CIDSA I--.ITE~ CoalHknforIHinds'Dhnrbmn(~msou2hAtrk. fd, 343 S. Dearborn, Suite 91 9, Chicago, IL 60604 31 9-999-3915 fl A i'jf"" t City of Cbirr '3- I r?=r:'; fr 3 South Africa The city of Chicago overwhelming- The ordinance has three major South Africa and with U.S. com- ly passed a selective purchasing sections. The first prohibits the City panies doing business in South ordinance on May 30,1986, making of Chicago from using banks which Africa. This section becomes effective Chicago the 67th city in the United underwrite loans or lends money.to four months from the date of passage States to begin the process of severing the Republic of South Africa. If and applies to all City contracts to all economic, political, and economic banks want the city's business, they the extent that the application does linkages to the racist apartheid regime must not only establish that they not violate existing federal or state of South Africa. The passage of this have no loans to South Africa, but laws. The final major section of the ordinance was the result of work under the ordinance, they must ordinance requires that, within two done by CIDSA and a coalition of promise not to make such loans for years from passage, the city of anti-apartheid forces over the past the time period that they are Muni- Chicago divest itself of any invest- year in Chicago. This is the first cipal Depositories. This section of ments it has in companies doing legislative divestment victory in Illi- the ordinance went into effect upon business in South Africa. nois. passage of the ordinance. Alderman Danny K. Davis of the The second section prohibits Copies of the ordinance can be 29th Ward, sponsor of the ordinance, Chicago's Purchasing Department obtained by calling the CIDSA said, "It sends a message to our from entering into contracts with office, (3 12) 922-39 15. public pension funds that they're next and it sends a message to Gov. Thompson and the General Assembly Hold that we're coming after them, too. UaNa CIDSA And it also tells the private sector that they ought to be careful about Namibia Conference how they make their money. It CIDSA and the United Nations Theo Ben Gurirab, the SWAP0 reinforces the fact that apartheid is a Council for Namibia co-sponsored a (Southwest African Peoples Organ- divine shame and it must be erad- U.N. Regional Seminar entitled U.S. ization) representative to the UN, icated." Policy in Namibia: Prospects to Charles Singham, and the Indian The ordinance was changed several Hasten Independence. The seminar, U.N. representative participated in times during the year that it was in held from 9-5 on March 29, 1986 in the seminar, sharing their insights the city Council's Finance and Inter- Chicago, informed peopl le of the (Continued on page 5) governmental Affairs Committee. situation in Namibia and During April, there was an unsuccess- motivated them to develop ful attempt by a coalition of Chicago and execute strategies to businessmen to exclude Sullivan aid Namibia in its indepen- 11 principles signatories from the sanc- dence struggle. Attended tions imposed by the ordinance. This 11 by approximately 100 3 z was defeated by the anti-apartheid people, the seminar was forces, supportive city alderpersons, one of five such U.N. fl and members of the city's Corpora- sponsored seminars in five tion Counsel which was studying the major United States cities. ~uc&rlem~~on. ordinance. Sunday Oct 5, Nov. 2 at 6 pm Next CITX Meetings f Access Living, 81 5 5Van Buren, Chicago Page 2 African National Congress Press XyieaseApril 30,lG;J The Pretoria racist regime's "decision" to repeal the Nothing would be more mistaken than to applaud pass laws is just another hoax. This is revealed by the Pretoria on account of its latest trick. Properly under- regime's insistence on replacing the pass-system by other stood, Pretoria's move must be read as one more measures to ensure the "orderly urbanization" of Blacks, indication that the regime remains intransigent in its a standard euphemism for the physical regimentation of resistance to genuine change as is otherwise evidenced by Black people's lives which in the first place is what the its escalating reign of state violence, terrorism and terror pass-system is all about. As such it is nothing more than against the people. It should thus be taken as a signal to the re-christening of the same old objectionable and further intensify the all-around international campaign detested pass-system. to jettison the Reagan Administration's pro-apartheid This hoax, like all its predecessors, is designed to policy of "Constructive Engagement" and for the total deceive the International Community into believing that isolation of the Pretoria racist regime, consonant with apartheid is willing to dismantle itself-thus postponing the wish and will of the South African people! the total isolation of the racist regime. It is also an attempt to avert the nation-wide