Commission On South Africa

There were riots in 13 Bantu schools in South Africa between June, 1962, and May, 1964. At one school 152 boys were expelled and blacklisted. This means they are not allowed to be registered at another school.

These facts were contained in a report prepared by the Research and Information Commission on developments in South Africa in the last two years which was presented to a Commission session of the eleventh ISC. The pupils were protesting against the worsening conditions under which they have to study. Percapita subsidies on non-European schools have been drastically reduced from R. 1799 in 1960-61 to R.12-46 in 1964, says the report. In the four years from 1958-59 expenditure on school feeding for African children fell by 92 per cent and the subsidy for Bantu night schools by 95.6 per cent.

Other facts produced by the Commission indicate that the South African Government is becoming more determined in its apartheid policy and more ruthless in its implementation. The "90 Day Act" passed in April, 1963. provides that persons may be detained for 90 days at a time in prison without trial if suspected of contravening the Sabotage Act. Under the same act a person can be sentenced to a long prison term or death for receiving training outside South Africa in violence, for achieving the objects of a banned organisation or for advising interference by an "international organisation." with onus of proof on the accused.

The Job Reservation Act makes it possible for the South African Government to restrict certain types of jobs to certain colour groups, thus preventing blacks from rising in their jobs. Coupled with this restriction the Government has carried out a powerful campaign in Western Europe for immigrants.

Under severals acts the Government can ban publications as it sees fit.

The South African economy is booming but a survey carried out by the SA Council of Social and Industrial Research in 1962 concluded that more than half of the Africans living in the urban areas live under the poverty line. Despite this, much "surplus" produce is destroyed; for example, in August, 1962, 18 million pounds of unsold butter was dumped. Economic boycott movements have had little effect. In 1963 exports from the United Kingdom to South Africa increased by more than a third over the previous year and British investment rose by 10 per cent.

Expenditure on arms in South Africa is rising rapidly. In 1960-61 Government arms expenditure was £22 million; the estimate for 1962-63 was £86 million (the peak year for arms expenditure in World War II was £58 million).

Increasing tension is indicated by the rising number of convictions. At present one out of every 13 persons is convicted in court each year, says the report. The prison population has almost doubled in the last 10 years.

"Self-government" in the Bantu territory of the Transkei is a masquerade, according to the Report. The Parliament cannot pass a law until it has been approved by the Commissioner-General, who represents the South African Government. Sixty-four seats in the 109-seat Parliament are non-elective and the Commissioner-General is empowered to dismiss any nominated members.

The Report concludes with an assessment of violent resistance movements, including Pogo. At the end of June, 1963, there were 3246 persons in jail suspected of belonging to Pogo. and it was claimed in Parliament that the movement was beaten.

The Commission session adopted a resolution noting the findings of the Research and Information Commission. "This Conference expresses its full solidarity with National Union of South African Students (NUSAS) and calls upon all national unions of students to give their full and vigorous support to NUSAS and the people of South Africa in their struggle for basic human rights and the destruction of apartheid, in order to reorganise the society on democratic lines . . ." and going on to urge national unions to exert their influence on their governments and countrymen to resist implicit or explicit support for the South African Government, to condemn countries which provide manpower, military or economic support for South Africa, and to urge unions to intensify their efforts to achieve a complete economic boycott.

The resolution was passed by an overwhelming majority, only South Africa voting against it.