Portland Observer, September 18, 1986, Page 9
South Africa threatens to
expelí Black migrants:
Another boomerang?
The South A frican government's
threat to expel the entire foreign Black
mtgran’ labor force should the West
ern powers enforce economic sanc
tions against the apartheid regime is
yet another desperate attempt to ease
the mounting international pressure on
Pretoria to abandon its apartheid
policy.
“ I f the th re a t is im p le m e n te d , it
w ould have a c rip p lin g im pact on the
m in in g in d u s try , the m am source o f
foreign exchange for the governm ent,'’
says M r. F ion de V le ttcr, o f the Inter
na tion al M ig ra tio n fo r E m p lo ym e n t
B ran ch o f the In te r n a tio n a l L a b o r
Organization (ILO).
R o u g h ly 40 pe rcen t o f a ll m ine
w o rk e rs in S o u th A f r ic a are B lack
m ig ra n ts, m a in ly fr o m n e ig h b o rin g
countries o f A ng ola. Botswana, Leso
th o , M a la w i, M o z a m b iq u e , S w a z i
land, Z am bia and Z im b a b w e . W hile
the large n u m b e r o f jo b le ss B lacks
in S o u th A fr ic a co n s titu te s a re a d y
made reservoir o f m an po w er fo r the
m ining com panies, the abrupt de pa r
ture o f m igrant miners w ould seriously
disrup t p ro d u c tio n and fu rth e r dam
age S o u th A f r ic a 's recession hit
economy.
A c c o rd in g to latest o f f ic ia l d a ta ,
the number o f registered foreign Black
m ig ra n t w o rke rs in S o u th A fr ic a in
19X4 totaled some 350,000. The largest
gro up came fro m L esotho (138,000),
w ith M ozam bique nationals co n stitu t
ing the second largest (60,000) Zambia
has the smallest num ber o f its n a tio n
als w o rk in g in S o u th A fr ic a (743 in
1983) w ith Z im ba bw e constituting the
second smallest group (7,500 in 1984).
The vast m ajority o f the migrants
work in the gold and coal mines, about
190,000, according to the last count
They represent a well-trained and
skilled labor force which the mine
operators would find some difficulty in
replacing from local sources.
Nevertheless, there has been a p ro
gressive decline in the num ber o f m i
g ra n t w o rk e rs e m p lo y e d in S ou th
A fric a . B la ck m ig ra n ts in the early
'70s constituted some 80 percent o f the
mine workers. T oda y they fo rm only
about 40 percent o f the la b o r force.
Barring any p o litic a l in te rv e n tio n by
the S ou th A fr ic a n g o v e rn m e n t, the
number o f Black m igrants seems like
ly to d ro p g ra d u a lly , th ro u g h re tire
ment or fo r other reasons. The recruit
ment o f novices by the mine operators
is to d a y largely fr o m w ith in S o u th
A fric a (about 10 percent) w ith a p ro
gressive re d u c tio n in the in ta k e o l
novices fro m n e ig h b o rin g co u n trie s
(3 to 4 percent).
But this slow dow n o f Black m ig ra
tio n to S outh A fric a n mines has had
its repercussions in neighboring states;
where the level ot unem ploym ent is a l
ready high. The In te rn a tio n a l I abor
O rg a n iza tio n is c u rre n tly engaged in
m ap ping out the sk ills p r o file o f re
turning m igrants in an e ffo rt to adapt
their skills to the domestic labor scene.
A n o ffs h o o t o f th is p ro g ra m is the
la u n c h in g o f som e p ro je c ts such as
road b u ild in g in L e s o th o a im ed at
a b so rb in g e x -m in e w o rk e rs . A t the
same tune, the II O has launched p ro
gram s to help p o te n tia l m ig ra n ts in
getting a clearer idea o l th e ir rig hts,
through extensive briefin gs and other
educational activities But a mass ex
pulsion o f all m ig ra n t laborers w o uld
put a severe strain on the resources o f
the neighboring states.
W hile the significant albeit declining
o u tflo w o f m ig ra n ts to South A fric a
is in a large measure a reflection o f the
bleak e m p lo y m e n t pro spe cts in the
home co u n trie s o f the m ig ra n ts , the
fact remains that m igrant workers, like
other Blacks hi South A fric a , continue
to be discrim inated against, in wages,
living conditions and other benefits.
For instance, the average monthly
earnings o f a B la ck m in e w o rk e r in
South A frica is just over 252 rands.
