Union of South Africa

A group of South African citizens, deeply concerned at the fact that the Government of the Union of South Africa is threatening to exclude non Europeans from the Universities of the Witwatersrand and Cape Town, issued a statement to the press on February 15. which says in part: "A Commission of Enquiry has recently been appointed to investigate and report on the practicability and financial implications of providing separate training facilities for non-Europeans at universities. We the undersigned, wish to express our alarm at the exclusion from these terms of reference of what must surely be regarded as the fundamental underlying questions. These questions are: Can it be shown that separate training facilities are in fact necessary, more especially at those universities which traditionally do not practice academic segregation? is there any need to Interfere with the existing rights and freedoms of such universities? And finally, is there any advantage to be gained, either educationally or in the field of race relations through imposing academic apartheid on all South African universities? The practice followed by the non-segregated universities in South Africa has not given rise to friction or internal tension. On the contrary, successive generations of students have enthusiastically affirmed the wisdom and correctness of opening the university to non-European students, while similar resolutions have been passed by the University Council and staff We consider that, within South [unclear: AtjSca.] the open universities of the [unclear: Witwn ersrand] and of Cape Town approach nearest to the conception, of a university. We record our deep conviction that it would be a tragedy for the future of this country if the Government compelled these now open universities to depart from their established practice. The very fact of the existence of the two open universities' has enhanced South Africa's reputation overseas. But it has meant more than that in South Africa Itself. It has made possible contacts between students outside lecture halls and laboratory classes—an essential part of university education. It has given concrete expression to the desire for goodwill between Europeans and non-Europeans. The isolation of non-Europeans from European students will inevitably increase group prejudice and engender a heightened nationalism in the segregated universities."

(Special report.)