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Every which way you turnYOU LOSE

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f fe t y s _________

No to ‘New Deal’The N U SAS N „ ion, , Pe(i. Mon topped the 12 000 mark last week.

s r ^ s s . rn w T Z & Z * " on7 CnnnW '-1 ' ' d Ihe ^ '^ " 'th3 000 signatures, while Cape Town had reached the 4 000 mark.- " ^ e other campuses Durban. Pietermaritzburg, and Rhodes make up the rest.

1 he petition ana the campaign •ill run till Friday, ending with a mass ral|y *" the Great Hall. Speakers win be representatives Unded£ AS' ,h e S R C »"d'he

•If* the biggest number of ■'-natures we have ever receivedKlein Sk camP.u‘' “ id Ganh Klem Skt. projects officer and member of the SRC ad hoc committee.

The petition states that s iu . dents a" over the counirv "reject the Government s new consti-

on on the grounds that:• It excludes the majority of South Africans

• It entrenches Apartheid• All South Africans must participate in deeding our common future.'

Once the campaign ts over, the petitions will be presented to the commercial press. There will be national and international re­cognition of students' rejection of the proposals as sham reform.

d u IIS “ mpjl*n "as also in­cluded posters, displays and pamphlets, ill of which have

designed to help educate dlsPel confusion over the

new constitution. A concert and Play, staged in the amphi-

^heatre near the pooi were we,,

* -Rock II ° Cr “ e,hecamPi,'*n cert £ r ‘ * Constitution' con-

S&f '• 000 “*»■ *■»Two on treason chargeBA student Carl Niehaus and ^ ®

Smear refutedA smear pamphletA smear pamphlet, issued in Ihe last Week of September, lupposedlv issued by the Wits Counter Spy Croup',

Has sent to all staff members or tne university.

The pamphlet stated thatSR T h r>' Pres'dent of the SRC. has secretly met with a Major Cra.g Williamson, at the Americano Roadhouse in New-

on August 26th. The document stated that Major Wilhamson is an e* NUSAS Vice President who is known to have given evidence for the state

Wi‘,r,“X r ,numberofhlsA few days later, on Friday

JOth September a document photocopied on SRC letterhead, was circulated, supposedly by the SRC. y

The letter alludes to the meeting with Major William­son. stating that Barry had been

found to be ‘unsatisfactory0^ members of staff were ureed t i avoid dealing with Barry and to consult with other SRC mem

resolved?''1 ' h‘ -

attempt to undermine its Presi­dent s credibility, andcon.,n„„

Bren"aPrBar‘“ '.fU" ,UPP° " “

In addition. Professor snear leputy Vice Chancellor sent a

letter to all members of staff associating himself fu lly with

the SSR C m*m ° f conf‘dence by

Brendan Barry himselt said that it is obvious that the only people likely to attempt a smear “ I this nature would be those that cannot tolerate opposition to apartheid.

t V h t"1 Niehaus and leacher Jansie Lourens were charted with high treason at a hearing „ ,h, Johannesburg Magistrate, coun 0 „ Mon! day September 26.

An alternative charge underthcAj : : arr Ac< '*a5 »is° ^At this hearing the names of «u d !°f’ emclud‘nSanumberof ^ d ^ We7 ,aken Th' magis­trate ordered their names to be taken after some of them startedsun« ng * “ >"* as * ^ u r c of support to the accused The taking of names was seen as a Possible prelude to chTrges of contemnt of court being placed.

At a subsequent appearance in coun on October 5 details ol the charges were given.

The charges include:- membership o f the A N C a n d c o n s ^ r m g to fu r ^ e r .h e a im s o f

- distributing A .VC pubiica- ^ and recruiting people to join tne organisation- conspiring to obtain infor- T f ' 'on ' " SA and supply it to the

This information is alleg­ed to include details of potential sabotage targets

The case was remanded to November 7 th_e Supreme ruuc

Students jailed

Coun. Spectators amsine leaving the coun were ph graphed by Security Police was seen by some of the stud as an act of intimidation int. ed to discourage friends Ir attending the trial.w ^ 1 Niehaus was invoke what appears to have be,wfnl', a " empt Prior to his i while in detention underSec:

Fnends of h-s e.prev = 5 ™ aI ,he circumstan Which had provoked him to

Another Wits student. Ka enne Hunter remains in deu •on under Section J| ol ,

Internal Security Act Ms Hunter has been

detention since SeptemberC.,n empowers the Attorr ^ " ra‘ 'o ho'd her mdefin,:.Uwye‘r ^ <»

of A r ' ° r P v r con«rned frien. H u n S , N'ChaUS- Ka>henr uihereH Jansie Lourens ha. gathered together in order . publicise their plight. Thev hor o assist them ,n keeping up*,

their work and assotInd‘ng W'Ih rcad,ng tnauc nd whatever else ihp

Four Wits students were charged with malicious dam- age to property for putting up detention vigil posters in Braamfontein 2 weeks ago.

A passing tralfic olficer whosaw the lour students putt,nuunthe posters called the SA I* who on arrival radioed the Security Police at John Vorster Square.

* hey were taken to John Vorster Square where they were kept lor three hours. Details were taken ol all four and the one male student of the group

Mrurchcd.Their buiLs were

searched, as « as the car belong- ■ng to one ol the students. I he students were then taken to the Hillbrow Police Station where they were told they would have

to spend tne mgfit. fhes sa* „ no. possible to laycnarges

because the traffic olficer who

stud^mi‘S *n<i " n®erprints of the

. . . . Before tnev were ° * Jailed for the night, the

concerned arm ed and charges of malicious dam­age to property were laid All four students were released, app. ro*imately 5 hours after inituiK

Square.1*ke" ‘° J ° hn V° " " V

Charges were withdrawn at the court hearing the next day alter the senior public pro­secutor had seen the posters and had declared them as harmless

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CHSL® CARE CEMTRS:

“Well son, if you put it that way, HI sign the SRC petition.”

‘.*1 r t t f s t S ' i l e ' ’ - U u..'. • < |

Child Care: Your baby too?The response to the Wits Student ‘Child Care' fea­ture (Vol 35 No 3) has been positive. Over 200 people have returned the questionnaire and many o t h e r s h a v e se n t

' s uppor t a t i v c letters urging ‘further action'.

W its S R C president. Lloyd Vogelman told Wits Student: ‘The time for ‘further action' is now: Wits is poised to move into the Milner Park showgrounds, and the S R C is hoping that at least 5 000 students, staff members and workers will be demanding a building on

The Vice-Chancellor's address to new students in 1982 contained this now famous paragragh: ‘The campus is not a microcosm of society, the campus should be seen as a model for society — to illustrate what society could be, and what it should be. Do not let us merely reproduce the defects of our society. Let us show the way to a new society.’

In this ‘new society' women would, presumably, no longer be forced to abandon their studies and often their careers to bear children. They would, on the one hand, not be expected to, and, on the other would be materially able to escape maternal bondage through utilising the day-care centres available at their place of work or study.

