and the pursuit of their ill UNITA-led republic. But Angolan tured U N ITA soldier, a group made up fated activities." armed fores repulsed the South Afri of Zaireans, eight Moroccans and six cans. The Angolan president however Frenchmen crossed into Angola in demonstrated no inclination to hurry It was at this time that extensive Moxico province. normalization along. Acknowledging reports appeared in the Western press, Ironically, at the same time Zaire that Zaire was looking toward the re most notably in the Washington Post, President Miobutu Sese Seko was mak opening of its access to the Angolan claiming that UNITA held one-half of ing renewed overtures to the Angolan portion of the Benguela railway, closed Angola's territory and that it was ready government to normalize relations. since the \kar, Neto suggested that to proclaim an "independent repub The two countries have had no official i c . " another rail line could be built that l diplomatic relations since the Angolan could directly benefit Zambia with "We had constant field radio contact war in 1975-76 when Zaire supported with our central base," Vieira said, which Angola has more cordial rela "and with the South African the FN LA against \ PLA. Mobutu has tions. Zambian copper must now be com previously given indications that he transported through Zaire if it is to mand." would favor normalized relations but reach the Atlantic port of Lobito, at the Incursions From North during MPLA's Congress in early Western end of the Benguela railway. In the north, manyof the violations December, he made special efforts to Neto also noted that if Angola of Angolan territory have been just as contact Angolan president Agostinho wanted to retaliate against Zaire for its serious. In January 1978 an armed Neto. continued provocations it could close group from Zaire set fire to the village Angola has always made it clear what Matadi, Zaire's only port at the mouth of Nhamutenga in Alto Zambeze leav obstacles block the way to normalized of the Congo river. Angola could "pre ing several dead. On the following day, relations. "If Zaire wants to transform vent the transport of any product into they repeated the attack on the settle its relations with Angola so that they no or out of the country," Neto warned, ment of Sabassaba. The attacks from longer send the puppets of FN LA (who adding "but we don t intend to suffo Zaire had intensified in December find sanctuary in Zaire and near cate anyone." ED APRIL 1978/SOUTHERN AFRICA 27 %MOZAMBIQUE Mozambique and Tanzania Build Cooperation

Mozambique and Tanzania, two front-line states who have cooperated closely in providing ongoing support to the liberation struggles being fought in southern Africa have recently entered into a new phase of relations with the formal establishment of the Permanent Commission for Cooperation between Mozambique and Tanzania. Although the Commission was set up three months -after Mozambique's indepen dence from Portugal in 1975, its efforts have only recently begun to institu tionalize significant areas of coopera tion, most particularly in trade and agriculture. While Tanzania provided major material and political support to FRE LIMO during the war of indepen Years of Solidarity: President Nyerere (left) with President Machel dence, the two countries in fact stood back to back until two years ago, Tan Joint cooperative projects in tea and industry for the region as a whole. For zania's Ambassador to Mozambique, sisal growing, aided by Tanzanian example, Mozambique's production of Obeid Katikaza, told the Tanzania advisors, have rejuvenated Mozam (high) quality cloth for export will be Daily News in a recent interview. bique's cashew, tea, and cotton planta complemented by Tanzania's produc Now, he added, the good will and com tions abandoned by the Portuguese tion of cloth for'domestic consump mon goals between their peoples, par after independence. tion, in particular the popular kanga ties, and governments have made Unity Bridge and kitenge materials. Cement pro them face to face. duction provides another example of Despite the history of mutual sup In transportation, plans are being planned cooperation; Mozanbique's port and sympathy, the achievement developed for the construction of the established output of nine million tons of closer relations was not an easy one, appropriately named Unity Bridge to annually will be supplemented by Katikaza pointed out. Differences in be built across the Rovuma River, the Tanzania's production of a more speci language, history, and colonial experi natural boundary between the two alized variety. white cement. In con ences posed definite problems in the countries. The bridge will also facili junction, the two countries wvill be able beginning. In addition, Tanzania's tate the development of the Rovuma to establish a viable cement industry. membership in the East African Com