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Salient. Victoria University Student Newspaper. [Volume 39, Issue 8. April 1976]

Nusas and Christian Institute:

Nusas and Christian Institute:

Mention must be made here of the National Union of South African Students (NUSAS) and the Christian Institute of Southern Africa.

NUSAS is the White Students organisation with memberhsip drawn largely from the English speaking White universities in South Africa. It was founded in 1924 by the late Leo Marquard, a leading liberal historian and educationist. In the late 1950's and early 1960's NUSAS constituted a vocal opposition to the Nationalist Party government, as a result of which very many of its leaders were deported, banned and placed under house arrest.

Following the establishment of the radical Black South African Students Organisation (SASO) there were attempts by NUSAS at restructing in an effort to adjust to the rising tide of Black consciousness. The leadership of NUSAS realised that if NUSAS was to remain a viable body working for change in South Africa then White students, would have to speak to Whites to make them aware of the injustices perpertrated against Blacks rather than speaking to or on behalf of Blacks.

In February, 1973, the Schlebusch Commission of Inquiry into certain organisations produced its first interim report on NUSAS.

The Commission (a secret commission consisting of politicians from the ruling Nationalist Party and the United Party) had been appointed by the Government to investigate the objects, organisation, financing and activities of the University Christian Movement, NUSAS, the Christian Institute and the South African Institute of Race Relations and any related organisations, bodies, committees, or groups of persons.

Shortly after publication of the interim report, seven members of NUSAS and a university lecturer were banned for five years under the Suppression of Communism Act.

In September, 1974, NUSAS was declared an affected organisation under the Affected Organisations Act, No 31 of 1974. This means that NUSAS can no longer receive funds from abroad. Any individual who receives or attempts to receive funds from abroad on behalf of NUSAS is liable to fine of R 10,000 ($10,000) or five years imprisonment, or both on a first conviction; and on a second or subsequent conviction, R20,000 ($20,000) or ten years or both. Rather than ban the Organisation outright the Government clearly aimed to strangle the Organisation through lack of funds for its activities.