Crisis in South Africa

In the following three articles, “Awake!” correspondent in South Africa considers the crisis and its solution

“TOWNSHIP rioting leaves 26 dead.” “Mixed emotions as 15 unrest victims are buried.” “Widespread violence continues.” “Death toll reaches 13 in 10-day SA bomb blitz.” The daily headlines and press reports tell the grim, sad story. As one commentator put it: “South Africa is facing the worst crisis in its history, both internally and externally.”

Vivid pictures and news items are flashed into the homes of millions world-wide. As a result, many think that the whole of South Africa is in chaos. But this is not true. In most white areas and in black rurals, life goes on normally.

Nevertheless, in some black townships, dreadful things are happening. Many TV viewers were horrified to see a young black woman, accused of being a police informer, kicked, trampled on, and burnt alive. Often the venom of the crowd is directed against those in government service or those who collaborate with the government. Black policemen have been killed, and hundreds have had their homes burnt or damaged.

The majority of the rioters are teenagers or even younger. For them violence is becoming a way of life. Furthermore, thugs exploit the unrest to attack and rob innocent people.

The unrest has affected South Africa’s economic condition. The local currency has suffered a serious devaluation. Many commercial firms have had to close down, with unemployment resulting. South Africa’s international reputation has declined. The threats of disinvestment and sanctions loom larger than ever.

This affects neighbouring countries also​—Swaziland, Botswana, Lesotho, and South West Africa/​Namibia—​whose economies depend heavily on South Africa. For many years, two larger neighbours, Mozambique and Angola, have been suffering a crisis more serious than that of South Africa with severe civil strife, their economies severely damaged.

South Africa is a beautiful country, richly endowed with many natural resources​—fine farming land, gold, diamonds, coal, copper, and many other valuable minerals. And among its varied population groups​—blacks, whites, Coloureds (mixed race), and Indians—​there are many fine, kindly people.

Moreover, South Africa is a very religious country. Most people, white or black, believe in God. Yet the country is terribly disunited. Is religion partly to blame? What has brought about this distressing situation? And, far more important, is there a solution?

A Disunited Country​—What Is the Solution?

IN 1955 a visitor to Angola, then a Portuguese colony, was surprised to realize that, as a white, he had suddenly become an “aristocrat”! In shops, offices, and other public places, he was given preferential treatment ahead of waiting blacks.

This was a common experience in many African countries only two decades ago.

Then, in the 1960’s, in country after country where whites were a small minority, blacks assumed power. In South Africa, however, there were millions of whites with a firm grip on the reins of government and economy who, for many decades, had believed that it was God’s will for them to rule. How did this situation arise?

In 1652 the first white settlers, Dutchmen, landed at the Cape. When they met the Hottentots and the Bushmen, local inhabitants wearing skins, the whites felt superior because of their advanced culture. Soon friction arose.

When white farmers settled on native hunting grounds, the Bushmen became angry and reacted by stealing cattle. The little men were hunted down like animals, leading to their shameful near extermination in the 19th century. The Hottentots were subjugated, their numbers were drastically reduced by smallpox, and the few that remained were absorbed into other races.

It was in the 18th century that white farmers (Boers) met up with the Xhosa nation​—part of a black wave of immigrants from the north. Again there was friction. Bitter wars were fought. Meanwhile, the British had taken possession of the Cape. But many Boers chafed under British rule and in the 1830’s trekked north. After many hardships and conflicts, they carved out new states beyond the Orange and Vaal rivers. Both British and Boer practiced racial segregation.

The Boers were Calvinists of the Dutch Reformed Church. They read the Bible frequently, yet they believed they were superior to the blacks​—many believed that blacks were under a curse from God.

The Church Endorses Apartheid

The increase in non-white converts during the 19th century made many whites feel uneasy. As a result, the Church Synod made a historic decision in 1857: “Because of the weakness of some [whites] . . . the congregation from among the heathens [non-whites] . . . would enjoy its Christian privileges in a separate building or institution.” So the church endorsed separation.

The process of division continued. Today there are separate Dutch Reformed Churches for whites, blacks, Coloureds, and Indians.

The late 19th century saw a further separatist trend. By then many religious missions, mainly of British origin and firmly in white control, had been established. According to James Kiernan, Professor of Social Anthropology of the University of Natal, “the African clergy in these white-dominated churches took this exclusion [of African clergy from leadership] to be based on discrimination and reacted against it by setting up churches of their own.” The first was formed in Johannesburg in 1892. Today, there are some 4,000 religious groups in South Africa, mostly black.

The 20th century began with “Christian” whites, British imperialists and Boer nationalists, fighting for supremacy. By sheer weight of numbers, Britain took over the Boer Republics, and together they later formed the Union of South Africa.

But the Boers, now called Afrikaners, gained a political victory when, as the National Party, they won an election in 1948 and came to power on the strength of their apartheid (separateness) policy. A comment in Die Transvaler, an Afrikaner daily, said: “We have the policy of apartheid . . . based on Christian principles of justice and fairness.” A stream of laws and regulations followed to consolidate the segregation of races.

As a result of living apart and having no social contact, many whites are not aware of the poor living conditions in black townships, nor can they fully appreciate the humiliation caused by apartheid. Almost all blacks resent the policy of apartheid. Such resentment has been used to fuel the flames of unrest.

Is There a Solution?

Pressure from within and without South Africa to end apartheid has intensified. Recently the government decided to make far-reaching changes. It made some reforms and repealed certain apartheid laws. But it appears impossible to solve the problems of South Africa in a way satisfactory to all. Many, both blacks and whites, want peaceful change, but some white hard-liners are determined to maintain the status quo. Both sides are torn between extremists and moderates. The blacks are also seriously divided by tribal loyalties.

What solutions do the churches offer? Spiritual ones? The Kingdom of God? No, they have entered the political arena. Some clergymen even advocate civil disobedience and negotiate with leaders of liberation movements known for their violence. As a result, many church-goers complain that they hear ‘too much about politics and too little about God.’

Compounding the confusion is the dissension in the churches. Among the different branches of the Dutch Reformed Church, there is now much criticism of apartheid. Many ministers both black and white have condemned it. The Western Cape Synod decreed in October 1983 that racial discrimination is “sinful” and that henceforth the church should be open to people of all races.

On August 29, 1985, the Presbytery of Stellenbosch, another Dutch Reformed Church regional body, officially recognized that racial discrimination “is contrary to the Biblical principles of love of one’s neighbour and justice” and that “apartheid” has “led to human misery.” Dissension on racial matters also plagues some of the English Churches. For sincere people who grew up believing that apartheid is “God’s will,” this is puzzling and confusing.