Basin where a joint survey is planned An area of new cooperation generat mon Market subjected it to certain to tap the rich agricultural potential of ing great enthusiasm among the youth binding trade agreements and prefer the area. is that of school sports. Primary ential treatment of other neighbors, In addition to the Unity Bridge, the schools, secondarv schools, and col and Mozambique's 500-year subjuga two countries have agreed to launch leges in both countries have begun a tion to colonial rule and underdevelop political education programs for peo series of exchange sports visits and ment followed by a 10-year war exacer ple living along the border aimed at joint participation in games. bated these differences. teaching respect for territorial inte Nevertheless, increased coopera grity and national independence. This tion has characterized their relation project hopes to stein the illegal border Diplomats Training Center ship since independence. The most trade, and the practice of crossing the Finally, on the initiative of Presi successful areas of cooperation have border without valid documents, dents Nlachel and Nverere, the Per been in the trade and agricultural sec allowing the infiltration of "disguised manent Mission for Cooperation has tors. The value of trade had gone from agents. proposed a joint center to train career zero in 1975 to one million shillings by The industrial sector has been the diplomats and students in related pub 1977, with Tanzania buying more from one showing the least development in lic institutions. It is expected to open Mozambique in the first half of 1977 both countries. However, the most this year in the former Mozambique and Mozambique offsetting that imbal recent Commission meeting called for Institute at Kurasini in Dar es Salaam 'complementary ance with increased Tanzanian imports and rationalized' -the center which FRELIMO used to during the second half of 1977. industrial cooperation to develop train many of its cadres during the war

28 SOUTHERN AFRICA/APRIL 1978 of liberation. The agreement was two countries. Tanzanian missions the border and took refuge in southern signed in January by foreign ministers abroad have often facilitated Mozam Tanzania while many others came to Ndugu Benjamin Mkapa of Tanzania bique's diplomatic needs in capitols work on Tanzanian plantations. While and Joaquim Chissano of Mozam where Mozambique has no mission, this grass roots level of international bique. and in capitols such as Lisbon, Mozam ism has been most pronounced in the While the majority of courses will be bique acts as a representative of Tan border area, it has significantly influ offered in Dar, Mozambique will also zania. enced the growing closeness and coop host some of the training, such as in The increasing closeness of Mozam eration between Mozambique and Portuguese language. It is hoped that bique and Tanzania extends to the Tanzania. the joint center will go a long way ground level of popular understanding Now both countries hope that the towards training cadres fully conver and support. Tanzania's Ambassador collaboration and cooperation built sant with the socialist aspirations of the Katikaza stressed that the basis for this during the anti-colonial struggles will two nations. understanding stems from the unique groxv vet stronger, forming a sound In fact this center institutionalizes relationship the two countries have oundation for the construction of new the already established practice of shared for more than a decade. During exploitation-free societies in the reciprocal representation between the the war many Mozambicans crossed future. LI

A Multinational's Politics in Africa: Lessons for Revolution

By Terisa Turner readers of various political shades. \%e desian mining firm with a profit before $395,000. By 1965 pre-tax THE LONRHO CONNECTIONS: get a well-rounded picture of a corpo tax of only ration operating in complex milieux: profit had reached $5,460,000 and after A MULTINATIONAL AND ITS decade of really tremendous growth, POLITICS IN AFRICA, by Suzanne West, East and Southern Africa, The a Sudan and Europe, within the OAU it was $138,648,900 for 1975. While Cronje, Margaret Ling and Gillian this impressive expansion coincides Cronje. Los Angeles: Bellwether and in the private and public sectors. The study also demonstrates the with a noom in the world economy, Books, 6399 NNilshire Blvd., California especially in certain areas like sugar 09948. 