The white mineworker’s wages aver
aged some 1,377 rands in the go ld
mines and 1.4 3 1 rands in coal mines
(1982) co m p a re d to 252 rands fo r a
Black miner engaged in the gold mines
and 265 rands in the coal mines. W hite
apprentices em p lo ye d u n d e rg ro u n d
received 483 rands (1983) compared to
147 rands paid to Black trainees.
These wage differentials between the
w hite and Black employees in South
A fr ic a 's m in in g in d u s try do not tell
the whole story. I he Black worker suf
fers fro m a variety o f other fo rm s o f
discrim ination, the most blatant being
jo b reservation. Lhe m ining industry is
the last sector where d is c rim in a to ry
la b o r le g is la tio n s till exists, lim itin g
"scheduled persons" which bv de fini
lion excludes all Blacks
Lhe jo b re s e rv a tio n p ra c tic e has
re s tric te d d e ve lo p m e n t o l a s k ille d
B lack la b o r fo rc e , b lo c k e d p r o m o
tions, and u n d e rm in e d safety in the
mines A recent comprehensive mves
ligation o f safety commissioned bv the
black N a tio n a l I m on ot M in e w o rk
e r s ( N U M ) fo u n d that accidents are
not sim p ly the result o f the de p th o f
m in in g , but a lso a r e fle c tio n o f the
way w o ik is organized M uch ot the
p ro d u c tiv e and supervisory tasks ot
white nunew orkers w itti blasting cer
tificates (not obtainable bv Blacks) are
carried out by Black "te a m leaders",
the N l ’M noted. A lth o u g h these team
leaders have de lacto responsibility lo r
safety, they have no form al training ot
tlx- necessary authority to deal w ith se
rious hazards Another cause tor con
cern ab ou t safely is the tendency on
the part o f the w h ite m iners to push
their (B lack) teams at a pace eridang
ering then safety — simply because- o f
their desire to earn higher pro d u ctio n
bonuses. The Black miners are lim ited
to a p ro d u c tio n bonus ceiling o f one-
third o f the average basic pay while the
w h ite m iners have no ce ilin g on the
amount o f pro du ction bonus they can
get.
O ther fo rm s o f d is c rim in a tio n also
m ake the life o f the m ig ra n t B lack
m iner d if f ic u lt . W h ite w o rke rs are
given fa m ily ho u sin g at sub sid ized
rents, but only I percent o l the B l.uk
la b o r fo rc e are a llo w e d , by la w . to
have fam ily housing on die mine preni
ises. Most ot the Black labor force live
away fro m th e ir fa m ilie s in hostels,
sha rin g ro o m s w ith oth er w o rk e rs ,
sometimes up to 22 men in one u x im
T here have been im p ro v e m e n ts in
accom m odation, foo d and recreation
facilities fo r the m inew orkers, but in
many mines the livin g conditions aie
still very jvoor.
I tie irons is that South A fric a can
w ell a ffo r d to tre a t its B lack m ine
workers better But they continue to be
tlie victims ot racial exploitation, legal
ized and enforced by the white m inor
ity regime Several II ( ) studies have
h ig h lig h te d the en o rm o u s eco no m ic
benefits accruing to the Stale from the
sweated la b o r o l b o th Black S o u th
A fric a n and m ig ra n t m iners As ta r
back as a decade ag o, these m in ers
produced some $20 m illio n a dav in
go ld a lo n e , w ith the S o u th A fr ic a n
exchequer e a rn in g a tax revenue o t
some 8 1 1 m illio n rands tin I974)equiv
alent to some 2,000 rands to r every
m in e w o rk e r. Since then the pro du c
tio n and lax revenues have no d o u b t
risen, but the im provem ents in w ork
mg co n ditions o f the workers cannot
be said to have kept pace.
