Apartheid
Apartheid was a political regime in South Africa that classified every individual by race. Land was divided, facilities were allotted and all public areas were segregated for example trains, public beaches and libraries. Blacks did not have the right to vote and could not fraternise with white people in any way. Even within the Springbok team, there are two "coloureds" who cannot share the same hotel or dressing room as their white teammates. This reactionary regime was introduced in 1948 after the Nationalist Party came to power. Hiwi Tauroa, New Zealand's Race Relations Counciliator visited South Africa to see the conditions there, after which he concluded if you were a black in that country, "you are nothing." He also explained that "If you're a black, you're subject to all of the laws of the country, but protected by none. But I think it is wrong to look at all of the Afrikaaners as people who have horns."
A differing view came from a former All Black, Ben Couch. Couch was the Minister of Maori Affairs as well as the Minister of Police. Despite being park Maori, Couch showed his support for apartheid in a television interview. After his visits to South Africa in 1970 and 1973, Couch declared that blacks and coloured people were treated like human beings but separate development was needed because of the tribal in-fighting. Critics said it was not right to be part of a cabinet that expressed its unanimous condemnation of apartheid but still have his own personal views in which the Acting Prime Minister, Duncan MacIntyre defended this issue by saying that a minister could have a "consensus opinion" in cabinet and still have private thoughts. Later, Couch issued a brief statement clarifying what he meant was that "at this stage of South Africa's development, some form of separate development may be unavoidable.
People throughout the world were against apartheid, a racist and unfair policy that had a negative impact on numerous black Africans in South Africa. Opposition to apartheid was a political cause to the protests of the Springbok Tour.
Many African nations saw any sporting liaison with South Africa as condoning apartheid. In the many resolutions passed by the United Nations regarding racial oppression in South Africa, the phrase:
Many African nations saw any sporting liaison with South Africa as condoning apartheid. In the many resolutions passed by the United Nations regarding racial oppression in South Africa, the phrase:
Apartheid is a crime against humanity and a threat to international peace.
was often repeated. In the international community, there have been calls for boycotts of South Africa, particularly in sport. Third world nations saw sport contact with South Africa as endorsing the policy of segregation. Countries who had dealings of any sport with South Africa were prepared for criticism and possible sanctions. Thus when the New Zealand Rugby Union invited the Springboks to tour New Zealand in 1981, they were fully aware of the political implications which they were not interested in. Commonwealth nations also showed their opposition to apartheid (refer to the Commonwealth section /commonwealth.html). Within New Zealand, the anti-apartheid movement grew resulting in groups such as Halt All Racist Tours forming (refer to the Protestors section /protestors.html).
Protests opposing apartheid took the shape of many forms and involved various parts of New Zealand society, ranging from religious groups to trade unions to Maori and more. The picture on the right shows Daniel Morgan-Lynch, one of approximately 80 other college students marched to the South African Consulate before gathering at parliament.
|