Re.NS+ Notes O:'IQBER '83 #14

re.NS+ notes o:'IQBER '83 #14. SOUTH , AFRICAN , ,, .. MILITARY REFUGEE .- AID ·,FUND Welcorre to Newsletter # 14. In the Piet Wapen Botha and the regime are trying last couple of editions, we laid some heavy to baffle people. Both have organizing errphasis on specific issues (police brutal potential and represent advances for the ity in# 13 and racial violence in# 12). struggle inside South Africa. There are For this issue, we have collected a number ideological differences as well as different of news items relating to the struggle views on organizing strategies that are in southern Africa and the U.S. We hope being articulat ed by t he two coalitions. this variety of infonnation keeps you in The UDF is broad in rrembership. According fonred and is helpful to your work. to the Cape Argus newspaper, total rrember Sare of the areas of concern and activity ship in the UDF runs sanewhere between for the southern African solidarity rroverrent 1 and 1~ million people. The UDF has have received a lot of publicity lately. attracted an impressive number of activists, The entertainers boycott and the issue such as Allan Boesak, Oscar Mpetha, Albertina of South African sportsmen are so praninent, Sisulu, Archie Gumede and many others. that we thought we would provide space Groups such as the Azanian Student Organiza for an entertainment page and a sports tion, NUSAS (the National Union of South page. We have also received some interest African Students) and the Catholic Bishops' ing letters, particularly from draft resist Conference are a few annng the 400 or so ers in southern Africa, so we'll have a organizations making up the UDF. letters section too. If we could provide Although t he UDF cannot publically endorse a crossword and a hor oscope, we could do the Freedom Charter, i t i s relatively clear a "Not the New York Post" issue. that the level of unity within the coalition We really encourage those of you who favors support for the ideals of this docu actually read the newsletter, to respond ment, drawn up at the Congress of the People in writing if you agree or disagree with our analysis, or find you have something further to say about a topic. Such letters provide good material for written debates and ofteh help clarify the issue. Finally, if you haven't subscribed yet, pleasee consider doing so. It costs $10 for 6 copies per year. COALITONS ARE FORMED INSIDE Sa.rm AFRICA. Things are popping inside South Africa. Two anti-apartheid coalitions have formed to further develop the struggle for liber ation. The rrost popular group is the United Derrocratic Front (UDF). The UDF was launch ed at a national congress on August 20, in Cape Town; attended by over 12,000 people. Bringing together labor unions, church, student and cornnunity groups, the UDF is a multi-racial coalition. Another coalition the National Forum (NF) is an alliance ' of Black groups which convened in June. Both networks have focused on opposition to the constitutional changes with which in 1955. The Freedom Charter has since Clearly, both coalitions have statements become the ideological foundation of the that call for the creation of a new economic African National Congress (ANC). and social system in South Africa, and The UDF does not steer too far away both are intent upon the absolute destruction from the ideas embodied in the Freedom of apartheid. Where then, do their differ Charter. For example, one declaration ences lie? adopted at the UDF congress states, "We, Both coalitions have publicly acknowledged the freedom loving people of South Africa, their points of difference. There are say with one voice to the world that we a full variety of disagreements, from the cherish the vision of a united derrocratic name of a future liberated country (South South Africa, based on the will of the Africa or Azania) to rrore corrplex ideolog people and we will strive for the unity ical formulations. We, in SAMRAF, believe of all peoples through united action against that this debate is i.rtportant. Differences the evils of apartheid, economic and all over objectives and strategies do not alway~ forms of exploitation." In addition, the lead to disruption. Often, the issues UDF list of patrons includes ANC jailed are sharpened and clarified, a process leaders Nelson Mandela, Walter Sisulu, leading to greater unity. Govan Mbeki and Dennis Goldberg. Much of the debate centers on the leader The UDF, defining itself as an "alliance ship of the struggle and within that context, of extra-parliamentary groups," has stated the role of whites. Groups adhering to clearly that it will not work with groups the ideals of the Freedom Charter usually who participate in underrocratic structures, support rrrulti-racial organization and leader such as the Progressive Federal Party, ship. They see it