WHITES AGAINST APARTHEID

Duration: 18 Minutes

 

The "Alexandra massacre" of April 1986 results in the death of 21 members of the Alexandra township community; the majority of those killed are political activists

murdered by "hit squads" - comprised of black and white balaclava-clad men, dressed in police-type uniforms and allegedly escorted by armoured police personnel carriers.

 

On May 17th - surrounded by a ring of security force might comprising some hundreds of riot police, troops, mounted cavalry and armoured vehicles - the community

of Alexandra is finally granted permission by the South African authorities to bury eight of their dead.

 

In contrast to the aggressive - and predominantly white - profile of the South African security forces displayed on this occasion, a small handful of Whites from local

organisations like the Black Sash, the churches, the United Democratic Front and some in their personal capacity attend the funeral to express their condolences and solidarity with the oppressed black community.

 

At this time, JODAC (Johannesburg Democratic Action Committee] – that component of the United Democratic Front concerned with white attitudes - launches a "call to whites campaign to raise consciousness and recruit whites into the democratic movement.

 

The ECC [End Conscription Campaign] launches its "Working for a Just Peace" campaign aimed at focusing white attention on the destructive role of SADF troops in the townships.

At the predominantly white university of the Witwatersrand, student / security force confrontation flares as black and white students rally on campus to demonstrate for the release of Nelson Mandela.

Risking possible state reprisal, for the first time, prominent white businessmen from South Africa visit Lusaka to meet with the ANC.

This report - covering attempts by a minority of whites within South Africa to be meaningfully involved in the anti-apartheid struggle at this time - looks at the enduring role of the Black Sash [lonely symbol of white opposition to the injustices of apartheid and the initiation of the United Democratic front in August 1983.

 

Included are interviews with:

Clare Verbeek - Chairperson of the ECC;

Tony Bloom ~ Chairman of Premier Group Holdings;

Sheena Duncan - Past National President of the Black Sash;

Neil Morrison - Publicity Secretary of JODAC;

Anglican Archbishop-elect Desmond Tutu.