Issued by the Secretary General, Alfred Nzo.
Apartheid South Africa is again attempting the organisation of rebel international sports tours in rugby and cricket. Their intention is clearly to circumvent and undermine the successful continuing boycott against racist sport organisations.
South African Cricket Union officials in SA, such as Bacher and Pamensky, who are claming to have consulted with the ANC in connection with such tours are either consciously dissembling or severely confused.
At the same time the purpose of the discussions that the ANC held with the (SARB) in October 1988 was not to confer legitimacy on this body, but rather to persuade it to actively engage itself, in full consultation with the democratic sports movement in our ciuntry, in the full deracialization of rugby at every level.
Therefore the international community should not be misled into believing that such tours, organised under the auspices of SACU and SARB, will benefit the oppresed black majority by helping to integrate sport in South Africa. Their purpose is rather to create a breach in the mounting international rejection and isolation of the apartheid system.
The African National Congress, as well as the mass democratic movement inside South Africa, have stated quite categorically that they are working to effect the total and equal integration of South African sport on a non-racial basis at all levels. Such overseas rebel tours have a negative and disruptive effect on this ongoing campaign.
Genuinely non-racial sport in South Africa will never be achieved through mercenary manoeuvres and false claims regarding consultation with democratic organisations. Instead, what is called for is sincere and consistent opposition to apartheid and active participation in the democratic sports movement.
Those countries and organisations involved in supporting racist sports structures in South Africa will become the focus of international action. We appeal to the governments and sports bodies to take appropriate measures against collaborators with apartheid sports.
African National Congress
14 August 1989