If this is the view of the future that the Vice Chancellor was referring to — and we all hope it is — then this university is not playing its part in its progress towards its own ideals. Despite the persistent efforts of dedicated Individuals over the last 10 or so years, the university has always found some excuse, based on our society as it is — eg the law won’t allow it, it’s too

expensive etc — to crush the idea of a day care centre.We are never going to change to the *new society’ if

we hide behind the defects of the present society: all of us must challenge those defects and move beyond them. As Prof du Plessis has said, we must ‘transcend the weaknesses of our society, and . . . introduce some ideals into our life on campus.'

Let's start with a day-care centre. Let’s recognize the rights of workers, stafT and students to adequate care forlheir children. Let us begin to liberate people from attitudes inculcated by an unfair and unequal society. Let us make that admittedly small beginning. But let's do it now. By the end of 1983 Wits must be committed to establishing a day centre. That must become a minimum demand.

that site for a day-care centre.’

The road toward the establishment of a day-care centre on South African campuses has been a long and arduous one.

A t Cape Town Universuy as well as at Wits, the S U C s came close to getting a university child care centre established in the mid- 1970s. Professor du Plessis quashed the already well- mapped out plans at Wits when he became Vice Chan­cellor in 1977. and U C T students came up against powerful *too much money: it’s not our duty' type arguments — arguments which hav not changed in 13 years.

The U C T S R C decided to go it alone: they started their own day-care centre in an unused university building. The S R C project went from strength to strength, even­tually moving into an S R C building and housing 45 children with 5 staff mem­bers.

Although-the-centre-was" unofficial and probably il­legal, the university admini­stration actually advertised the existence of the centre in their overseas recruitment pamphlets. This year the U C T S R C persuaded their administration that is was in their interests — and it was their duty — to provide a university day care centre, year.

The U C T administration has agreed to run the centre, at a cost of approximately R 18 000 a year.

A t Wits, various staff and student associations have

been banging their heads • against a brick wall over the day care centre for years' now — the wall of the 11 th~ floor Vice Chancellor’s- % office.

Professor du Plessis has"? ~ made it clear that in his view, ■' the creche is not only ‘a low *- - priority’, but also a finan- -» cial, legal and admini- *• strative problem too comp- -', lex for the university to , handle. Various ad hoc groups have systematically gathered evidence to refute _ all the problems posed by ^ the administration, but to J no avail.

The S R C is now synthe­sizing all previous research into a lengthy document which will, together with the petition, be handed to ad­ministration at the end of this campaign.

Terry Shakinovsky, S R C member holding the Women's portfolio told Wits Student: ‘In the past, child care centres have failed simply because they have

■ not mobilized and organ­ized the students, staff and workers in one massive campaign designed to show our collective strengths and our determination to have our rights recognised. Day care centres are integral, to all British. American and Australian and most Euro­pean universities. Day care centres are crucial to attract­ing and keeping staff an students (especially post­graduate students.)’

Terry concluded: ‘A day care centre is an inviolable right of every employee anil every student. W e need it N O W .'

CALL FOR A CHILD-CARE CENTREMass Meeting

with Selma Browde Lecturer, Faculty of Medicine

Thursday © SS2 © 12.30Win Student is ed.ted by Harry Dugmore and published by the Students Representative Council each oCl Jan Smuts Avenue. Joh^TnMbura

Printed by the Central Print Unit of the University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg The views and opinions expressed do not purport to be those of the Council or the Students Representative Council of the University of the

.. _ ___ _____________________ _ Witwatersrand

\\l

constitutionalSlabbert says:

RacismThe new Constitution con­

tradicts the National Party policy of National Deter­mination — a white president can decide for so-called ( oloureds and Indians which are ‘own’ and which are ‘general affairs’. So said Fredrick van Zyl Slabbert, leader of the opposition, at the launching of the Nusas national campaign against the constitutional proposals two weeks ago.

To an overflowing Greai Hall. Slabbcrt said that for the fir» time racism has been consti- tutionalised — the population registration act of 1980 has merely been an act. but now it forms a Oasis fnr the new

NCSAS - putting the record straight

constitution.He mentioned that ‘clauses 14

to 18 give the right to the President to decide which affairs are 'own' and which are ‘general* aflairs - the interpretation of which is above the jurisdiction ol any court in the country*

He said that there was an argument that if you voted no in the Referendum, you were align­ing yourself with the Con­servative Party. ‘Such logic is infantile' he said. ‘It is likesaying that because Muslims and Orthodox Jews don’t eat pork, they share a conspiracy to dominate the world.'

Of the dictatorial powers of the state president he said that the president can halt debate at any point in both the Parliament and President's Council, and as therefore able to prevent any further discussion.

Kate Phillip. President ol Nusas. said that a package deal was being sold to the whites in this country.

‘Those that say that it is a step in the right direction base their logic on the inclusion of Coloureds and Indians, but those people have no regard to the conditions of that inclusion.*

‘Together with this, the exclusion ol the majority of the people, especially the working class on which the white economy rests are being left out.*

Kate mentioned that not only have the black majority been left out but that control* or influx, homelands and repression arc being increased. She mentioned the repression and detentions

occurring in the Ciskei. the fact that 3 000 people are squatting outside Crossroads in Cape Town, forced removals forcing people to return to the starvation wrecked homelands, and black gutter education in Soweto.‘None ol these problems are solved in the new constitution* *he said.

‘The inclusion of Coloureds and Indians is not paving the way for blacks. They are. in fact, strengthening Apartheid against blacks.*

She said that ‘some sectors ol the population are being invited to share in the fruits of apartheid — but must share the guilt for the starvation, infant mortality, and suicide deaths in detention/

She said that the new consti­tution had one good effect. ‘The formation of the United Demo­cratic Front. UDF. is an historic testament to unity. Democrats and equals united against the new constitution and the control of the African population that goes with it.

The SRC president. Brendan Barry, launching the campaign and the petition said that PW Botha was putting himself on the line, and we as students must cut that line and reject the new constitution.

He said that students on 5 campuscs were signing the petition- ‘It will not go to tne government. It will go to the press so that students will be identified as rejecting the new constitution bccause it is racist, and entrenches Apartheid.*

Christians and the CONstitutionOn Monday October 3 a mass meeting on ‘Christians and the CONstitution was held inSS2.

The meeting was organised by the Christian Awareness Group (CAG). (CAG co-ordinates the social action of the different Christian societies on campus. The CAG organisers are Anne- Marie Rademeyer and Wendy Landau.)

The meeting was addressed by Rev Brian Wilkinson (Method­ist chaplain at Wits) and Benita PauliceVic. — • -

Rev Bnan Wilkinson spoke about the relationship between Christianity and politics.

‘Christianity encompasses an the different spheres of our life. On the other hand politics is conventionally seen as a ‘dirty word* in a religious context..‘However politics covers the

‘bread and butter' fields of our lives.

‘Politics determines where we live, what university we go to. what we eat.