general strike which 9 Black South African workers under the banner of the Why Divest. Congress of South African Trade Unions (COSATU), have threatened to call if the pass-system is not abolished U.S. investments strengthen the apartheid economy, by June 1986. thereby increasing the ability of the white government to The people of South Africa have seen through this preserve its power. The past twenty-five years disprove transparent hoax and that is why there is no jubilation in the claim that investments can be an agent for change the Black townships. They understand that to enforce because the apartheid government's repressive power the Group Areas Act, which is still very much in place, by has only increased during this time. Yet even if every some form or another of the pass-system is indispensable. U.S. firm in South Africa practiced commendable labor They know that you cannot abolish the pass-system policies, apartheid would still not be threatened. without abolishing its raison d'etre, the Group Areas The companies must comply with South African law Act. and coexist with disenfranchisement, population control, and forced removals, as well as detentions and bannings. The black community, from 1959 Nobel Peace Laureate Albert Luthuli to 1984 Nobel Peace Laureate Bishop Who is CIDSA? Desmond Tutu, has continually said "we don't want our The Coalition for Illinois' Divestment from South chains polished, we want them removed."The divestment Africa was founded in June 1983 to push for the passage of publicly controlled Illinois funds from South Africa of a divestment bill in the Illinois State Legislature. Over will be a significant contribution to the world-wide anti- 65 organizations and 300 concerned individuals from apartheid movement and will help create circumstances across the state now comprise CIDSA's growing for the South African people to forge fundamental membership. change in their country. TASK FORCES I-- ,-1T locations throughout the city for citizens to send letters STEEL TASK FORCE REPORT to their legislators. On May 14, 1986 people throughout On Monday, April 21, 1986, H.B. 317, the bill which Illinois called or visited their representatives to voice prohibits the importation of South African Steel for use their support for H.B. 317 and 330. On May 16, 1986 in public buildings, was passed out of the Urban there was a summit meeting of religious and legislative Redevelopment Committee of the Illinois House of leaders at the State of Illinois Building in Chicago Representatives. The vote to pass the bill out of regarding the state bills. committee was unanimous. Patrick McFadden of the Although the steel bill was not successful this year, CIDSA Steel Task Force was present and testified in CIDSA is enthusiastic about the growing support. The support of H.B. 317 and H.B. 330, the. state pension Steel Task Force wishes to thank all of its members and divestment legislation. District 31 of the Steelworkers all of the people throughout Illinois who diligently Union sent supportive telegrams to the legislators before worked for passage of the steel legislation. the vote. CIDSA was greatly encouraged by the progress of these bills. This was the first time that any anti-apartheid STATE TASK FORCE REPORT legislation has been voted out of any committee in the The state pension divestment bill, House Bill 330, Illinois state legislature. successfully pass.& out of committee on April 21 in a In Chicago on the weekends of May 10 and 11 and packed hearing room in springfield, Illinois. Although May 17 and 18 there were tables set up at targeted Continued on page 5 Anti-A~artheidMovement Events Soweto Demonstration Le Passes Calls for Divestment Illinois lature Soweto Demonstration Calls for Divestment Anti-& xidR-I~tion~ On June 16,1986, approximately 500 people marched On Tuesday, June 17, 1986 the Illinois State House of and rallied at the State of Illinois Building in Chicago Representatives passed two resolutions which related to Illinois to commemorate the tenth anniversary of the the current struggle in South Africa. These resolutions, Soweto uprising in South Africa. The demonstration albeit much weaker than the passage of divestment was one of many actions taken by thousands of people legislation, send a message to the South Africa govern- throughout U.S. cities to exhibit solidarity with the ment that the people of Illinois support the struggle people's struggle in South Africa which has intensified against apartheid. since 1976. The Chicago demonstration was sponsored House Resolution 595, sponsored by representatives by a coalition of groups, including the Free South Africa Braun, Bowman, Shaw, and Greiman urges boards of Movement of Chicago, the National Black United Front trustees of each pension fund in Illinois to give great of Chicago, and the Coalition for Illinois Divestment consideration to risks attached to doing business or from South Africa.