1977, 320 pp., hardcover, $15. limited use of sanctions. The strong points of the book are its and copper where Lonrho is strong, First published in Britain simultane the company's rapid growth through ously by Julian Friedmann Books presentation of the completely world wide character of today's economy, its out Africa and beyond has more to do (London), 1976, 316 pp., k6.95, hard with the style of its chairman, Tiny cover and Penguin Books, paperback. description of a corporation's role in creating a (largely commercial or com Rowland, an expert at wheeling and For years Suzanne Cronje has been prador) African bourgeoisie and its dealing, sanctions busting, bribing, in the forefront of political journalists demvstification of "revolutionary capi playing benefactor in white and black writing on Africa. Now she is joined by talism." The authors conclude by stat ruled Africa at the same time. her daughter Gillian Cronje and Mar ing that Lonrho achieved considerable noto garet Ling in authoring an exhaustive riety in 1973 when a boardroom brawl and highly readable study of a corpora The real challenge to Lonrho's fu hit the headlines in Britain. Prime tionIs penetration of Africa. In terms of ture lies in the possibility of an Afri Minister Heath announced that the information the book is a tour de force. can and Arab challenge to capitalism multinational's maneuvers showed It stands on a solid foundation of com itself and to its major agencies in thef 'the unacceptable face of capitalism." mitted and scholarly research extend multinational companies. . . . The Angus Ogilvy, husband of Princess ing to Europein, American and African issue is not whether Lonrho is the Alexandra, the Queen's cousin, re media reports, company documents, unacceptable face of capitalism', but signed from the board of Lonrho as the intervievs and attendance at Lonrho whether capitalism is going to have scandal surfaced. Lonrho was paying stockholders' meetings. Meticulously an acceptable face in Africa at all. (p. huge amounts of money to Duncan footnoted, the study concludes with 248) Sandys, ex-Conservative government four valuable appendices (on Lonrho's minister, to 'fix' a fraud case being Rhodesian profits, the OAU oil consul Lonrho today is a vast conglomerate brought in South Africa. tancy job, the text of an OAU-Lonrho of mining, agricultural, sales, service, agreement and the terms of L'N sanc newspaper, transport and other types Sanctions Busting tions), and t postscript which brings of companies based mainly in Africa In 1970 Yeoman Investments, in the story up to the July 1976 publica (especially South Africa and Rhodesia), which Ogilby had a 10% stake, negoti tion by the British government of an but also in the Middle East, South ated a $2 million loan from the Cana investigation into Lonrho's sanction America, South East Asia and in Brit dian Imperial Bank of Commerce, of busting actiN ities. ain where it is incorporated. In 1961 which Ogilvy was a director. While The btok is light on theory, though when Tiny Rowland became owier this money was supposed to be for heavy on facts. This is probably a virtue director, Lonrho (which stands for expansion of HCC Investments, a since it can be readily absorbed by London-Rhodesia) was a faltering Rho- Lonrho-owned South African mining APRIL 1978/SOUTHERN AFRICA 29 company, only 19 days after the loan Ian Smith. In May 1976 it was reported the proposal public, gets it accepted was made HCC bought out a Rho that a new company financed by Lon through the appropriate agency, and desian copper mine. In this way Rho rho had been formed to start a news then hires Lonrho to carry it out. What desian copper could find its way to the paper for African readers. An African might appear 'radical' or 'progressive' world market through South Africa and in Lonrho's employ was slated to be to naive observers-joint ownership of around sanctions. the new editor-in-chief while the chair rojects, the creation of an Arab dinar In 1969 Lonrho's Rowland bought man was a member of the ANC execu ased on oil to replace dollars, the use Edmundian Investments which owned tive. It is clear that Lonrho, with its of Arab oil money for African 'develop a defunct copper mine in Mozam very large holdings in Zimbabwe (39 ment,' and a host of other projects, bique. False certificates of origin could companies, 11 of which were acquired many of them involving several coun be issued on the Mozambican mine for after the 1972-73 financial year) has tries and governments-are in fact the exports of Rhodesian copper, so long as E lanned for business as usual under far-reaching plans of Lonrho, a firm the countries' common border re lack rule. But for it and a host of other which makes no bones about what mat mained open. These "unacceptable" firms, it is vitally important that the ters: "and that's the cash we can expect capitalist operations lead the British new Zimbabwean and South African to receive in London." Department of Trade to undertake an governments be 'moderate.' For years Rowland favored 'detente' investigation, but no legal action was Making Friends in Africa taken against Lonrho on the basis of between white and black-ruled Africa. the official investigation, despite mas Lonrho has been adept at creating But he also assured black governments sive