An internal war

The South African Government is fighting an internal war against those of its citizens who do not accept and following full Government apartheid policies. This war is not against "terrorists", but against clergymen, bishops, teachers, students, sportsmen, against legitimately constituted organisations whose only crime is that they are opposed to Government policy. The war is rough and brutal. It is fought in all arenas, including the sports field. In the past, many of the casualties of the war have been sportsmen — people who have had the courage to question apartheid sport and the determination to introduce non-racial sport — people like Hassa Howa, who had his passport removed when it was known that he was to travel to London to address the Imperial Cricket Conference. People like Morgan Naidoo, who has been served with banning orders because he dared to expose racism in South African swimming at a time when South Africa's membership of the international swimming association Fina was under review.

The war is conducted at all levels, and involves all Government agencies, including the Ministry of Sport. To deny that pressure is placed on sportsmen opposed, either in part or in full to apartheid sport, is to deny the existence of Mass Howa, Morgan Naidoo and others.