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Salient. Victoria University of Wellington Students' Newspaper. Volume 31, No. 24. October 1, 1968

Apartheid in sport

Apartheid in sport

The d'Oliveira case reminds us that our only honourable course is to sever all sporting relationships with South Africa until such time as that country's apartheid system ends.

When the original team selection was made for the M.C.C. tour, d'Oliveira's omission was greeted with enthusiasm in South Africa and the inference was obvious from the press reports that the way had been cleared for the tour to go ahead.

It was no surprise, then, following d'Oliveira's last - minute inclusion in the team that Mr Vorster should cancel the tour.

The terms of apartheid have not altered and the inclusion of non-whites in touring teams is permissible providing there are no political overtones.

The colour of a player's skin will count in the selection of a team to go to South Africa.

One recent All Black was pan-Fijian; would he be acceptable to Mr Vorster?

Another celebrated family has several brothers playing. Would the fair brother be included and his darker brother be excluded?

— Marilyn Hopley.

— Marilyn Hopley.

The attempt of G. R. David in the Evening Post of 18 September to separate the d'Oliveira case from that of the All Blacks was pathetic indeed.

David built his argument on the mistaken belief that d'Oliveira is a South African when in fact d'Oliveira has become a naturalised Briton.

He was, in law, no different from any others chosen for the team.

What is significant about David's writings is an anxiety that too much publicity about the South African question will endanger the rugby tour. We have to play to Mr Vorster's rules.

By going to South Africa on any basis we strengthen apartheid.

In a sports-keen country like South Africa, continuing sporting contact with such countries as New Zealand is used by these propagandists as evidence that the Western democracies are in sympathy with their apartheid polices.

Notwithstanding the Jardens and Loves of New Zealand, whose occasional remarks attempt to rationalise this fascist-based system, the truth remains.

Apartheid provides for inferior standards for non-white people, including lack of political rights and low-level wage rates, education and housing.

Sport is particularly important to South Africans, and being organised rigidly along racial lines, is also an integral part of the apartheid system.

An end to international sporting contacts could cause white South Africans to reexamine the basis of their government's policies.

And if this is taking the possibility too far we can at least declare that we will not do anything to bolster an indefensible social crime.