evidence of sanctions busting. an elite of partners in African coun that his interests in southern Africa One reason why the British govern tries, and in establishing abroad orien were minimal and indirect when in fact ment did not enforce its sanctions law tation which favors capitalist enter they were rapidly expanding. With the in the case of Lonrho was highlighted prise, often through newspapers rise of liberation movements in the by Rowland himself. Company state owned by the company. Rowland is south, Rowland stepped up his support ments accused a number of British proud of his brand of "constructive" for black rule which he was convinced firms of avoiding sanctions. Lonrho and "revolutionary" capitalism. In could be made to work to Lonrho's claimed its position was "far less open 1973 he boasted that "When I'm advantage. In their study (p. 262), to criticism that that of many British abroad, I am entertained, and do busi Ling and Cronje quote a Lonrho direc companies who have continued ness with Rulers, Presidents and tor, Sir Basil Smallpiece's record of a through South Africa or elsewhere to Prime Ministers, who entertain me conversation with Rowland in 1972: supply oil, vehicles and banking and and look after me." Lonrho is innova [Rowland mentioned] his personal insurance services." In short, to prose tive and its "revolutionary capitalism" interests in helping free Africa, cute Lonrho would open a can of is adaptable to new political situations. whether black or Arab, to develop, worms. It may help new governments emerge. and how he had only this morning Rhodesian sanctions have not Rowland has said "'AN e like to ap been to see the political adviser at worked. This is not new information. proach a country and give them ideas the American Embassy in London, After all, the ban on trade is almost ten and suggest a feasibility study and a when he said it had been agreed that partnership deal so they can get in years old and Smith a special message would be sent to remains in power. right from the start .... ." Lonrho's What the excellent study of Lonrho President Nixon outlining his ideas etorts to become the oil consultant to for the solution of the problem of shows is how, step by step, sanctions the OAU in 1973 illustrate this tactic. were avoided. The very structure of Africa. He went on to add that he The company suggests a scheme to a multinationals, with endless subsidi thought that as a result of securing a well-placed African who then makes aries, "briefcase companies," paper political solution to the problem of chases and legal fictions, makes com Africa, Lonrho could develop into a pletely international trade easily pos company earning profits of £50 to sible, despite sanctions forbidding it. E100 million a year! Underlying this is the inherently global New from Black Liberation character of modern economic activity. Testing Rhetoric With Reality This is not to say that Lonrho and Press: The Black Peoples' Convention The ease with which Lonrho and other companies would not like an end other multinationals adjust to 'inde to sanctions. In fact, the main attrac (BPC) - South Africa: Historical Background and Basic Documents pendent'governments in Africa should tion of the late 1977 British-US plan for provoke questions about exactly what a Rhodesian settlement is that it would Analysis of the historical devel is new in the economic relations which put an end to sanctions if Smith agrees opment of the BPC from the his are established by governments calling to a referendum and handover to a toric Soweto Meeting in 1971 to "responsible" majority themselves socialist. Lonrho's "revo regime. its being driven underground lutionarv capitalism" may be even today. more profitable than the' staid pre Making Friends in Zimbabwe "The Quest for a True Humanity" independence sort. But it has a new Lonrho has moved aggressively to Contains Sipho Buthelezi's trib and more acceptable face: black gov establish links with moderate, poten ute to Steve Biko, some aspects ernment agencies in 'socialist' coun tially neo-colonial elements in Zim of the BPC program and a rare tries or indigenous black businessmen babwe. For instance, the company essay by Steve Biko - "Black on the boards of directors. The coun provided legal advisors to Nkomo dur Consciousness and the Quest tries' raw materials are exported just as ing the 1976 Geneva conference. An for a True Humanity," written before with little benefit going to the economist connected with Lonrho, in 1971-72. citizenry. If the change has been little Mr. Tim Curtin, went to Zimbabwe in For copies, write to Black Lib more than cosmetic, of what benefit 1976 to act as an adviser to Nkomo and eration Press, Box 955, Harlem, NY are the 'revolutionary' governments his faction of the African National 10027. and 'revolutionary capitalism' to the Council, in its constitutional talks with people?