‘One cannot try and separate politics from our everyday lives. Therefore if Christianity is a way ol life, we as Christians muM hr concerned about political issues. If we are called to ‘love our neighbour*, then we must be involved in politics. We must take an active stand in caring for our neighbours* said Rev Wil­kinson.

Benita then spoke about the constitution. She said ‘We must look at the constitution in terms ol love. justice and peace. We said that because the consti­tution is a move away from democracy towards dictator­ship. and because it excludes * 1 4 of the population we must outrightly reject the consti­tution.

Page J

M ore terror in CiskeiThe current repression and brutalit) in the Ciskei cannot be seen in isolation as they are an integral part of the power structures of apartheid in South Africa.

This was the message stressed by all three speakers at a meeting held last week on the current events in the Ciskei.

Mr Terror Lckhotha. pub- licit > officer ol the United Democratic Front. recently travelled through the Ciskei and gave the audience a first-hand account ol the situation there.

He explained that Mdantsane residents have been boycotting buses since July 19th in protest against fare increases. The boy- cotters are continually harassed by Ciskeian police.

In an incident witnessed Dy Mr Lekhotha. police opened lire on people try ing to board a trainnotice claimed that the people IJ (A nther IVftJ

were ‘attempting to attack them'.Official reports of the incident set the death toll at 5; Mr Lekhotha had witnessed the death of at least 90 ‘This is typical of the suppression of information by the hospitals and the press*, he said.

The South African Allied Workers Union (SAAW U) expressed support for the boy- cotters. most ol whom were factory workers. This led to the detention of many union leaders. A stadium was converted into a ‘concentration camp' when the prisons became too crowded. The detainees live in ‘shocking conditions, often having to sleep outside in the cold*. People who attempted to visit family mem­bers or bring them food and clothing were often also detained.

Students in Ciskei boycotted classes in support of their parents. Many of them were also

detained under security legis­lation.

Mr Lckhota drew direct parallel* between the violence in the Ciskei and the intimidation of people in the townships and ‘squatter camps' of South Africa.

In both South Africa and the Ciskei ‘the anger and frustration ol the people is leading to increasing organization and resistance*.

He called on ‘the people of our country, all democrats of any racial group to come together and raise our voice against these animal acts, the control of fives and the massacre of innocent South Africans*.

Mr Frank Chikanc. also of U D K expressed solidarity with the people ol the Ciskei. He emphasised that ‘the struggle is taking place both in Soweto and the Ciskei it is not a separate struggle*.

EewsMaritzburg’s very own SM A

Pietermaritzburg has its own version of Russel Crystal and the Students’ Moderate Alliance. They are called The Students Action Front.

Established last term on the "Mtritzburg campus of the Uni­versity of Natal, the SA F have a Manifesto almost identical to that of Wits* SMA.

The SAPs chairperson is Phillip Powell, an SRC member and a member of the Anti- affiliation committee that exist­ed during a NUSAS disaffilia­tion campaign last term.

Supposedly a mouthpiece of Moderate Students, the SA F was constituted only after the PMB SRC had fully scrutinised the SA Ps financial statement. In the first week of its existence, the SA F had spent over R l 800 on posters, stickers etc. Such action is reminiscent of the SMA's attempt to raise RI2 000 last year. The SM A submitted a dossier of letters including ones from the Prime Minister PW Botha, and Cabinet Ministers R F Botha. Pik Botha and Piet Koornhof to Johannesburg businessmen, with a covering letter from Dr Shlomo Peer, chair of the National Party in

SA F Treasurer. Aubrey Son- nenburg. was asked whether the SA F had links with the SMA:He replied The SA F and SMAhave a lot in common, but their only links are purely personal.

But this does not appear to be the whole story. Besides mem­bers of the SA F executive being seen in National Party offices in Pietermaritzburg, the SAF spokesperson Vaughan Patter­son is said to have flown up to Wits during the Easter vac to meet with Russel Crystal, chair­person of the SMA. Patterson was promised help from the SM A in the form of pamphlets and media skills training. Crystal also promised to furnish names of Johannesburg com­panies which had given the SMA money, so that the SA F could approach Pietermaritzburg branches of the companies for money.

Russel Crystal who is sup­posedly doing his 2 years national service, is continually on campus. In June, two years ago Wits Student was presented with a Sworn Affidavit by what was then a Section 22 detainee.

Patrick Ronan: ApologyIn the satirical column. The Phantom Typewriter, In its issue of 11 August, Wits Student published certain Incorrect state­ments concerning Mr Patrick Ronan.

Wits Student wishes to lake this opportunity of setting the record straight It is not correct that Mr Ronan was excluded from Wits, or that he tailed all his subjects in 1982. Nor is it correct that he took an extended vacation In North America and there is no question of his attempting to avoid any military call-up.

Wits Student unreservedly withdraws these statements and regrets that they were published. Wits Student apologises to Mr Ronan.

SASTS• Flights to London• One way: R450!!!• Return: R900• Valid up to 1 yearo Ski with SASTS

Leysin — Wengen — St. Moritz —

Kitzbiihl — WestendorfGet your 1984 International

Student Card before December 15th

Ursula 716-3053 Karen 716-3045

Members of the SMA at theThe affidavit read. ‘I saw Crystal on the 10th floor of John Vomer Square. He was neither hand­cuffed nor accompanied by the Security Police. He appeared calm and under no duress. That is he was there under his own free will.

Crystal did not contest the news story in Win Student.

The SM A has unscrupulously

Heita meetingottered money, on many occasions, to SRC candidates to pay lor election expenses — the most recent example being Coenie Wessclink. who refused them.

In I98I, the SM A violated the SRC constitution no Iessthan42 times, in blatant disregard for the normal rules affecting clubs and societies.

TO OUR UNIVERSITYh n* .iT.oi.rr o.wrr* m r u Of au. nm x boutm •>«««

tw« fTuotxt*. we iLtcic PAim.r

TO OUR FELLOW STUDENTS

MMHTQ »WO**OTl net CSTA*LJ»HMtNT Of A MCA*, eta ruu amo comst»uct»vi stvjocmt govc»mw«mt WHOM PQUOU Am CONSISTENT WITH ITS STUOiMf

w t AIM TO 0«JfCTTVtLT »C*UTMMa AU. AS«CTS O* m> Ot*T UPC AMO GOVf*NM*NT. AMO wO«C* out) (TMOMOOlVkJMOVAL Of AMT M A ^ A C T IC U

, W« AM* TO ENCOUftAG* AMO Of fefAATt (NTMUStASM amQ a o f **iAW€*»tS4. r» 0*GAMiBM<J AMO cxvo*o TtMQ ncGULAft s o o a j . A C nvm ta . * » o • » s t im u la t in gMUO^MCCOCD PtASOMA*. CONTACT OM CAMPUS

M ANIFESTOUMTVf MITT Of MATAC rvnMMVTOu*

TO OU« 'UXOW fTVJOCNTO 1. S A F 1 mot mmii

* The SAF manifesto

AU MTflWSTU ITVOOT AM IWITIB TO W| WA 0» // T l _ CV/4nco - TO *OC« TWU« AMO MCOttf »UT Of A \\ / W m a nyesiuMfw D >V fM A nO « AT VWTV

The Phantom

TypewriterCoenie ‘not right’ Wessclink has resigned from the SRC — supposedly for academic rea­sons. I hen he deregisters as a

student — all within 5 weeks of promising to make orientation week orientation year. And now — border-toe Coenie?

