Words from a Silenced World

In daily editorials and an occasional op-ed column known as "Percy's Pitch," The World Editor Qoboza has relentlessly attacked racism, the apartheid laws, economic and educational discrimination, abuses of power by the police, the government and its ministers --anything and everything South African that adversely affects the lives of his black readers. The messages that Qoboza has driven home most persistently: blacks must inevitably gain a share in power, and they must find common ground with whites before it is too late. There is a bite to Qoboza's warnings, and sometimes sarcasm. But the voice that the government has silenced as subversive spoke out in sorrow as often as in anger. Excerpts from Qoboza's writings:

On apartheid. "People can never really appreciate what racism is unless they paint their faces and try to exist under conditions blacks are expected to survive in this country."

On the Steven Biko affair. "If the government is too scared to undertake a full-scale inquiry to establish the cold truth behind these very disturbing events then they are not fit to govern and direct the destinies of millions of people. Detentions leave us cold, Mr. Kruger."

On last June's Soweto riots. "Unless the government realizes the urgency of the situation and takes the necessary steps to eliminate friction, then what happened in Soweto may just be a prelude to bloodier confrontations."

On Prime Minister Vorster. "He has shown a complete lack of courage and decisive leadership at a crucial time in the history of our country. For the sake of South Africa and all her peoples we sincerely hope he will climb down from his ivory tower and start looking justice and morality in the face."

On increased security spending. "At the end when circumstances force us around the conference table--and no amount of guns can prevent that from happening--then we will wish we had the intelligence and foresight to do the right things when the opportunity was there. There is still time if we can take the initiative. And the majority of our people at this time are crying out for justice and bread, not guns."

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