This Is a Record of Some of the Main Events
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Introduction: this is a record of some of the main events... http://www.aluka.org/action/showMetadata?doi=10.5555/AL.SFF.DOCUMENT.pam19811200.026.009.580 Use of the Aluka digital library is subject to Aluka’s Terms and Conditions, available at http://www.aluka.org/page/about/termsConditions.jsp. By using Aluka, you agree that you have read and will abide by the Terms and Conditions. Among other things, the Terms and Conditions provide that the content in the Aluka digital library is only for personal, non-commercial use by authorized users of Aluka in connection with research, scholarship, and education. The content in the Aluka digital library is subject to copyright, with the exception of certain governmental works and very old materials that may be in the public domain under applicable law. Permission must be sought from Aluka and/or the applicable copyright holder in connection with any duplication or distribution of these materials where required by applicable law. Aluka is a not-for-profit initiative dedicated to creating and preserving a digital archive of materials about and from the developing world. For more information about Aluka, please see http://www.aluka.org Introduction: this is a record of some of the main events... Publisher National Union of South African Students (NUSAS) Date 1981-12-00 Resource type Pamphlets Language English Subject Coverage (spatial) South Africa Coverage (temporal) 1981 Source Digital Imaging South Africa (DISA) Rights With thanks to Gail M. Gerhart. Description An illustrated record of some of the main events that NUSAS initiated, or was involved in, during 1981. Format extent 20 pages (length/size) http://www.aluka.org/action/showMetadata?doi=10.5555/AL.SFF.DOCUMENT.pam19811200.026.009.580 http://www.aluka.org INTRODUCTION INTRODUCTION This is a record of some of the main events that NUSAS has initiated or been invblved in during 1981. The list is not complete, but we hope it will serve to show that the National Union is alive and well. 1981 has been a turbulent year. The General Election saw Botha's government trying to legitimise its power. The State's Republic-Day celebrations evoked massive protest from most South Africans who refused to celebrate Apartheid. The WilsonRowntree boycott emphasised the r ongoing struggle of unions to achieve democratic representation for workers. Whilst NUSAS campuses dedicated V themselves to a democratic future thi& year, the state cracked down, detaining and banning student leaders. Despite these knocks. NUSAS has emerged, at the years end. stronger, and still intent on working towaFds democracy and freedom in South Africa. CONTENTS NUSAS HEAD OFFICE 1981 Fran Kriiger (Secretary General), Andrew Boraine (President) Ingrid Obery (Media Officer) Nusas Theme 2 Lisa Seftel (Projects Officer),Jonty Joffe (Research Officer and Whose Republic' 4 Acting President sinceJuly) Publications 6 National Gatherings 8 Students and State Repression 10 The Wilson Ro%ntree Boycott 12 Wits 13 UCT 14 I)urban 15 Rhodes 16 Pietermaritburg [7 On the 1st September lw1 7198 1I Mog Davids had 1) irect K'er, 18 worked for NUSAS Ions 20 for20years.sog tn s2does the NUSAS Student Seices 20 ' " finances, the cfi printing. and works as aSAS'IS salt's offilsr in the SASIS office on the Green Level on UCT campus. NIUSAS THEIME students for a democratic future bhe esitoined flat 4tw "*ojsr*tj CO'. 7,v AiGtbewf sOmt 50,Anu AAR4A il- a < 4.i0" %Wl'j 1 11 ~m i~,3~ I'A Gi*" 'iO A 5.5011 icipjr c Pedent. CWi 0. NOSAS OW.W~ie P\ it4o r.riL Ate.6-x a'n ,to, t *oe ivi01 SAe5 5 ALO&90A5 it 15tC.~ o ,s. "4 oi apeo,-eirot .4 0- 11 e nt" %wse %W W - Tm'.Uol1it~ V d&* sAAu6it& o%,Q d 4.itt *.,sA ""ed aVPs'n ,~ 5&Mde cko ons lettj 1bt .Ai -.kAWW%5' "Students' for a Democratic Future" was the theme that held 1981 together for the student movement. It was no mean task. for it was a year marked by very dt'rse events and activities. High profile protests, low profile seminars, specialised conferences; Republic Day, Wilson Rownree and academic freedom issues." all had to be linked in some way. The strength of "Students for a Democratic Future" was its ability to provide for a wide variety of issus, activities, debates and people, and to provide a basis for the unity of them all. Soon after the theme was launched in high profile mass meetings addressed by speakers such as Zinsi Mandela and Alex Boraine, a highly successful cartoon booklet entitled "Students for a Democratic Future" was launched. Soon after was General Election time, which also pIoded = excellent opportunity of taking up the theme. A nauhlsr of couferenea investigated the role of professional. patichay doctoon and lawyers, in the democratc futuce. 