This satirical paper appeared in South Africa during an election in the dying days of the apartheid regime (the late ‘70s, early ‘80s). It was called “Die Buiger” (The Bender), a wordplay on the Afrikaans language newspaper “Die Burger” (The Citizen). The newspaper was a staunch proponent of the apartheid regime and tended to do its best to rationalize the position of the National Party (in effect the government).

Even though there was an outcry from the officials of both the white government and Die Burger, by this time the apartheid regime was definitely in trouble at academic institutions and amongst the younger generation of Afrikaans speakers. A few years later PW Botha, the South African State President was disposed of when he had a stroke, FW de Klerk took over, released Mandela, and the rest is history.

The picture of PW Botha on the front page is actually that of Pieter-Dirk Uys, an actor who had a hugely successful one-man show called “Total Onslaught” in which he mercilessly attacked the white government for failing to deal with reality.[1]

Here is a translation of the main story. I have added some explanation in [square brackets] to hopefully make things a bit clearer for those who are not familiar with the South African political landscape during this period. Also see the picture notes for a translation of some of the other stuff.

ROARING APPLAUSE MOVES PRIME MINISTER

ROAD OPEN FOR FREE DICTATORSHIP

Moving scenes occurred when more than 1600 shouting, foot stomping, patriotic cheer-commando members came to their feet and loudly applauded the Prime Minister for his statement: “If the proletariat can have a dictatorship, why not us? And I don’t say this out of selfishness, but because I want all nations to have the right to self-determination!”

Political commentators believe that the standing ovations which interrupted the Prime Minister’s speech continually were even greater than those that occurred when BJ Vorster [the previous Prime Minister] announced that he had banned the English Cricket team from visiting South Africa.

Emotional

A clearly emotional Premier thanked the crowd for their applause and added that he would fight to the death for their right to applaud him like that. On a more serious note he continued:

“There are those who are looking for our demise. Our country is being threatened by the evil powers of totalitarian Marxism. I want to appeal to all democratic individuals who want to preserve a Western civilization here in Africa, to support the NP [National Party] plan for the future (Roaring applause).

Hard Road

“We have walked a hard road from 1948 to 1977 and we will not be derailed by those on the far right who think that the future lies in 1966. Also not by the leftist progressives who demonstrate their lack of love for our country by trying to enter the ‘80s!

“To them I want to say: Atlantis [a township for coloured people outside Cape Town] was not built in one day! (Laughing). District Six [a township for coloured people inside Cape Town] was not demolished in one day! (Cheering, roaring applause, standing ovation).

Not Afraid

“These people who want to change things should realize that our country is being threatened by a meticulously planned and orchestrated onslaught. We will destroy this onslaught with all our might. Our enemies should know that we are not playing (Cheering). Those who desire confrontation will get confrontation. I am not at all afraid to say so!