Listening to the silent majority

[63]

Moeketsi Shai: ‘You must not make the mistake of thinking that Tutu, Boesak, Chikane and Beyers Naudé represent the struggle for liberation by black people in this country.’ I stressed, that the four were considered by most people abroad as expressing the views of the black South African masses. ‘They are not the struggle,’ replied Moeketsi. ‘The

[p. 81]

struggle is waged by the people of South Africa. However, the positions Tutu, Boesak, Chikane and Beyers Naudé are in, gives the power to air to the world some of the views of some black strugglers for liberation. If someone insignificant were to start talking, for instance on television, or go to Holland on a lecture tour, what would the South African government do?’

I asked Moeketsi whether he felt that Tutu and company were expressing the popular views held by most blacks. ‘They do,’ he replied.^46. ‘Most blacks, that is my impression, are against sanctions,’ I said. ‘If you want to talk about sanctions, we will do so afterwards. But one thing you should realize, Desmond Tutu is one person in South Africa, who is openly saying that he supports sanctions. Who else is openly discussing controversial issues? Tutu and his colleagues are keeping the fires burning. Because black people feel so suppressed, these clergymen fulfill useful roles. And the government is afraid to do something about it. What these churchmen are doing is part of the liberation strategy.’

Shai continued, ‘What is happening in South Africa today is a movement towards the development of blacks. Many of our intelligent and brilliant leaders, that we have seen coming up, have been taken away from us or were put in prison. Every nation generates genuine leaders, but often when we do, the Afrikaner government thwarts our leadership. The positions of Tutu, Boesak, Chikane and Beyers Naudé are very strategic. I am not now talking in terms of the debate about whether there should be sanctions or not. I am talking specifically about the position these four clergymen are in. They enjoy the respect of the blacks. They also enjoy the respect of many white people in South Africa. Therefore, you must look at them in terms of the strategy towards liberation. There is a future in their position. There is a future in what they are doing.

‘Do you know what every war does?’ said Moeketsi Shai. ‘It reduces available resources. The majority of South African resources, as it stands, are being presently used to fight this war against us, the blacks. The National Party want to make sure they can stay in power. And, what struck me as very strange was that all of a sudden South Africa was quickly pulling out of Namibia, ending the war out there. Look closer at the economic side of that surprising move. Before this pull-out, an eco-

46. Incidentally, Don Mattera called Archbishop Tutu ‘my leader’!

[p. 82]

nomist published an article in the Sunday Times, about the economics and the cost of the war. A war cuts down on resources. Yes, blacks understand this. Therefore, there will be suffering. But in the end, the turn-about will come and we will climb up again, the country being as richly endowed with natural resources as it is.’