TESTIMONY OF DR. JEAN SINDAB, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR WASHINGTON OFFICE ON AFRICA BEFORE THE AFRICA SUBCOMMITTEE, COMMITTEE ON FOREIGN AFFAIRS, U.S. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
TESTIMONY OF DR. JEAN SINDAB, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR WASHINGTON OFFICE ON AFRICA BEFORE THE AFRICA SUBCOMMITTEE, COMMITTEE ON FOREIGN AFFAIRS, U.S. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Testimony by Jean Sindab in support of sanctions and disinvestment. Sindab says the Washington Office on Africa is a leading national anti-apartheid organization and campaigns for the removal of all U.S. governmental and corporate support for apartheid in Southern Africa and for the implementation of national policies that promote freedom and justice there. It also serves as the research and legislative arm of the newly-created Free South Africa Movement. Sindab thanked Chairman Wolpe and Congressmen Gray, Solarz, and Berman for their leadership in the 98th Congress in sponsoring the anti-apartheid legislation that passed the House of Representatives but died with the Export Administration...
Testimony by Jean Sindab in support of sanctions and disinvestment. Sindab says the Washington Office on Africa is a leading national anti-apartheid organization and campaigns for the removal of all U.S. governmental and corporate support for apartheid in Southern Africa and for the implementation of national policies that promote freedom and justice there. It also serves as the research and legislative arm of the newly-created Free South Africa Movement. Sindab thanked Chairman Wolpe and Congressmen Gray, Solarz, and Berman for their leadership in the 98th Congress in sponsoring the anti-apartheid legislation that passed the House of Representatives but died with the Export Administration Act on the Senate floor. She said tens of thousands have marched and picketed for a free South Africa and Namibia and for a U.S. government policy that supports the side of liberation instead of the side of enslavement. Eleven city governments and five state governments have passed legislation totally or partially pulling public funds out of corporations and banks doing business with South Africa. Three South African honorary consuls-granted permission to operate by the U.S. Department of State--have resigned under pressure, and many dealers have agreed to stop selling South Africa's Krugerrand. Sindab urged Congress to pass legislation to mandate corporate disinvestment from South Africa. U.S. firms control 70 percent of the South African computer market; Control Data, IBM, NCR, Burroughs, and other firms supply computers to the South African government, enabling it to maintain control over the 24 million black population. Mobil Oil, Caltex, and Exxon supply oil--a natural resource South Africa does not possess--to the South African government. Fluor corporation helped construct the SASOL coal-to-oil synthetic fuels plant, and Westinghouse and other firms have been instrumental in the running of the Koeberg nuclear power facility. Many of South Africa's strongest black organizations--the African National Congress (ANC), the Pan Africanist Congress (PAC), the Black People's Convention (BPC), the South African Students Organization (SASO), and the Christian Institute--were banned shortly after they articulated a pro-sanctions position. The testimony mentions Bishop Desmond Tutu, South African Prime Minister John Vorster, Prime Minister P.W. Botha, Thozamile Botha, Gatsha Buthelezi, Inkatha, Ford Motor Company, General Motors, National Key Points, the Sullivan Principles, bantustans, the National Automotive and Allied Workers Union (NAAWU), the Motor Assemblers' and Component Workers Union of South Africa (MACWUSA), the Federation of South African Trade Unions (FOSATU), and the Council of Unions of South Africa (CUSA).
