Their role was to have been as “hewers of wood and drawers of water”, to quote Dr Hendrik Verwoerd, the architect of apartheid. In its broadest sense, the non-white population was to remain largely a source of cheap labour in one of the most resource rich countries in the world.
For those of us who were born and brought up in South Africa the change in the country was the most significant of our lives, wherever we now lived. It was an event that we had never imagined we would live to see.
In Sydney, where I now live, Michael Refshauge, the Director of Services at Marrickville Council, generously gave us the use of Petersham Town Hall for our election party. Thousands of people attended, causing the caretaker concern because the hall was not insured for such high numbers. Gough Whitlam spoke, there was dancing and music and a palpable feeling of joy. Of course we were all aware of the enormous task ahead of the new South Africa, but at least it was about to begin.
To commemorate this historic event ASAA (Australia South Africa Alliance) is holding an exhibition entitled Memories of the Struggle, Australians Against Apartheid. We are a small group but felt very strongly that the activism of Australians in the apartheid years should be acknowledged. There were many ex-South Africans who were involved in bringing about change in South Africa, and the strength of the movement was because people from many different groups joined together to fight racism.
The exhibition of photographic and other materials charts the anti-apartheid movement in Australia, particularly during the period between 1960 and 1994. It illustrates Australia’s substantial historical links with, and support for, the anti-apartheid movement in South Africa, and includes the Australian government’s leadership implementing financial sanctions and sports boycotts, as well as non-governmental activities led by trade unions, churches and individual activists. The exhibition will also include images of the warm and substantial bilateral relationship in the post-1994 era. It will be launched at 6pm on September 11 at Custom House and will continue for about one month.