30 SOUTHERN AFRICA/APRIL 1978 Multi-National Capitalism would like Balfour Williamson to be years ago of a "Socialist United States the first British company in Hanoi and of Africa [linked] to the European and The study also demonstrates in con Peking." world economy. The Lonrho study crete detail the international character The practical strategy which follows provides an analysis of present-day of modern capitalism. One of the les from recognizing the worldwide char capitalist operations which makes this sons of the failure of sanctions against acter of today's political economy, is internationalist policy even more obvi Rhodesia is that trade, and almost all the union of all peoples, regardless of ously the only one with revolutionary economic activity today, is by defini nationality, against the international potential, if we mean by revolution a network of capitalists and bureaucrats radical change in the relations among tion multinational. In March 1975 and women too) Rowland announced the purchase of a who coordinate exploitation. It is in all people (children subsidiary of Lloyd's Bank and said "I this light that C. L. R. James wrote 27 engage in production. El -SPECIAL ACTION REPORT Bank Campaign Builds Strength

On January 22, twenty organizers Lending is dominated by key giant Work has been co-ordinated by a met in New York city to formulate goals commercial banks like Bank of Ameri small staff in New York; Gene Jones, of and strategies for the ongoing US cam ca. Chase Manhattan, and Citibank. Clergy and Laity Concerned and Prexy paign to stop all bank loans to South But many smaller regional and local Nesbitt of the American Committee on Africa. banks have also been involved, often Africa. These two have carried primary It was agreed that: through transactions linked to the US responsibility for the mobilization t The campaign should force US banks govvrnment Export Import Bank. \v\hich has built the wide coalition of to stop making new loans and to stop In New York, Chemical Bank was many groups working together as the renewing old loans to South Africa. chosen as a major organizing focus. Committee to Oppose Bank Loans to p It should force banks to issue ex The recent Senate report on US in South Africa. plicit public announcements stating v'olvement in SA has referred to When Southern Africa talked to they will make no new loans and they Chemical as one of the major lenders Prexy Nesbitt in New York he was will not renew old loans until the apart to South Africa. being given what he termed "invalu heid system is dismantled and majority able assistance" by Beata Klein, a Ben rule is realized in South Africa. Size of US Bank Loans nington student working with him as b The campaigns should force US According to the Committee to an intern. From the piles of queries banks to stop financing US corporate Oppose Banks Loans to South Africa, stacked up on hier desk to be answered, investment in South Africa and to stop US banks have lent more than $3 bil and the constant ringing of the tele facilitating trade with South Africa. lion to South Africa since 1974. Much phone it was obvious that a major prob t Pressure should be exerted to insure of this money has gone directly to the lem was the need for help. But, unlike that the US government's Export government, or to government con the banks with their infinite funds for Import Bank stops guaranteeing, in trolled corporations, which play a cru apartheid, the bank campaign is oper suring, and discounting loans from US cial role i the economy, and include ating in a very finite, almost non-exis banks to South African corporations ESCOM (Electricity Supply Commis tant budget. seeking to buy US products. sion), ISCOR (Iron and Steel Corpora These goals should be accomplished tion) and SASOL (South African Coal, Actions - National and International in relation to ongoing campaigns to Oil and Gas Corporation). Nevertheless the achievements stop all US corporate investment in Maintaining a constant flow of capi have been significant. When the South Africa-campaigns to isolate the tal into the country is vital for the Pre twenty organizers met in January they South African state from the capital toria regime, which desperately needs came from all over the United States investment and vital cash flow neces the foreign currency to buy oil, defense the campaign has really spread. Equ sary to intensify its subjugation of the equipment, and a wide range of other ally important was the presence of African population. equipment which will help build self active representatives from the Cana Key dates picked for actions to build sufficiency now, so that the economy dian and