The Vice-Chancellor has con­firmed that all the trees and grass in front of the Physics block have been removed, and the area bricked up. to enhance the sweeping vista of MacCrone Mall, which will extend deep into the heart of the present Milner Park Showgrounds. ‘Students will be able to stand at one end and gaze down the brick walkway unhampered by foliage'.

Page 4

he said.MacCrone Mall will be con

pleted in 1995.

The SM A painted the SR ' wall last week, calling on sti dents to vote ‘Yes’ on Novembi 2nd. But who painted th swastika in place of the X on th wall? And who blotted out th swastika and replaced it with i\ original X? And what different does it make?

SA U JS ’s sukkah still mains next to the Wartenwei basement. 3 weeks after t festival of Succot. Is SAL waiting for next year, or j some more rain?

IJ October IV

Unite against detentionp» Wednesday September U . a rf(i| w„ he|d „ Khouo House to express solidarity »ith those in detenion and those who are being re pressed in Ciskei. The two and a half hour »i(j| was attended by 300 people.

Popo Molcfe. General Secret­ary of the UDF. opened the meeting on a forceful note.He said ‘We are here to reaffirm our commitment to a free, non- racial and democratic SA. We are here to say to the rest of the world, that we are united in force, and that detention and Ciskei repression will not deter us.'

Dr Peter Hunter, the father o! the detainee Katherine Hunter, reaffirmed his full support for Katherine in her commitment and dedication to working for justice in South Africa.

‘Even though the family has suffered greatly, many good things have come from her detention. A large community fo support has been formed and more and more people are becoming actively involved. 1 which shows that detention can only strengthen our commit­ment to justice.’ he said.

Dr Max Coleman of the Detainees' Parents Support Committee (DPSC) said that of

the five largest groups who are detained, students, scholars and academics are the largest group They are people who continually question injustice and oppres­sion.

They are the ones who care about humanity and life.' He also said that ’psychological torture is the worst form of torture for detainees, with solit­ary confinement the most severe assault for detainees'.

He also said that, according to the government law ‘Section 29’. no firearms are allowed to be present in the area of interro­gation. Vet Harris Malatchi. on October 5. was shot in the head, while being interrogated I He was the 55th person to nave died in detention.)

The next speaker. Anthony Zwii of the health sub-committe or the DPSC. spoke aouut ihe physical methods of torture in detention. ’Detainees have been suspended from poles; they have experienced electric shocks; wet towels and plastic bags have been put over their heads, while they have been nhvsically assaulted; detainees’ gemtais nave h*«n brutally assaulted; tneir neads have oeen Knucxed against walls and they have experienced severe sleep depri­vation. r

These methods of assault are

not side-effects of detention, but are part and parcel of detention.' laid Dr Zwi.

Brendan Barry, president of •he SRC. wi'* ‘nwr 70 W''< students have been detained this year, and presently 2 are being held’. They are Carl Niehaiis and Katherine Hunter. Mr Barry said. ’We must unite in action to dismantle detentions'.

Dr David Webster a lecturer in the Anthropology department at Wits spoke about the horrors of the Ciskeian repression; yy peopie have oeen Hilled. Vigilantes are beating up inno cent men and women walking in

the streets. People are being tortured in the sports stadium in Ciskei. Total chaos ana a reign of terror has developed But most of all. SAAW U. the vo,ce of the people, and of democracy has been banned.'

I astly members thr Vnun* Christian Students (YCS) pre­pared a moving reflection on repression. One by one people lit candles and mentioned one aspect of repression that struck them.

' he meeting enoed with a proud, powerful cry of; ’AN IN JU R Y TO ONE IS AN IN JU R Y TO A LL !'-------------------------- i h j u r t I u A L L !

Res almost readyIh e new M#n« Dm ;« tuill L. ___ ■

Sparks slams

The new Mens Res is nearing completion, and students ire expected to be admitted by February 13 1984.

75 students will be accommo­dated. in separate rooms. Each room will have a desk, shelves and a bulletin board as well as cupboards and radiators. Public telephones will be installed for students.

The cost ol the res is approxi­mately R 1.25 million. The res was started early this year and

Will he completed sooner than Planned.

An attempt has been maoe to integrate the building with the other buildings around. Similar tiles have been used and the design is similar. The surround­ing trees have been kept where they have not interferred with construction.

Apparently when builders were excavating a 'historicar stone was discovered. It has been described as 'a flat stone with writing on it'.

»->•*

SA Censorship jjfFVe*thimhA « r Ul1 rRiCU‘ rd ^ COBo Tim«™an from speak- ‘ ?T ”' ~ i :1lE! ’reetnam Academic Freedom in* ar i— __ «•_ • . r * . _ . - •The 17th Annual Richard Feetham Academic Freedom lecture went ahead two weeks •to after the government refused to allow the invited ’P**ker. Jacobo Timerman, to enter the country. The replacement speaker was Alastair Sparks, ex-editor of the Rand Daily Mail.

The poorly attended meeting was chaired by Sandy Lipchitz, chairperson of the Students. Academic Freedom Committee. Insued-guests included Pro­fessor Stadler. head of the Politics department, and Deputy Vice-Chancellor Prof Shear. Notably absent was the Vice-" Chancellor who 'had a ’ prior engagement’. .

11k lecture, held annually to reaffirm the university's dedi­cation to Academic Freedom is named after a former Vice- Chancellor.

Alistair Sparks forcefully con­demned the government’s inter­vention in preventing fellow journalist and newspaper editor

Jacobo Timerman from speak mg at the lecture He said that this was just an indication of the information censorship, and the disinformation campaign that the Eovernment provides.

Sparks used the example of the ANC. a 'banned' organisa­tion. and hence all information surrounding the organisation is prohibited for general consump­tion by the public. He stated that mouhers of the ANC m:glit he 'Af»can Nationalists' or may

' even call themselves 'African Socialists'. Hesaid that they may be .liberals or they may be radicals .-The fact is, we just don't know..We. as the public, are not afcl’e to confront these

• ideologies-, because they are •withheld from us. And jn its place, the government substi­tutes its own propaganda V- 'all members of the ANC are com­munists’.

Sparks said that'such censor­ship extends even to the day to day running of a newspaper. He said that almost all the editors of the daily newspapers in this

country nao some sort ot crimi­nal record for uou^icuinij one of the multitude of censorship laws.

S paries spoke of the with­drawal of power from parlia­ment that we have seen in the last few years and centralised in secret committees, the most famous of whirh i« tlw larp Security Council Hementioned that even the s s r had decided that anotner com­mittee was needed simply to examine all literature entering the country — all literature and information has not become a matter of state security.

