regarding South African society as something that is fluid In conclusion, certain suggestions emerged which could

and constantly capable of modification (despite the views increase the effectiveness of all change-promoting organi-
of those who dictate policy), the book throws down a sations.
gauntlet to those who believe (as many people now do)
that ultimate confrontation and some form of social chaos
are inevitable.
1. Organisations must be sure about what they want to
The concluding discussion-summary seems to express the
achieve but also flexible as circumstances change (as in the
views not only of the participants in the workshop but of
case of the Black Sash).
the editors of the book too. The last t w o paragraphs are
2. They must recognise the limitations of their particular
worth quoting:
position in society and of the general South African situa-
It was generally agreed that both approaches (the tion.
" h a r d l i n e " and the pragmatic) had value. Organisations 3. " M i x e d " membership is not necessary as an end in
adopting one type of strategy should not necessarily itself.
condemn those adopting another strategy, but rather 4. White groups must, in Ms Kuzwayo's words, " l o o k with-
realise that both together could provide a multi-dimen- in themselves" and examine their own behaviour and the
sional approach to change. The "pragmatists" often whole political and economic situation in South Africa.
opened a door through which the "hardliners" could 5. Organisations must soldier on even if objective results
j u m p , which in turn enabled the pragmatists to walk are limited: they must not be judged by visible results.
faster. Each balanced the other, and the competition 6. They must recognise that diversity is desirable in a
between the t w o could be beneficial in the long run. A n plural society and that different strategies are appropriate
open society involves tolerance of all groups and organi- for different organisations.
sations. 7. The worst failure is the failure to act at all. •

ARMY PROPAGANDA
"TOTAL STRATEGY" STYLE
by John Passmore

The phrase "winning the minds and hearts of the people" "The Warrior" is a clear example of the symbiotic relation-
achieved a considerable measure of fame and/or notoriety ship that exists between the Botha administrative hierachy
during the Vietnam War. It signified a massive and costly and the S.A.D.F. The ostensible aim of " T h e Warrior" is
attempt on the part of the American invaders to shut off to attract an increasing number of blacks into the S.A.D.F.'
the avenues of mutual co-operation which existed between ranks. However, it goes much further than that. Most of
village communities and Ho Chi Min's guerilla forces. the articles in the magazine give "details" which " i n d i c a t e "
how disastrous it would be FOR BLACKS if majority rule
The 'hearts and minds' policy involved the setting up of
communal health centres, education camps, food centres came into being. Here are some extracts from the editorial
and information networks. In this way, General Westmore- column: —
land and the Pentagon top brass hoped to gain the support "The constant call that life for our blacks in this countrv
of the Vietnamese community or, at least, to neutralize is miserable should be carefully weighed against the facts
that community as regards the war against the Vietcong. and figures available for living standards for Blacks in the
The 'hearts and minds' policy never really got off the R.S.A."
ground, but it's failure seems to have had little impact "Many photo's and figures can be produced as evidence
on the strategies pursued by the South African Defence of even poorer whites in the R.S.A."
Force.
" i t is high time this disease in our society of demands
The South African 'hearts and minds' policy is, like its and then throwing childish tantrums if these demands
American predecessor, the product of the military. As are not met should stop." (Article written at the height
such, it forms an integral part of the overall " T o t a l Strategy" of the school boycotts.)
policy the Botha/Magnus Malan/Big Business axis is trying
so hard to incorporate. A disturbing off-shoot of the 'hearts "Start appreciating what you've got, then you will
and minds' policy is "The Warrior", an eight page monthly certainly get more."
magazine put out by the S.A.D.F/s "Command Information' The front page of " T h e Warrior" is devoted to a lengthy
centre in Pretoria. article entitled " U h u r u : But what then?". The article

18
describes how badly-off Zambia, Uganda and Angola are ming Lesson" by Sgt E.T. Mabuza), sport, poems to "up-
because they opted for "black rule". right citizens" in Soweto and to the community councils
in the black townships.
" A f r i c a can be mentioned as the most restless and
unstable continent (politically) the last 30 years. Young There is a rather sinister exception though.
inexperienced leaders in many cases were not able to The second last page is given over to a cartoon which pictures
handle the many national and international conflicts various traumas of a black school-teacher named Betsy. Betsy
that arised." (sic!) is trying to counteract radical agitation in the classroom —
"The Warrior" goes on to assure its black readership that agitation which has arisen as a result of the school boycotts.
they are far better off as they are (as opposed to people in She tells her class not to listen to the trouble-makers.
the rest of Africa). " N o t only do you jeopardise your privilege to attend this
" A typical Soweto home has four or five rooms, is school, but also you will be wasting your parents hard-
soundly built and stands on its own plot of land. It rents earned money."
for an average of about R 18,00 a m o n t h , and this Immediately after the class discussion the principal calls the
includes water supplies, sewerage and refuse removal." staff in and tells them—
Distortions such as these are relatively mild when compared "Ladies and Gentlemen I want you to warn our students
to the sentiments expressed by the writer of a personal about the devious role of the banned A . N . C . "
column called " F o c u s " . This is how " F o c u s " feels:—
After that one of Betsy's students tells her that the "banned
"Chief Buthelezi true to f o r m , will not allow children to A . N . C . " (in this cartoon the term used is always "the banned
tell him what to d o . " (A highly significant approach A . N . C " ) is going to hold a meeting in an old church-hall.
adopted towards Chief Buthelezi here.) Betsy dissuades her pupil from attending the meeting and
"Somebody certainly showed his respect for the late then delivers the pupil's information to the white 2.i.e. of
terrorist Mahlangu when he put a Warthog head on the the local military camp, etc., etc.
grave." And there you have it. A magazine whose aim is to inform
"The Lions will not be playing against the Zimbabwe blacks of the " f a c t " that South Africa is a haven of security.
team. (My copy of "The Warrior" is, unfortunately, an If blacks realise this then they will play their part in main-
old one.) If the British who negotiated the peace is not taining the present status-quo. Despite the crudity of the
welcome then who will be?" propaganda "The Warrior" rather cunningly features a
number of articles written by black officers and N.C.O.'s.
"Whatever happened to Thozocmile Botha? Is he still try-
ing to help his people. No w i t h o u t a farewell kiss to his The impression created is, that blacks can now join formerly
beloved wife "he left to join his friends". (Botha's wife white preserves such as the S.A.D.F. officer corps. A small
brought an injunction forward against the Port Elizabeth multi-racial middle class is hinted at here.
security police in an attempt to prevent them from As regards distribution of the magazine — I haven't been able
molesting her.) to find out just how wide its readership is. From what I've
heard, the magazine is read by black S.A.D.F. personnel,
"Black Education in South Africa : The Facts", is, like the members of the black community councils and a small
f r o n t page article, something of a masterpiece of distortion number of black school teachers.
and omission. It lays a heavy emphasis on the 'educative
reforms' instituted by the government as a result of the up- The issue of "The Warrior" discussed in this article is, No.
heavals of 1976. A flood of statistics are printed in order to 15, 31 May 1980. " T h e Warrior" proves that the 'hearts
demonstrate what the government is doing for black educa- and minds' policy is, to all intents and purposes, a relatively
tion. long-established one.

The rest of the magazine is devoted to the joys of black I have quoted extracts from "The Warrior" w i t h o u t correcting
participation in Defence Force life (for example — "Swim- the several misspellings. •

E D I T O R I A L BOARD
Chairman: Peter Brown
Vice-Chairman: Alan Paton
Board: N. Bromberger, M. Corrigall, M. Dyer, C. Gardner,
S. Msimang, J. Passmore, P. Rutsch, J. Unterhalter.

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