( an South A fric a continue to sus
tain its sub ju gatio n ot B l.u k w orkers
and enjoy the benefits ot their la bo r
fo r a c o m fo rta b le life under the sun
for the whites? lh e m ounting rcstive-
ncss among the Black workers and tlx-
renewed threat o l a strike by the Black
N a tio n a l l'n io n o f M in e w o rke rs arc-
clear danger signals to the government
in P re to ria th a t its a p a rth e id p o licv
can no lo n g e r be e n fo rce d on an in
creasingly w ell organized and assert
tve B l.uk population
Send notice o f vour church activities
and events to
Heliifion Editor Portland Observer
P O Bos JI37
Portland OR 9720S
'Creating A Future With Justice'
"C re a tin g A Future W ith Justice,”
w ill be this year's theme ot the Mission
Institute sponsored bv Church W om en
U nited in P ortla nd lh e event begins
at 9 a m on I rid a y , Septem ber 27,
1 9 8 ', at P a rkto se I nited M e th o d ist
C h u rc h at 11 I 11 N I K n o tt Street
(N o 40 busline)
Speakers w ill be Rev Bob Flaherty,
w h o w ill address c u rre n t la n d and
water issues in the global environm ent
and IXwothv A ckerm an ot the Native
In d ia n C o u n c il w h o w ill address in
justice to tlx- Native A m e ix a n Indians
o l the Northwest. Indian music is also
on tlx- agenda. Jo Brown, who was in
W ashing to n, D C ., and p a rticip a te d
m w ra p p in g " I he R ib b o n " a ro u n d
tlx- Pentagon, w ill fx- on hand to share
her experx-nce o f the event A ll church
presidents are in vited and w ill receive
sjxvial recognition. Bring a sack lunch
to share Phone ahead fo r childca re,
253-7567
Youth indoor soccer clinic
I his $ M t 3 p ro g ra m is designed
tor boys and girls in tirade’s I through
5. Il is a sale, exciting »port designed to
help youngsters de velop th e ir soccer
skills, self-confidence, w ith emphasis
on team w o rk and good sportsm an
ship 1 acli youngster w ill play at least
h a lt o f every gam e I he v o lt fo a m
" n e t I ” soccer b a ll insures a sale
m ethod o t de ve lo p in g skills in d o o rs
dm mg our rainy I all Season Have a
great lim e
come jo in in 3 M t A In
d ix it Soccct'
Practice begins September 23rd
one hour practice a week t lames begin
O c to b e r 12th and w ill be place d at
sites to be a n n o u n ce d A n I lid o l
Season celebration w ill be held Decern
het 7 tii Practices w ill be arranged as
Scholarship
program
Highland I nited t hutch ol t Inisi
invites von Io their fo u rth annual
Ninnici lohnson Scholarship Program
on Simdav. Sept 22, al 3 in p m at
llx-church, 4 6 ) ' N I 9th
I tic scholarship piogram is m honor
ot the tonner p astel. the late Reverend
Samuel lohnson
close to your ne ighborhood as possi
ble Celebrity Soccer Players w ill hold
Clinic.
I ees are $ 1 ' Ot) lo r Y M C A mem
hers, $22 50 lo r non-members. Schul
arship assistance is available, contact
the 3 tor further in fo rm atio n
Register bv com ing in to the N o rth
Inner Northeast 3 office or bv mailing
the registration lo rm and fie to N orth
Inner N o rth e a st 3 M t A , 3 '4 9 N
1 om bard, P ortland. O regon 97217 It
you have any qu eston s, please ca ll
tlie 3 at 28) 3477
Library schedule
M u ltn o m a h C o u n ty I ib ra ry w ill
prevent the follow ing Book Discussion
groups
N o rth P o rtla n d , ' 12 N K illin g s
w o rth (284 '6 2 2 ) 33ediiesd.iv, Sept
2 '. 7 9 p.m
" I et’s talk About I I "
series on 33 or kin g : I x p lo rin g the
33orld ot the W orker B ixik to be dis
cussed is Z teuth o f a Salesman by A t
thur M iller
A lbina, 360' N l 15th (287 7 |4 7):
C h ild re n 's I dins, Saturday, Sept 28.
2 3(1 p m
/ he ( ¡innerbread Man,
A one-day seminar on "P ro fe s s io n
al D evelopm ent fo r W o m e n " w ill be
presented in P o rtla n d at the Red I ion
Portland Center. 310 SW I incoln. on
Friday, September 27, 1985, 8 30 a m
to4 :3 0 p.m.
The in s tru c to r, D r. M a x in e W ar-
nath, is a Professor o f Psychology at
W estern O re g o n S tale C o lle ge H er
areas o f speciality are o rg a n iz a tio n a l
psych o lo g y, social p sy c h o lo g y , and
applied human development
Topics covered include improving
y o u r le a d e rsh ip s k ills , m a x im iz in g
y o u r p e rfo rm a n c e , m an ag ing y o u r
ow n c o n flic t and stress, and effective
team building.
