to eliminate negative and discriminatory aspects of influx control are receiving urgent ConsideratOR is...the government's firm Intenuion problems. relating to the resettlement will be communlics given attention resolved tc the Call cont satisfaction of concerned.' This was followed, within a week by a ministerial announcement of a temporary freeze on the forced removals of blacks and the offer to free Nelson vanced OD which the governcould not accept. Four longterm prisoners on kobben Island, members of the Pan African Congress (PAC), were actually released.
While these sugarcoated words were aadressed to the growing movement against apartheid in the US, it was also intended to head off the wave of protests which had SWCOl LOWISHIDS throughout South Africa.
ror the oppressed people of South Africa, speak louder than abilvis words. Even while speaking, WaD ations were going ahead for the forced removal of more than 7,000 coloured people in Kat River in the Eastern Cape from land which they and their ancestors had farmed for 150 years. Their land is being gixen to the 'independent Ciskei 'homeland AMERICAN ANTI-abortionists have taken to harassing patients and staff in abortion clinics and, since the end of last year, have begun a bombing campaign in an attempt to short-circuit the law and popular opinion, and call a halt to abortions in the States. Since 1982, this reactionary campaign of violence has successfully destroyed a total of 30 clinics abortions and has been responsible for more than 300 acts of vandalism.
Since 25 December, it has been impossible to get a legal abortion in Pensacola, Florida. On that day, three suualici Cape Town, is again under inreal. It is proposca lo remove them to the new townshin of Khavelitsha. some miles from the Officially the reason City for the removals is given as "health and safety reasons' What the government is reaiv concerne• aoour s the health and safety of the apartnera stale.
The policy of removals apartheid and has been going on for decades. Between 1960 and NIGEL DICKENSON about million black people were removed "resettled' the largest enforced popuanon movements ever known in peacetime.
When Ancar capitalism was mainly mining capitalism, colour bar and the migrant labour poncy were essential to profitability. They had two basic aims.to provide the mines (and the farms which fed the miners) wiin abundant cheap labourand to build a wall white workers from Eurwho brought with Unc. them traditions of trade unionism and 'socialism', and the migrant black workers It was deliberate policy aimed at preventing a black proletariat taking Tool unc urban arcas allu combining with the organthat perform legal Florida bombings; New Year's Day began, a poe Hillcrest Women's Hillerest ised white workers to threaten the very existence of capitalism.
With growth of secondary industries, esfollowing War II, national operations south Africa, the needs of capitalism began Capitalism, tradchance. itionally, needs a stable WOrKIOrCE WILL Iclalive freedom of movement.
I his need - expressed politically by the ProgressSquatters' camp in Alexandra township; riots in Crossroads have left at least 13 dead ive Federal also bi the S0• called 'verligtes' the ruling National Party against the apartheid superstructure which had become the ruling ideology of the state.
Despite the legislation to control the influx of blacks into the urban al cas the economics of capitalism drew tens thousands of workers into the towns. The specially constructed townships like Soweto on the Rand and Langa in the Cape, where authorities could'exercise a degree of social, police and military control, could not contal unt new annivals Hence the growth of townships like scualiti Crossroads.
These townships .constitute a double threat to the apartheid regime. Not only do their very existence manifest an act of defiance against the white-made laws, but as these townships largely 'autoadministered' they become schools where the workers quickly learn the of self-organisation value the strength grows from it. Tears alone all a wee What the is a whole series of 'Sowetos' under conditions they cannot so easily control.
Crossroads has beet under threat since and it is only the resistance of its people which have till now prevented its removal. Khayelitsha has designed give easy arcaler salisiallon lod concerned'. The people doomed to removal are no even consulted.
To it all the regime is cracking doli hard on the restistanci movement. The arrest six leading members of the Democratic Fron (UDF) three trad readers. chargec with high treason, which: cames Learea old death penalty coming si soon after Botha's 'con ciliatory' words and his toward Nelson Mandela show the tension which threaten the very ex istence of the racist state.
The UDF not banned organisation. Its activities, so far, have been confined to peaceful demonstrations against tha new constitution and other aspects of oppression ¡Botha and the government just cannot believe that the riots in Crossroads which. lat the time of writing, have en edenue boycott the growth sistance spontaneous revolts against the barbar regime.
There must be a conspiracy scapegoats must be found hence me duests The British labout movement must put all !: strength the de. mand for the release of al the accused and for ihe release unconariona Nelson Mandela and the other political prisoners