Ihe president ol SKL. Brendan Barry, then read out the affirmation of Academic Free­dom that is inscribed on the plaque outside the Great Hall.

No spaceWith exams too close for comfort, it seems that library space has become a scarce resource.

Even with the addition of a new library in the Oppenheimer Life Sciences building many libraries are filled to caoarirv People merely attempting access to reference books are hampered by other students who use the library for no more than a desk, a chair and some quiet.

Some useful information on '•hrarv hourv Between now . - h the ciia or exams tne warten- weiler is oi>en from ORhflO- ^jnuu on M onaavs to Diurs- days. 08h00— 17h00 on Fridays and 08h00-l2h30 on Satur^ days.

Z D

T "

'You must realize that the ▼ice-chanccllor is just a tiny little mortal in a timeless endeavour.'-

Professor D J Du Plessis. the vice-chancellor of Wits retires at the end of this year, having held office since the beginning of 1978

Win Student bearded this formidable man in his eyrie on the 1 Ith floor ot Senate House. To the north, the entire univer­sity campus (including the medical school) as well as the Milner Park Showgrounds can be seen clearly ( For example, it is only from the office of the vice- chancellor that it is possible to fully understand the contorted architectural layout of Central Block.

To the south, the prospect extends over the entire city with the exception of Ellis Park

We asked prof Du Plessis about the acquisition of the Milner Park showgrounds — the major coup of his vice-chan­cellorship. In reply, we got a lot more than we had bargained for

‘You must remember that the university is a continuum.’ he said. 'Wits is now sixty years old. and will continue for — what? — another twenty centuries. The vice-chancellor is thus just a temporary steward, the insti­tution has a momentum of its own. The vice-chancellor stands on the shoulders of those who have gone before him, and in turn, their contributions must be

seen in the light of the time in which they were made.

'I did not apply lor the post of vice-chancellor. I was not an applicant, nor was I interviewed. I was happy where I was. doing my life's work. I did not seek some magical position which would give me some notional prestige.

“Once in office I had to define where we were going, so I set up a large group of people (all experts in their fields comprising some of our finest academics) to draw up a blue-print called the Academic Plan, a task com­pleted in 1980.

"The plan assessed such topics as: what do we want to teach? Which topics? How many staff members will be needed? From this the group extrapolated, and came up with the assessment that the university should be

.built to accommodate 22 000 students.■ ‘This would ensure that we would live up to our objectives, that is. to be an open, city university, serving the needs of the community. We hope to complete our plan by the mid I990's. aiming for large depan­menu with heterogenous staff and students.

‘Well, obviously, if we were to accommodate 22 000 students we would need space, so our next step was a Physical Plan. The obvious answer was the Milner Park Showground, as I was unwilling to move oart of the

The VC has often been the butt oj student wu

du Plessis, the Vice-Chancellor, on the verge of

umversitv to Frankenwald. 20km away, as had been mooted in the past.

‘We had tried for the grounds in the past, without success. This time, perhaps the mood, perhaps the circumstances had changed and it came off. The ground is owned by the City Council, but we managed to buy the lease (and this includes the building) from the agricultural society

‘There is no doubt that tm» has changed the nature of the university — this will make it great. (It is great already) but this will make it greater. Wits will be a world-recognised scholarly institution standing round in the company of Har­vard. Oxford. Cambridge.

‘Anyway, we hope that reno­vation of the existing buildings will be complete by 1985. The current campus will house the faculties of science (on the east side of Central Block) and applied science (on the west side). Central Block itself will house aplied maths, stats and computer science — providing a fusion of the two disciplines.

The north part of the show­grounds will house the faculties

«f law and commerce, and the south. Arts ana Education. I envisage a broad bridge thrown across the motorway, and this will be a meeting place for students. Here the boys and g-.rls can meet and hold hands, as a natural.

‘We needed more money than the gov­ernment would give us. so we started the Uni­versity Foundation. I wanted them to raise R25 million and so far they have come up with R l O m i l l i o n / ^ ^ ^ ^ ^

*AU the buildings will enclose open spaces where students can meet and discuss and live in this climate. There will be trees and a canteen and all those nice thingv MacCrone Mall will stretch from the Ptazza outside the Physics block all the way across to the showgrounds. A nr» Library is planned.

We are currently removing the trees from the Mall so that people can have a clear view of u

U Octohrr 194J

irom one side lo the other.'Well, obviously we needed

money for this so a Financial *Un Hrawn uo. We needed more money than me govern­ment would give us. so we started the University Foun­dation comprised of private individuals in the city who were prepared to help us. I wanted them to raise R25 million, and so far they have come up with R 10- million -

‘Next we needed an Adminis­trative Plan. So we started a process ol decentralization, giving greater power to the laculties. The central decision m*kin« remains with us. but the implementation is up to tne deans who now have consider­able power. Also, we have increased the number of deputy vice-chancellors. In fact, the whole floor is now the vice- chancellor's office, so between the deputies and myself there is now considerable decentrali­zation. Our next step will be to start building up middle- management.

‘In 20 years time you won’t believe your eyes when you see Wits. Remember it’s great already, and it's going to be tremendous-’

*ln 20 years time you won't believe your eyes when you see Wits. Remember it’s great already, and it’s going to be tremendous * ___

He paused and we askea. •Would you agree that the issue of the year at Wits was the furore around the Quota Bilt? What •as the purpose of the General . Assembly called in May?

Not only was the Qi^ota Bill the most important event of the ' year.' said the V-C. ’but I’d say it mas the most important event that has happend in the life of this university. It was the first ume the university had found itself in a position where it might have to act against its most basic ethos — namely that Wits is an open university, a position «iated unequivocably by Jan Hofmeyer. the first Vice- Chancellor. In 1959 the govern­ment imposed the permit system on us. The University objected bke hell and had a General Assembly to express it. But the different between that and the «]uota bill was that it was an intrusion on university practice, it did not require the university use It to make a racial dis­tinction.

‘We opposed the bill by every means — letters, meetings, appeals. It was a planned.IJ October I98J

orderly. scholarly. gradual approach. When the normal protests failed one by one we had to call a General Assembly. We even considered another plaque but we thought that that would diminish the present one as the General Assembly was held to reaffirm the principles of the old one.

’One day there will be anotner plaque. That will be when all these discriminatory laws are repealed. Then we will hold another General Assembly to celebrate — but that won’t be in my time!*

Wits Student asked. ‘What if the Quota Bill hadn't been shelved, how would the univer­sity have reactedT

*1 can t answer mat question' he replied ’I don’t know how the university would have reacted, it was never discussed formally. All 1 can say is that it was very pointedly tied to the subsidy.