E n ro llm e n ts arc accepted in the
order received u n til ttx- lim it is reached.
R egistration is com pleted by sending
$70 to Endeavors fo r Excellence, Ore
gon State U n iv e rs ity , C o n tin u in g E d
u ca tio n . C o rv a llis , O R 97331-1604
For fu rth e r details call Endeavors fo r
Excellence in Corvallis, (503)754-2677
N o rth P ortla nd Bible College w ill resume claves September 23, lo r all those
who are serious about "th e W ord ot Cuxl
Arc vou satisfied w ith your level o f effevtiseix-ss in using tlx- Bible in personal
witix-ssmg and teaching ’ 33 hat w ill your instructor mean it he tells sou to lead a
person to C hrist using lhe tam ous "R o m a n R o a d " scriptures'’ 33 here dix-s one
fine the d ix trin e s o f ju s tific a tio n , s a ix tific a tio n , and g lo rific a tio n in the B ix ik
o f Rom ans? W h a t a r t the B ib lic a l themes o t each ot the M in o t P ro p h e ts?
33 hat ate the ihaiactensiics ot Hebrew ixietrv ’
33 hat is the theme o l Hebrews? 33 heie aie tlx- lehosah's 33 itiu-sses and other
false cults described'’ 33 hat ate some constructive approaches m dealing w ith tlie
culls ’ H ow docs D a n ie l's Seventieth Week tit in to tlx- B ook o t R evelation?
How can we im prove our Sunday Schools and make them m ore o f a force for
tlx- redem ption o f our youth?
33 hen or how dix-s a Sunday S cluxil g d departm entalized ' 33 hat are the ad
vantages and disadvantages? H ow dix-s the d ix tim e ot ( h r is tia n Ite ed om re
Lite to tlx- "w eaker b ro tlx-r” in tlx- B»x>k ot Romans'’
luesdiiy, 6:30 9 30 Subject. Bible Studs M ethixls; Instructor, M ichael I m il
say; Epistles o l lames and John, Instr .to t. lames ( olem an, O utreach M im s
tries to C hildren, Instructor, C h ild I vangelism S tall
Ih u is ila y , 6 30 9 3tt p m Subject, Old Iestament Survev I, Instructor, Ricky
Danner; leaching I echniqucs, Instructor, 1 ouise Pritchett.
S atuidav, 12 00 3 ()(, p .m .; Subject, New I estament Survey I. In s tru c to r,
Beth Nance
C e rtilic a te Requirem ents: t Mlered annuallv ait- courses planned lo r at least
three categories ot students
all persons in geix-ial who wish io know the Bible
better, pastors and m inisters in lu ll tim e set vice, Sunday Shcool teachers and
ym ith leadeis
"C h ristia n le ach et'sL e r tilx a te ” ( 9 coutses, 2 7 t t e d il b o u ts );
Three couisi-s in C h ristian Education It-achm g techniques, Simdav S ih ix il
Success and I iidetstaixlm g People-
Six courses in Bit'le Suisev: O ld lestament Smses I. II. I II . New lestament
Survey I. II. I l l
Bible C e rtifica te (12 courses, )6 cte d it horns)
I luce courses in Bible Foundations Bible Sludv Methixls, Basie bible D<x
tunes, Di-tending tlx-1 aith
Six courses m Bible S m ses: O ld lestam ent Survey I. II, I II ; New lestam ent
Survey l. I I. I ll
Ihree courses in Bible Aualvsis One O ld lestament elective: one New lesta
nx-iil elective, one Bible elective (O I oi N I )
Registration is completed w ith lees ate paid I ees aie $11) le gistra tion, plus
$20 pet course Pavable to N in th P o ttla n il Bible < ollege I o register, call
288 •’241
Ito urn ol tinse i/iieslion\ arouse vour inten si ' Il so. n /ti not vet the ansHcrs
Iroin \o r lh Portland Hihlc t ollei;e al -I’22 SI 12th t u I all t a tn. /V A '
September 24 December 7.