British campaigns. The banks the bank campaign were March 21 will shake off its vulnerability to foreign operate multi-nationally, ignoring na the commemoration of the Sharpeville sanctions. tional boundaries; in addition, they massacre, and June 16, the day on operate in groups-a British, a West which the Soweto uprising in 1976 Building the Committee German, an American bank will all There are now active local groups participate in one loan. Ending the began. flow of capital to South Africa means March 21 demonstrations were working on the bank campaign in at least 11 centers in the US, in Boston. turning the taps off in all the major planned to take place at the head western lending countries; it also quarters of branches of banks making Chicago, Cleveland, Charlotte, Mil waukee, Minneapolis, New York, means being able to check the flow of loans to South Africa in several major so-called offshore money from the cities. People were urged to close their Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, Rochester and San Francisco. Many other groups, uncontrolled American branch banks accounts at these banks. Large institu in the Caribbean. tions already in the process of closing like trade unions, church and com out their accounts were asked to com munity organizations, and students This challenge is being met by the plete the process and make a formal have also begun to organize around the widening involvement of groups inter announcement on that day. issue. nationally around bank actions in their APRIL 1978/SOUTHERN AFRICA 31 own countries. Thus in Britain 200 Methodist Church, and the National branches of Barclays Bank were pick Council of Churches-announced the eted March 1 as a first step in a cam withdrawal of funds from Continental Organizing paign which aims to get 10,000 ac Illinois and First National Chicago. counts withdrawn from that bank. Important national organizations Resources Members of an Irish teachers' union have also begun to respond to the cam "The ABC's of Bank Loans to are calling on their congress to resolve paign. In January the National Associa South Africa: A Primer." A 20 not to hold money in banks lending to tion for the Advancement of Colored page pamphlet put together by South Africa; Caribbean groups are People (NAACP) called for a total with CALC, the American Committee seeking out the networks which chan drawal of US business from South on Africa, with help from econom nel funds to South Africa; Canadian Africa, and specifically called on indi ists at the University of Massachu banks are being confronted; each week viduals and organizations to withdraw setts. This pamphlet is available brings news of-new areas of activity. funds from banks making loans to from CALC or ACOA. South Africa. US Victories Other developments are character "Bank Profiles: The Specifics of Known Loans to South Africa." A The US Committee ized by the actions of the Davis Coali has used a two 30-40-page mimeo listing of all pronged strategy, designed tion on South Africa in California; citi both to known loans bank-by-bank reach individuals, who often then zens are being asked to vote in an offi throughout the United States. become new organizers while at the cial referendum which aims at estab This is available from same time seeking action from major lishing a task force to begin the divest CALC or institutions and organizations, such as ment of city funds from banks and cor ACOA. trade unions, churches, universities. porations doing business in South On January 25, 1978, Senator There have been notable results, Africa; this would also raise the ques Dick Clark held a press confer including some sizable withdrawals of tion at the State legislature level. ence at which he released a study funds. of US banking as it relates to Several labor unions have voted to Corporate Campaigns South Africa. This report was pre withdraw funds. They include: the An important element in the growth pared by \\ illiam Raiford of the Furriers Joint Council, the United of the bank campaign has been the Congressional Research Service. Electrical, Radio and Machine Work close liaison with groups working on It is available from the Subcom ers of America, and the Fur, Leather the question of US corporate invest mittee on African Affairs of the and Machinist Workers Union. The ment in South Africa. The fundamen Committee on Foreign Relations, executive board of the United Auto tal issues raised are the same, and in Dirksen Senate Office Building, mobile Workers has endorsed the many places the decision not to have Room 4229, Washington, D.C. campaign voting "to withdraw UAW money in banks that lend is being 20510. deposits in