’The major issue of 1982.’ we said, changing the subject, ‘was the ZTonist-PLO confrontation, how do you see this flare-up in retrospectT

*1 don’t know it i really want to. or have anything to say about that.’ the Vice-Chancellor be­gan. ‘We knew before that there would be trouble. I was told at 5.00pm the evening before, and the following morning at 8.30am I had a meeting with the two student groups. 1 asked them to control the meetings. It was proposed that I should ban the meeting, but that would have been a failure. Wits would have failed in its task as a scholarly institution, b—

Wits must rise aoove the weaknesses of its environment. The es*' sence of our ethos is that heterogeneous people can live to­gether and tolerate each other’s beliefs. If you can’t do that, then I believe you are not educated..’

*1 have always msisicu inat this university must be an example to the city and to the country, not a reflection of them. Wits must rise above the weak­nesses of its environment. The r\>ence of our ethos is th»t heterogeneous people can live together and tolerate each others beliefs. If you- can’t do that, then I believe you are not educated.

‘hvery time something Iikc this happen\ we're set back in

oui paces. Wits is unique, and we must act like unique people.

‘In the event there was trouble which could have lead to abso­lutely disastrous consequences. Those were fit. strong, self- confident people there, good chaos who had simply lost all reason. I banned all meetings for the next week to « od the rot.’

‘I see life as an ocean, or a series of oceans, and each man picks his own ocean . . . and dives in. Once in you swim like hell . .

‘Professor Du Plessis.’ we said, preparing to leave, ’what will you do nextT

*1 have no idea.’ he said. *1 really don’t know. I can’t go back to surgery at 66. and I don’t want to go back to teaching

because I’m seven years out of date.

*1 see life as an ocean ora series of oceans, and each man picks his own ocean (I picked surgery) and dives in. Once in you swin like hell, and then you find a current and swim with it. and then you get twice as far. It drops you off on a shore, and by then you’ve gone a long way. If you don’t like it you can dive back in. but remember, then you’re swimming against the current. My philosophy is: don’t swim against the current.

‘At the moment I’m waiting for a current, but I don’t even know what ocean I’m going to be in. Anyway, it bothers my wife, but not me really!’

He then showed us some of the memorabilia given to Wits by well-wishers around the world, as well as an absolutely mag­nificent antique mahogany cabinet, and then ushered us out.

The call fo r a creche initially squashed /o r fin a n c ia l reasons, is now being review ed by C ouncil

/‘are 7

STATEMENT BY GROUP MANAGING DIRECTOR OF PRETORIA PORTLAND CEMENT COMPANY LIMITED

As South Africa’s maior cement andAs South Africa’s major cement and lime producer, currently spending R500 million on new cement and lime cap­acity. we have reached a stage in our development which I believe calls for a new corporate marketing strategy.

For too long we have mistakenly been thought o f as being a minor Pretoria based company, whereas in fact we supply nearly 50 per cent of the country s cement and 65 per cent of its lime requirements from modem plant strategically located throughout the RSA. Our annual production capacity is 4,5 million tons of cement and 2,2 million tons of lime.

The envisaged programme will deliberately focus on the significance of our group emphasising the capital intensive nature of the company’s busi­ness and its long term earnings potential as well as presenting our group as a major supplier of basic raw materials of fundamental importance to the South African economy. Finally it is directed at creating an awareness, amongst the public in general, of the end uses of our products, o f our concern for the environment and presenting our group as an enlightened and progressive employer. Evidence of this programme will be seen in our corporate advertising campaign.

We will in future be known as "PPC” in preference to “Pretoria Portland Cement” and companies in the group have accordingly changed their names to conform to our corporate image.

Northern Lime has changed its name to PPC Lime” and Cement Services to ‘‘PPC Cement Services”. Both Cape Portland Cement and Eastern Province Cement will operate under the name PPC.

/Guy LuytGroup Managing Director

News __________________The New Constitution:

What campus thinksWas Student sent a reporter and a photographer to find out what people on campus actually feel about the new Constitution. The questions asked were:1. What do you think of the N L 'SA S/SR C campaign on th( new Constitution?2. How do you feel about the new Constitution in the South African context.

~ - *

Scott Hazelhurst BSc II1. Petition is a good idea. Apathetic students are moti­vated to question the New Constitution.2. Shit Constitution. Won't do SA any good — will make the future more difficult.

•a. • .» -r* - t .»Gavin Kretzner MBBCh 1111. Cot people thinking.

2. With the government’s frame of reference they’re appropriate, but in a broader more realistic framework they’re inapprop­riate.

RegmakersNight Shift? Swotting’ Driving through trie night’

Stay wide awake ana mentally aled witn Regmakers the mild mental stimulant

Regm akersEach taoiet contains: Caff*n# 150 mg.

'*u»

-Jt-T - M.

. S ' j j l l > L jCharles Blackboard BSc Eng II1. A good thing in a sense. It is important to see things not purely in terms of the referendum.

2. People shouldn’t say no. because they’re aligning them­selves with the Conservative party. The New Constitution is wrong and therefore a spoilt paper is my only option.

Andre Havengha BA II1. Pamphlets have given me an understanding of the New Constitution.2. I’m opposed to it. The most worrying aspect is the possibility of a dictatorship.

Jackie Felix B Com II (5)1. Indifferent.2. Not sure but giving it some thought.

Coenie outCoenraad Wesselink who stood for the S R C in the recent S R C elections hts handed in his resignation.

His reasons are purely aca­demic.

Coenme. in his second year of Engineering has cancelled his registration.

His portfolio included under secretary for student services. ob>erver on the Building Com­mittee. and Observer on Aesthetics and Environment Committee.

He stood on the same ticket as Neil Heilman, ‘no right turn’.

SSC electionsIn the recent Science Student Council elections the follow­ing were elected to the Council:Linda Wedderbum — PresidentPeter Rosendorft — Vice-Presi- dentScott Hazelhurst — SrrretarvDebi Bryden — Publications officer, editor of CugniSi ience

Heather Aspoas — Education officer. SSC representative on Edcom

Etienne Marais — Sports Offi­cer

Dennis Connack — Science Representative on the SRC

In an interview with Wits Student Linda Wedderburn stressed that the main function of the SSC is the effective representation of students af faculty level.

This year’s council aims toIJ October IVSJ

increase contact with students and to keep them informed of issues affecting them and decisions made by the faculty.

They will continue to focus on the issue of the arts course requirements and at present are conducting a survey to investi­gate the possibility of intro­ducing supplementary exams into the science faculty.

They hope to introduce ser­vices not provided in the past such as the availability of past exam papers to students and the continued assessment of course content and lecturers.

The present class-rep situation will be looked into with the hope of developing a more efficient system.

I he council also aims to stimulate awareness and ques­tions and seminars on topics that are related to science students and another Environmental Week will be arranged.

ffiff 9

/A

FeaturesN U SA S ’83: Educating for Change

Putting it into practice^ * Those who subscribe 10 non- proposals. TheW hy b N U S A S rejecting the New Constitution?Why has it launched a massive nationwide campaign on all affiliated campuses?Has the petition been a success so far?Wits Student approached Kate Phillip (N U S A S President) and Ruth Becker (N U S A S Projects Officer) with these questions. ________________

Will Student: There has been a (rea l deal o f excitem ent recently about the approaching referen­dum . W hal isN U S A S 'ssta n d o n the constitutional question?