'The KU S July Fegival, held under the theme "Towards a South African Democracy" focussed on the ways in which people were organising for the future now. The theme emerged during the deliberations of the 1980 Congress as an expression of the importance that the idea of 'democracy" had assumcd in the events of that year. Schools boycotts, the Release Mandcli Campaign. and the meat strike had made it a central part iof the ideological armoury of the forces of opposition in South Afriia. Students felt the need to place their allegiance on rnord. to say that they were also "for a Democratic Future". At the same time, it flowed logic:dly from the themes of the previous years. Following on the consolidation which occurred with the education years Lfeiwcen 1977 and 1979, the organi. sation decided to look beyond the universities during 1980. "Exposing Total Strategy" was the theme for that year, and it examined and exposed the "reforms" of the Nationalist government as little more than an attempt to et)trench existing 0 power relationships The 1981 theme deseloped this trend b% examining the anti. democratic nature of South \frican s)LCet., Each aspect (if ,4hat South African socier\ "as scruimised, the fanily, the political realm, the sorkp!asc, e.dualon: eservhere. people -ere shos.n to be subjected t,, the pos.er of iithers. rhe in. adequate nature of present structures made it possible, also. for students to investigate other "s ass in% hich sotieties had been organised to make for effecti e cointrol iif people oser the factors which shaped their lives An impotant part of the theme has been the contrast berween the status quo and the demands if the majority of Siiuth Africans. Students have been able to support these demands in various ways. and have been able to take their place in the broad democratic movement against Apartheid, shich has emerged in a much clearer form this sear. NI'S..\S has not onl kept students informed of the emerCense ,f this musicm'nt. hut has astivls integrated white democratic students in it. With the focus on the democratic organisation of the majority of South Africans against Apartheid. NUSAS has ajso examined is own organisation and role. Students have explored the extent to wshich it is possible to organize democraticallv in a fundA. mentally undemocratic society. Lessons were learned about students' possibilities and limitations in contributing to a demo cratic future. There has therefore been a particular emphasis to encourage as many students as possible to participate in forniu latung the policies and running the programmes of NUSAS. NLSAS today is stronger than it has been for mat y vears us its 57 year history. It has both gadned support on the campuses and managed to play a significant political role. The wide appeal of "Students for a Democratic Future" has undoubtedly played a si smificant role in making this possible. above:Student leaders, unionists and community leaders, joined 1 together to reject the RePublic.Day celebrations. below.-Camoflaged riot police invade Hits campus during the Republic-Day protests. right:Bruce Fordyce. Comrades Marathon winner, ran the race wearing a black armband n protest a.a:nst the inclusion uf the race under the Republic-Day banner. low Little did the 1980 Congress realise what lay ahead when it decided to oppose the 1981 Republic Day festivities. The decision was to lead to the burning of South African and Festival flags, the appearance of riot police on campus, detentions and bannings, but also to a new acceptance of the student movement by the larger non-racial movement for change. The Natal anti-Republic Celebrations Committee said in their call to boycott: "What have people to celebrate but poverty, disease, malnutrition, oppression and exploit-tion. If anything, the oppression has intensified rather than decreased since the formation of the Republic." It was clear that students had to add their voice to those who were saying: No Cause to Celebrate. In spite of numerous attempts by the state to lable the campaign as negative and destructive, the campaign was linked to a positive idea - a new South Africa, based on the principles of the Freedom Charter. "No to apartheid republic, yes to a people's republic" was the slogan that fired the imaginations of people in all parts of the country. Huge rallies were held on all English campuses except Rhodes to protest against the celebrations. The meeting scheduled to be held at Rhodes was banned but students burned the banning order in a gesture of defiance. For the first time in many years, black and white student leaders shared platforms on their respective campuses. Wantu Zenzile of COSAS spoke at UCT, Alf Karriem of UDW SRC spoke at Wits and Andrew Boraine spoke at UDW.