American banks that are coupled with a decision not to have money The Interfaith Center on Cor loaning money to South Africa." Dis in corporations that invest in porate Responsibility will com trict Council 31 of the Steel Workers South Africa. pile the shareholders resolutions the largest local in the United States The organizing done around the filed issue of US aid for apartheid with banks and other cor voted to endorse the campaign, as did has also porations doing business with the pension fund trustees of the Na succeeded in raising a wider set of South Africa. This is available from tional Union of Hospital and Health issues for many groups. Thus union ICCR, 475 Riverside Drive, New Care Employees (District 1199). In a members have begun to consider the York, NY 10027. Also available resolution the fund decided to ban contradictions frequently involved in from ICCR will be a compilation investments that aid South Africa; the way in which, for instance, their called "W\ hat Banks Say," excerpts announcing the decision, union presi pension fund money is invested in from letters which are banks' re dent Leon Davis described US loans maximum profit ventures, without any sponses to questions and criti and investments that prop up South consideration of social responsibility. cisms of bank loans to South Africa. Africa's repressive regime as "an insult Questions of who controls funds, and to all Americans." how, are beginning to be examined. South Africa and US Multina Some religious bodies including the tional Corporations by Ann and National Council of Churches, the Problems to be Faced neva Seidman provides an excel New York Conference of the United As outlined, the campaign, barely a lent overn ew. It was published in Methodist Church, and the National year old, has had many successes. The January, 1978. Available from Conference of Christians and Jews meeting of organizers also examined Lawrence Hill and Company, 24 have also decided to take action in sup what they felt to be failures or weak Burr Frams Road, Westport, port of the campaign. But in general nesses in their work. It was agreed that Conn. 06880. $4.95. Also available this sector of the community, particu not enough effort had been put into from ACOA. larly at the higher institutionaI levels, taking the campaign "onto the street." Addresses for Committee to seems to have responded slowly to a Ultimate success for the campaign Oppose Bank Loans to South challenge that basically calls for an depended on being able to get the Africa: examination of the morality of the use message to community groups Prexy Nesbitt of large sums of money. Local churches throughout the country. This can only ACOA have taken up the issue with greater be achieved if people come to under 305 E. 46th St. enthusiasm. In early December, five stand the living connections between New York, NY 10017 church organizations-the Association issues like the banks' redlining and dis Gene Jones of Chicago Priests, Church Women criminatory anti-minority, anti-black, CALC United in Greater Chicago, the Chi anti-women hiring practices in the US 198 Broadway cago Disciples Union, the Northern and their role in relation to South New York, NY 10038 Illinois Conference of the United Africa. El

32 SOUTHERN AFRICA/APRIL 1978 At the University of Chicago more than 1,800 students and 40 faculty members have signed a petition calling for disinvestment. Antioch College alumnus Prexy Nesbitt spoke on campus in February, expressing surprise that the issue of divestment had not been settled in the STOP DAVIS CUP EFFORTS NOT 10 years since he was a student. Guide INTIMIDATED . . Despite the lines laid out earlier had been dropped, brutal physical attack on an activist he reported. working on protest demonstrations The University of Michigan held a agaist the US/South African Davis Cup Forum on Corporate Investment in Tennis match, scheduled for mid South Africa in early '78. The Univer March in Nashville, mobilization for sity Committee on Communications the event continued, and gained will recommend action. momentum. Northwestern University, which Richard Lapchick, political science reportedly holds at least 865 million professor and a leader of the American worth of stocks and bonds in US com coordinating Committee for Equality anies operating in South Africa, has in Sports and Society (ACCESS), was een asked to disinvest, but its presi February 14 Apartheid protest in Nash badly beaten with a metal statue and dent reports that it will not. ville. filing cabinet drawers by two stocking The South Africa Catalyst Project in masked intruders in his office at Vir California reports contact with groups ginia Wesleyan