Kate Phillip: NUSAS rejects the referendum because it is a whiles only affair, and it’s based on the same old premise that the white minority can decide on behalf ol the majority of South Africans. So we don’t see the referendum as a legitimate decision-making event.

However, we do see it as vitally important that students reject the new constitution through all channels open to them. Central to NUSAS s call, therefore, is that 'Voting 'No' is not enough*. Students should commit themselves a lot further.It'S: Can you explain this?K: Students must make it ex­plicit that they reject the new constitution because it_en-. trenches apartheid: they must separate themselves from the CP which is also voting No. It seems a clear Nat strategy to make the Yes vote appear most rational and the least contra dictory.

The ‘step in the right direction’ argument rests on a shaky foundation. "

Some politicians argue that the proposals are a step in the right direction. What do you feel about that. Kate?

K: The step-in-lhe-right-direc- tion argument rests on a shaky foundation. Primarily the argu­ment hinges on the tact that Coloureds and Indians are included in parliament. But it docs noi take cognisance of the terms on which they are included.

The proposals take apartheid as a premise: They entrench ethnic division and ensure white supremacy through a 4:2:1 ratio. The proposals also open the way to a one-party government no doubt led by the Nats - and an effective dictatorship by the executive President.Page 10

WS: What is the position of the PFP?K: The proposals place the PFP in a difficult predicament. The PFP will become insignificant in the new system. Even the limited role that it has played until now as an opposition party, will be cut away. Real decision-making is removed from the tricameral parliaments the the higher echelons ot the structure. For instance, the president need not necessarily be elected by the enfranchised people.

IfS ; Ruth, do you think that certain members of the P FP will be incorporated into extra- parliamentary opposition?

Ruth Becker. Given the PFP"s opposition to the proposals, it is likely the party may split over their implementation. PFP supporters may be forced into extra-parliamentary opposition

Those who subscribe to non- racial principles and a South Africa free of discrimination and exploitation certainly could phy a role outside of parliament. The alternative to reform introduced in parliament is not necessarily violent change.

The development of UDF demonstrates the potential ot building democratic organiza­tion in working lor change outside of parliament.

The UDF calls lor a national convention. But the precon­dition for this is the restoration of civil liberties, the unbanning of the banned and the release ot political prisonersanddetainees.

IKS. Some proponents of Ihe new constitution argue that the inclusion of blacks is an ultimate goal. How do you feel about thal?K: The step-in-the-right-direct- tion story has the vague notion that somehow the inclusion of Coloureds and Indians is the first step and the inclusion of the black majority will come in the long term.

This is naive and. in fact, misses the point of the

RtirIt Becker - \ U 5 A S Projects O fficer

proposals. The proposals are premised on the permanent exclusion of the black majority and the irreversibility of the bantusian system.

We have only to look at the current situation in the Ciskei: the massacres, the state of emergency, the curfews, the arbitrary detention ot thousands — who are then herded into an amphitheatre in Mdantsane where they are tortured. This is a situation strongly reminiscent of Chile in '73 — a 'Missing’ right on our own doorstep!

This is the general pattern in the bantusians. Their leaders are SA government puppets who have no mandate from the people.

This is the barbaric system thai a Yes vote endorses

WS: Certain students have reacted negatively to the NUSAS petition. They argue thal NUSAS is radical, aggres­sive and doesn’t put forward alternatives. How do you feel about this portrayal?

R: Firstly they are ignoring the issues highlighted in the petition itself, and are responding only to their image of NUSAS as a 'radical* organisation. NUSAS plays an important role ir countering SABC propaganda's

‘The proposals are premised on the permanent exclus ion o f the blacl majority and th. irreversibility of th bantustan system.’

attempt to provide a ponti face to apartheid. By revcali the realities of apartheid, such bantustans. resettlement, inf; ior education, and milita sation. N U SA S appea •negative*.

If'.V; Some students have fused to sign the petition on < (rounds that NL'SAS is *t political* and ‘irrelevant' students. W hat is your opini<R: There is an element ol general student body whicf-unintcroted in the SRC - student affairs. Their image NUSAS is created by the p:

IJ Oflohr

• hich only focuses on contro- • versial political issues They

don't see ho* NUSAS functions

SRC * di" ' y lChleP W° rk 0f ,he

The Mudem representatives in NUSAS give the orgamsat.on itsdirection. So this year we have emphasised student participa­tion in running the university and the question of student rights. In July we held a Faculty

Council.-, Conference. The result is that faculty councils are growing from strength to Strength on every campus and acting on student grievances.

I don’t deny that NUSAS has taken an anti-apartheid stand But this can only be regarded as too- political if we realise that students are depoliticised through school and university NUSAS is an immediate challenge to this apathy and disinterest.

* S ; Whit can students do to oppose the constitutiuonal proposals other than sign the N LSA S petition?

K: We must educate ourselves about the structure of the proposals and their implications for our future. Students can speak to their parents, relatives and friends, explaining the pro­posals and urging them to rejectthem- We must aim at a broad constituency.

muting yoursell to a just and democratic South Africa.

Features

Skin colour does not preclude you from committing yourself to a just and democratic South Africa.

|t is also important that we voice our opposition loudly and clearly - show the government that the majority of NUSAS students are united in rejecting the New Deal'. Students can say

•NO' an,I sign the peution. but this is not enough. We must become actively involved in organisations on campus which are coordinating opposition to the Bill. Students must not let their interest wane at the end of the campaign.

M'S: What is your response to Ihe argument that only black students have a political role to play?

R: I disagree. Obviously white students have a greater stake in the status quo and are less inclined to accept chanse. It is not me colour of your skin, but the ideas you believe in that are significant. Skin colour docs not preclude you from com- IJ OiloArr I9IJ

H'S: Do you think the 1981 N LSA S theme ’Educating for change’ has been appropriate and effective?

R: Yes. For example the cam­paigns against the Quota Bill and the constitutional proposals have been focussed on in an educational way. Each campus has examined the reforms proposed by the government and evaluated their validity in context of the ongoing realities and brutality of apartheid. The reform-repression strategy has been exposed. Another impor­tant development in student organisation has been the move away from high profile meetings. There has been a greater emphasis on a grassroots ap­proach through debates, sur­veys. and seminars to encourage student involvement.

Throughout this year NUSAS has provided alterna­tives. For example in the Quota Bill campaign we proposed that learning and culture should be open to all. During the consti­tutional proposals campaign, we emphasised that all people should be involved in drawing up a constitution.

W'S: What is the significance of UDF. Kate?

K: UUh is a grouping of over WO grassroots organisations in diflerent constituencies. They are bound together by a common commitment to the principles of non-racialism and democracy.

Many white South Africans see politics and change purely in terms of parliamentary politics. This accepts an undemocratic situation where an unrepresen­tative minority can legislate lor the majority of South Africans.

But the majority have shown time and time again that they can change the path of South African history, through their united action. Thus the driving force lor change in South Africa is not coming from parliament, but Irom outside of it.

