PLATFORM : There’s No Guarantee

During his current U.S. visit, the message of Nelson Mandela, president of the African National Congress, to the American people is that black South Africans cannot afford to take victory for granted. And for those Americans who wish to help ensure open and free elections, a major effort is required to educate blacks about how, when and where to vote.

Of the nearly 19 million blacks who will be eligible to vote, only 9 million live near major cities where safe access to communications and the polls is available. The balance (10 million) live in the countryside, where, for the most part, there is no electricity, no radio or TV and no newspapers.

Furthermore, there is an extremely high rate of structured illiteracy. Add to this situation the fact that the ruling Nationalist Party, the creator of apartheid, is responsible for establishing the polling places. For many blacks, it will take all the courage they can muster to even go to the polls. Finally, the rural areas are primarily agricultural, just as in the United States. And it will be very difficult for those who may be brave enough to withstand the intimidation of their employer’s wishes to have access to safe transportation to the polls.

So what can we Americans do? We can help them with know-how, equipment and funding. Know-how in the sense of helping the many organizations in South Africa with technical advice as they undertake a massive voter education program that Mandela and others are establishing.