lh e ( at and the hddle, th e (hvinit
Ihre
A Public Service of the Portland <tbserver
A llE N TEMPLE CME CHU RCH
C o rn e r a t 8 th a n d S k id m o re
S ' ! .y . b o o t 9 3U.irn
Si
lac 3 \ u rs h ip 11 OOarn
‘ 1 r .ti
Y o u th F e llo w s h ip 6 00 p m
i i", i fo u rth Sundays)
Elonza J Edwards (Pastor)
Armstrong
/k v -
Fall S c h e d u le
n
f
A lb in a M in iste ria l A llia n c e
?B4 6023
THE M O U N T OLIVET BAPTIST CHURCH
N E First b Schuyler • 284 1964
Septem ber 20, 1906
John H Isctisor) Minuter M h l
11 00 A M
N ew Beginning Faithway Bible Church
10 00 A M
1 1 00 C o m m u n io n t a < h t i r t t S u n d a y
84 N E K illin g s w o rth • 281 0499
" A w a rm spirit o f fe llo w sh ip a lw a ys"
Of>
p o ll'
I he Ark of Safety
Church o ffio d in ( 00 hrist
ft— • * ‘
L
li' p te .x lie s tin q o s jx -l a m i < h .llle iiq e s t ill' wit* Il rlo i tin s velili lhe
x iw e i o l t iix l just like E lija h 3Vhen they see th .it Jesus is m o re
x iw e ilu l they fo rsa ke th e it ile tm m s th e n s ilts a m llh e ir p ia r li< e s tu i
lesus
le now has I 4 0 < hui< lie s in Kenya lig a n d ...... id Ia n z a n ia w ith
ipvs.u r is t o AtliMM) (a o p le savi ila n r i m any m o n lx in g ad d e d daily
3 iv iv .il is g o in g o n in Kenya w ith a lx iu l 171X81 (M’o p le tx 'in g saved
weekly «imi N .iu iir e s in rie jx -iir ie iil w in k is tig h t in the m id d le o l it
lh e m eri lot m a te ria ls is q ie .il «imi tiis in d e p e n d e n t w o rk is
h re a te n e d by l.x k o l in .ite li.ils s ix h as B ib le s < assetti- players
nr y< les e li I lu re is g reat m eri lo t s ta b ility a n d tear h in g so new
x lie v e is are n o t swayed in to e rm i All S atan m eds to in s u le his
. i< tin y is o u t apathy
V«‘ A|wrr S n rv ir m
H r ip ftirn F o u rth S u n d a y
Thu A m erican B aptist C onvention A m erx an Baptist C hurches ot
O regon L o tt Carey Foreign M ission C o nve ntion N ational. O regon,
P o rtla n d E c u m e n ic a l M in is trie s A m e ric a n B ib le S o c ie ty . M f :M
Board
YOU A ttf WELCOME TO WORSHIP AT
ip p <itcn t to th e sonu jx iw i-rs that ke p t liis q ta n < ll.itlii-r in pow er «imi
dive lor 14(>yc«irs qavi- all that lip lor g re a li-r (xiw er a m i the p ro m is e
>1 e le itia l lib th ro u g h < h rist Jesus.
( o n ijr ttip tftn r n tl W o r s h ip
5 00 P M
4737 N Lombard
Everyone Welcome
Pastor A. Brazzle
MU
9 30 A M Church Sch<x»l
Friday night. 7 30 P M
*1Al HIE I A K A O - fr o m Ki-ny.i tin - son ot a wilt It < l< m lo t .it u I lie u
One-day seminar for
professional women
REL/G/ON URDA TE
tiu PlWt
1'olloU' pc
all men i
u'llboul u i
man sbaL
Covò
T uffAriay
Hthlft Hand
Z 30 p m
Thursday
Chorr H»*ti»’flfsal Z 00 p rn
Sunday
Sunday S< hooi 9 15 a m
M< »rnmg
Wnrahtp
11 15 a m
Y P W W
6 30 p m
Evangelistic
W orship
g*ru*sdrty Friday
H 00 p m
N»n»n (Jay
Prayer
I ...My
T h* Paator Speafrs
Z O p m
Salurrlay
M orning Prnyar
9 00 n rn
ie v » y r t w e r « ^ I 0 U U A M
.(■*«« tMH '4N>AM (M
BEREAN
B A P TIS T
CHUR CH
4822 N. V an co u ver A ve
284-2334
Nathan Barnett Pastor
M frvtntty)
IB Tt»erjlogy •
Services:
9 30 a .m ., Su n d ay School
11:00 a m .. M o rn in g W o rsh ip
6:00 p .m ., Evening W orship
The Barnetts (t
Berean welcomes
yrxir family
At Bereen w e emphasize building
strong families You'll get solid
Expository Biblical Preaching b Leeching