College in Norfolk on The UW Regents' action followed at the midwestern colleges of Dayton, February 14. After beating him un Attorney General Bronson La Fol Luther, and Manchester; Syracuse, conscious, they carved the word lette's finding that the university's SUNY/Binghamton, the University of niger (mispelled) onto his stomach South Africa-related investments Chicago, Chico State, Humboldt with a pair of office scissors. amounting to more than 88 million State, San Luis Obispo-Cal Poly, Santa He had just returned from four days violates a state law prohibiting the uni Clara University, Cal State Dominquz in Nashville, the venue of the match at versity from investing in any corpora Hills, and Fresno State. In California 9 Vanderbilt University-where he had tions that practice or condone dis of the 17 state college campuses have been helping to lay the groundwork for crimination. beginning groups. Grassroots organiz the planned demonstrations. The University of Minnesota is ing is being done at Stanford, and the "They picked me up and put me in a sponsoring resolutions requesting cor UC Regents will be petitioned in chair, tied my hands and feet, stuck a porations to adopt the Sullivan code of March. glove in my mouth and tied that too," conduct regarding their South African Miami University (Oxford, Ohio) Lapchick told reporters from his hospi subsidiaries. Over 50 US companies students voted on a referendum asking tal bed. "One of them said, 'Are you have already approved the principles. trustees to divest of stocks in com going to continue what you're doing? Bryn Mawr will co-file a resolution panies doing business with South You know you have no business in with six church agencies asking Kodak Africa. The pro-divestiture motion was South Africa." The other man kept to stop certain sales to the South Afri overwhelmingly supported by the stu repeating "nigger lover, nigger lover." can government. dents. South African-linked stocks in After leaving the hospital he returned Haverford College is asking Moto Miami's endowment fund are valued at to Nashville to continue his campaign rola to withdraw from South Africa. other 8400,000. ing. In the middle of February, Harvard The NAACP has been playing a very University sold its stock in Citicorp active role, along with other organiza and Manufacturers Hanovers worth tions, in building towards massive $600,000. The university insists that it BUTHELEZI AND ZEMBA demonstrations planned for March 17, TOURS was not motivated by student protests, . . . The American Friends Service 18, 19, the days of the match. Two but the action came soon after a peti Committee sponsored a nationwide major church groups in Nashville tion was signed by 3,000 students ask tour in early '78 by Sipho Buthelezi, organized a March 1 demonstration; ing for the sale of all stocks and bonds a founder of SASO and Secretary the Tennesse Coalition Against Apar in banks that extend credit to the Gen eral of the first Black Peoples Con theid demonstrated in protest in con South African government. The South gress. A representative of the South junction with student groups March 7, African Solidarity Committee on the African Congress the date of the VU Board of Trustees of Trade Unions, "ampus says that Harvard owns stock Zola Zemba, met US trade unionists meeting. in 12 of the 13 companies that make up while touring the US in the fall of'77. three quarters of all US corporate in volvement in South Africa. 0 Yale, Brandeis and Wellesley in UNIVERSITY ACTIONS . . . The vestment committees and boards of University of Wisconsin Board of trustees are investigating the South CLOTHING DRIVE ... California's Regents voted in February to sell the African activities of corporations in Southern Africa Support Committee is university's holdings in corporations which they hold stocks. collecting clothes for African refugees doing business in South Africa, becom College students throughout New from Zimbabwe, many of whom are ing the second public university sys England are advocating disinvestment children. The organization hopes to tem in the US to take this step. The through teach-ins, marches, and stu ship 50 tons of clothing to Africa by Oregon system was the first. dent publication editorials. November '78. APRIL 1978/SOUTHERN AFRICA 33 I Iw Name I - I SUBSCRIPTION RATES: Address - I I Individuals (Domestic and Foreign) $8.00 per year per - I Institutions (Domestic and Foreign) $18.00 year rz EINew -Renewal I I Airmail: -ii Africa, Asia, Europe $20.50 CHANGE OF ADDRESS I South & Central America $17.50 ATTACH OLD LABEL HERE I FILL OUT NEW ADDRESS ABOVE ~iI I

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