the churches and southern africa - KORA
the churches and southern africa - KORA
the churches and southern africa - KORA
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CULTURE<br />
POET REJECTS WHITES,<br />
A famous Black South African poet, Oswald Mtshali,<br />
told a white audien ce in Cape T own during J uly,<br />
"When I read you my poems you appreciate <strong>the</strong>m,<br />
but you will not acknowledge me as a person when you<br />
meet me in <strong>the</strong> street, so I'm not going to publish any<br />
more poems. The only way we black people can make our<br />
presence felt is by rejecting <strong>the</strong> white5," he went on to say.<br />
JOAN FONTAINE THREATENS BOYCOTT<br />
Joan Fontaine threatened, on her retur n to <strong>the</strong> U.S.<br />
after appearing in a play in South Africa, to recommend<br />
that no more American actors perform in South Africa.<br />
She said this was due to <strong>the</strong> way she <strong>and</strong> members of <strong>the</strong><br />
cast had been treated, <strong>and</strong> because <strong>the</strong>y weren't allowed<br />
to perform in front of "nonwhite" audie nces-even<br />
though <strong>the</strong>y offered to play free of charge on a Sunday.<br />
(Star, Johannesburg, June 17, 1972)<br />
SPORTS<br />
SOUTH AFRICA INCLUDED IN DAVIS CUP<br />
"South Africa was voted back into <strong>the</strong> Davis Cup for<br />
<strong>the</strong> second time in six months in Helsinki on July 12.<br />
They were expelled in 1970 immediately after <strong>the</strong> South<br />
African Government's refusal to allow Arthur Ashe to<br />
play in South Africa. Three months ago <strong>the</strong>y staged a<br />
Federation Cup, <strong>the</strong> women's team championship, in<br />
which nonwhite players from abroad competed in<br />
Johannesburg. And this was followed by <strong>the</strong> first<br />
appearance of South African nonwhites in <strong>the</strong> South<br />
African championships. During <strong>the</strong>se three weeks of play<br />
<strong>the</strong>re was not segregation in <strong>the</strong> st<strong>and</strong>s at <strong>the</strong> Ellis Park<br />
Stadium [Johannesburg] ." (Guardian, London, July 13,<br />
1972)<br />
This was of course illegal, <strong>and</strong> with <strong>the</strong> change in <strong>the</strong><br />
Cabinet it remains to be seen how South Africa will<br />
h<strong>and</strong>le its future sports policies. All tennis clubs in South<br />
Africa still remain segregated. Meanwhile, SANROC<br />
(South Africa Non-Racial Olympics Co mmittee),<br />
ACOA (American Q)mmittee on Africa ), IC ARIS<br />
(International Campaign Pgainst Racism in Sports,<br />
stud ent groups, <strong>and</strong> o<strong>the</strong>rs have launched protests <strong>and</strong><br />
are organizing to put pressure on Latin Ameri can<br />
countries to reverse <strong>the</strong> decision.<br />
Mtshali<br />
NEW ZEALAND RUGBY TOUR<br />
In a letter to <strong>the</strong> Chairman pf <strong>the</strong> Commonwealth<br />
Games Committee, <strong>the</strong> Prime Minister of New Zeal<strong>and</strong><br />
authorized him to "work for <strong>the</strong> selection of a'visiting<br />
rugby team on merit alone-without racial discrimination.<br />
This determines that <strong>the</strong> Springboks ei<strong>the</strong>r be chosen<br />
multiracia~y [virtually impossible in South African rugby<br />
at present] or <strong>the</strong>re is a strong possibility that <strong>the</strong> tour<br />
will have to be cancelled. (Star, Johannesburg, May 20,<br />
1972) Public opinions have switched by 30% in New<br />
Zeal<strong>and</strong> recently according to a Market Research survey<br />
showing that over 50% of New Zeal<strong>and</strong>ers are against /e<br />
tour in 1973.<br />
SOUTH AFRICAN DISCUS THROWERBARRED<br />
John van Reenan, <strong>the</strong> world's No. One discus thrower<br />
<strong>and</strong> a South African now resident in <strong>the</strong> U.S.A., was<br />
barred from competing at <strong>the</strong> National amateur athletic<br />
union track <strong>and</strong> field championships at Seattle in June,<br />
after a protest by black athletes on <strong>the</strong> grounds that<br />
South Africa has no. reciprocal agreement that lets<br />
Americans compete in South Africa. (International herald<br />
Tribune, June 22, 1972)<br />
CASSIUS CLAY TO FIGHT IN SOUTH AFRICA?<br />
Negotiations are in progress for Cassius Clay to fight a<br />
bout in Johannesburg in September. Clay said that he<br />
would not mind fighting in front of segregated audiences<br />
provided <strong>the</strong> separate facilities were equal. (Star,<br />
Johannesb urg, June 8, 1972)