as a point of strength the so-called opposition party in the all that progressive white organizations join white parliament , and Gatsha Buthelezi's their efforts against the white government. Inkatha rrovement that participates in the Whites are usually permitted equal partici management of the "Zulu homeland." How pation. ever, the UDF is making a concerted effort On the other hand, groups adhering to to attract syrrpathetic whites and liberals the principles of Black solidarity often to its ranks, forming a definite rainbow reject alliances of equal status with whites. coalition. · As Dr. Neville Alexander, a forrrer political The NF is an independent grouping and prisoner held on Robben Island and involved is not clearly aligned with the ANC or with the NF, stated, "There are many arrong the politics of the Freedom Charter. It the whites who are corrmitted to the ideal has brought together Black Consciousness of liberation and who are prepared to groups "to look at ways of achieving closer make sacrifices. They rrrust be allowed working relationships between organizations to play a part in the struggle, but the in the Black corrrnunity." The NF' s initial leadership of the struggle rrrust remain meeting was attended by over 800 people, with the Black working class." representing over 200 organizations. The These issues are very errotionally charged NF drew up a docurrent entitled "The Manifesto for Black activists who have witnessed of the Azanian People." The document states: both the enorrrous sufferings of their people "Our struggle for national liberation is at the hands of whites and the betrayals directed against the system of racial cap of the struggles by whites and blacks who italism, which holds the people of Azania have been bought off by various partial in bondage for the benefit of the small measures offered by the white government. minority of white capitalists and their SAMRAF is conscious of these differences allies, the white workers and the reactionary within the Black rrovement on the questions sections of the Black middle class. of leadership and the role of whites. The struggle against apartheid is no rrore Our position is that whites in South than the point of departure for our liber Africa, who have benef itted all their lives ation efforts~ Apartheid will be eradicated and for generations from the blatant racial with the system of racial capitalism." domination of black people, have no right Groups such as AZAPO (the Azanian Peoples' to expect equal participation in leadership Organization) and SACOS (the South African in the struggle, nor to expect equal shares Council of Students) and some of the indepen in the future of a liberated South Africa, dent workers organizations and unions partic unless they make a contribution to that pate in the NF. liberatory process. Many whites will jurrp 2. on the bandwagon as it becomes even clearer DENNIS BRUTUS A YSLUM DECISION that the apartheid regirre will not determine the future shape of things. They will Dennis Brutus has finally been granted asylum in try and seek power and influence even within the United States. Reagan's State Department never the liberation structures. Even Harry changed its position seeking deportation, but an immi Oppenheimer, one of the world's richest gration judge ruled in favor of Dennis. Still, his case and powerful capitalists, has rejected highlights many of the blatant abuses of U.S. immigra the constitutional revisions offered by tion policy. the Botha regime. We believe that he and Dennis Brutus, born in what is now Zimbabwe, to other ruling class whites cannot have a South African parents, lived most of his life in South say in the future of South Africa, because Africa. He is a prominent activist known widely for his they will never be representing the needs work in SANROC (South African Non-Racial Olym of the people. pic Comm.), publicizing apartheid in sports and coor How can someone who has reaped eno.nrous dinating international boycotts of South African sport. benefits from the colonial situation expect In 1961 he lost his job as a schoolteacher as a result of to benefit from a revolutionary situation? his political involvement. He was prohibited from pub It's impossible. Black people in South lishing his writings, banned, shot at by the security po Africa will be their own liberators. lice and finally arrested and impirsoned in 1963. He The role for us as whites is to spread fled to Britain in 1966, where he obtained a British pro-liberation sentiment arrong our people passport on the basis of his birthrights in Rhodesia. and carry out a program of action that He has been in the U.S. since 1970, becoming a ten is defined in a clear and focused way in ured professor of English at Northwestern University.

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