I he development of the non- racial democratic movement lor change in South Africa shows that violence is not the only solution. Organisations of stu­dents. women, teachers, work-

Kate Phillip: MUSAS President ers, and school children, are united in their rejection of the present government’s right to impose pass laws, detentions and resettlement. They are the real movement for change in South Africa.

‘The PFP will be­come insignificant in the new system .’

'♦'S.- H ow is U D F taking up the constitutional proposal?K: The UDF is addressing itself 10 all the different ancles o f the M ates current reform rotative* H does not fall into the trap o f looking at the constitutional proposals in isolation. It is also challenging the m echanisms which control the black majority.

U D F has made it clear that theNat constitution is a means of drawing Coloureds and Indians into the minority laager in order to bolster it. At the same time the controls over the African majority are being streamlined as reflected by the Koornhof Bills.

WS: How is UDF important toNCSAS?K: For opposition on a broader scale we must unite with other democratic organisations under the banner of UDF. Itisthrough UDF that we can reject the new constitution, reject the ongoing control of the African popu­lation. reject apartheid in any form — and do so side by side with all South African demo­crats. ■

Come to NUSAS Congress

WitsNov 28- Dec 3

APARTHEID CONSTITUTION

NO THANKS!

Nov 2 19 r m

1 1 [1

\\ e must adapt or dir!' VI his was the astute ubscrtaliun of Prime Minister l*W Both* »hen he took ,ffice in Since then, the South African.p n tr tM M l has m a d e several attempts to adapt .parthe.d lopres cut it from dying. The New Const, tut. on * the culmination of these attempts. Whether it will succeed in presenting the death of apartheid or not. remains to he seen.

Sincc the Nationalist Party came u» puwer in 1948 it ha» tightened controls over the movement and allocation o f .abour.imposed ngid racial segregation and harsh political repression. Ban- tustans have become the African's 'vehicle for political expression'. The repressive nature of the Nationalist system has led to structural crisis in South Africa.

Economy threatenedThe continued growth o f the

South African economy is threatened as:• there is a major shortage of skilled [abour• a growing unemployment rate• a small consumer market •and an unhealthy dependence un imported technology and machinery. f

Along with the growing eco­nomic crisis, the state has experienced several threatening developments in the last decade: the rise ol the independent 1 rade Union movement: the educa­tional upheavals o f 1976 tfnd I9KU: and the intensifying (curilla struggle corresponding tu the growth ol the A \ C since 1976

In response to these threats the •Total Strategy' was deviled. This involved the co-option of the Black middle class for 3 reasons —

sk illed la.Miur

l he consumer

• io meet short;i g o• to enlarge market• to act U'*a;Hiiller &clwccn the oppio^ed i*nd rMlmgclass. * * ' * * • • •

‘A d a p t o r die!’I his strategy required the

reformation ol Apartheid.In 1977 restructuring began

using the dual cinoptivc repressive strategy: Wave> ol repression accompanied govern­ment ‘concessions*.

I he Rickert commission ol |V ?y advocated that ‘qualitied’ Xtricans be granted the same

*1 iccJo in* ol employment as W estern workers, hut thatiiillux co iitio l he tightened to reverse the I low ol ‘d isqualilicd’ \ lncans lo the cities. Rickert

suggested that the onus be placed on the employ ei to ensure labour control. ' l ines lor cm ploving ‘illegal* woikers were increased Irom R UK) to R.MM ^

Needless lo say. this led to the sacking o l large numbers ol Africans. # I he removal ol squatters Irom the \yanga-Hush area in C ape I own m Augusi I W l . was another example ol the implementalion ol the Rickert recommendations.

Ihe koorn fu >t Hills were inirt>duccd: to implement the recommendations ol the Rickert Commission. Ih c Hlutk L o t t il

U ilhnrilH 's H ill and The Him k ( om nnn iiiic * Ikrvehtpm cnt Mill will.

• upgrade |he puppet com­munity courtlils slightly in an attcm flT io attract the support ol conservative blacks• .introduce ♦ Administration lioards to promote ‘the interests and development ol any black community*• allow* lor the recognition ol ‘qualilicds* as ‘permanent black urban residents*.

Ih c (k ile r lx U m rtH M l am i Seiilcmem Hlutk P e r\in i\ H ill is the repressive lollow-up lo the co-opt ivc nature ol the other two Hills It implements lighter struc­tures ol inllux control which w ill lead l»»:• an increase in pass raids and prosecution.• a growth ol squatter on the borders o f Bantu- stans within commuting distance ol urbanareas.• a dramatic crease in drastically * crowded rural areas.

RiekertMost nl the K icked benefits

are contingent on accomim*- datioii which the massive

, hotisiiig shortage. and the KiHirnhol hills do not allow lor.I his shows that * I otal Strategy* is contused, uncertain and contradictory.

Ihe W iehahn recommenda­tions allowed A lrican I radeII moils to register lor the lirst time and did a wav with certain job reservations. But. simul­taneous!}. they suggested in­creased control over unions, which resulted in the detention, imprisonment and killing ol leaders and the arrest and harrassment ol strikers. Strikes remain illegal.

'Reform s’ in education were complemented by repression ol school and university students.

Bantustans* In the bantustans a small elite

has been nurtured to rule in the interests ol S A and loreign business. Ih e S A surrogate regimes crush all resistance with a brutality not yet seen in ‘white* South A ln ca (as witnessed recently in the Ciskei bus boy­cott). A ll lorms ol legal organi­sation are banned or severely restricted in the bantustans.I he reformist strategy has lailcd. It has threatened those sectors Irom which the National l*arty draws most ol its support.

the white farmers. A lrikaner business men. white workers.

cr-

Rcsistance has come Iron within the N l*(lead ing lo a *pl» in 19K2 and the emergence ol lb CPfc Irom the while civ servants, and from the whit working class (shown by the support lo ihe 11N I* and C 1*. an strikes such as ihe 1979 nation, while miners strike).

On the other hand, mai influential businessmen ha urged the government to bru about more meaninglul refun

Crowing repressionIhe last weeks o f the l*J Parliamentary session saw : widening ol ihe Slate’s lev lativc power. Ih c Rubte mission has been used introduce direct repress measures. The Protect it mi In/m -m aiian(H iH (replacing Official Secrets Act) broadened ihc definition information which may noi disclosed Irom that which all

WtTS STUDENT AQVEnT)SEMENT_

Thosewho vote

v o t e f o r

1 A future of fear and uncertainty.2. Radal discrimination and violent confrontat.or3 Sham reform.a The entrenchment of minority rule.5. The exclusion of all black South Africans.6. Detention without trial.7. One party government.

9. i X x control, group areas’ in^ or l^ s tT n pass laws, resettlement and Bantustanpoverty.

1 0 . • ■ ■

Collection Number: AK2117 DELMAS TREASON TRIAL 1985 - 1989 PUBLISHER: Publisher:-Historical Papers, University of the Witwatersrand Location:-Johannesburg ©2012

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