Page 30 - Afrika Must Unite

THE COLONIAL IMPRINT 15
spring up on the eve of revolution, they see an abyss opening up
before them, but are unable to formulate any decisive alter­
native.
Against the disrupting tendencies in the Union itself stands the
tremendous unfolding of the African Revolution, which has
spread with remarkable swiftness out towards the east, centre
and south, so that it is now almost at the frontiers of South Africa.
‘Why are you so certain that there will soon be a change of
regime in South Africa?5 a member of the Ghana National
Assembly asked me shortly after South Africa left the Common­
wealth. I replied: ‘Because of the strength of the African Revo­
lution which has already transformed most of Africa; and
because the South African regime shows exactly those symptoms
which have invariably preceded revolutions elsewhere.5 South
Africa is a country timed for explosion, like H aiti before its
revolt, and for the same reasons: racial tyranny and fear.
Not surprisingly, therefore, discontent mounts in the Union,
as also in the South African administered territory of South­
West Africa.
Labour disputes often end in strikes and demonstrations;
sporadic outbreaks of violence increase in size and num ber.
These in themselves may not be enough to disrupt the South
African economy, but if a sufficient num ber of countries boycott
South Africa, the total effect is bound to be considerable.
Already the Union government is dangerously isolated politic­
ally, cut off from the sympathy of its African neighbours, and
deprived, because of its apartheid policy, of the moral support of
most of the world.
The South African question is one upon which African states
have proved that they have a unity of approach, and it should
not be difficult to devise an appropriate line of policy which
could attain universal African support. Plans must certainly be
made to train Africans from South Africa to be ready to take
over positions of responsibility once the existing government has
been overthrown.
British colonial policy has assumed various forms in different
parts of Africa. A full description would fill several books, and I
can mention only what I consider to be some of the more sig­
nificant and characteristic aspects of it. The avowed British