Armed on Our Own Ground

Publisher:  Toronto Committee for the Liberation of South Africa (TCLSAC), Canada
Year Published:  1977
Resource Type:  Film/Video
Cx Number:  CX497

The slide-tape show focuses on South Africa; the recent student demonstrations, workers' strikes and events leading up to it.

Abstract: 
The slide-tape show focuses on South Africa; the recent student demonstrations, workers' strikes and events leading up to it. The show begins with students demonstrating against the enforced use of the Afrikaans language in their schools. The response of the police through the use of tear-gas, dogs, batons and guns resulted in the deaths of hundreds of students. This and the oppressive nature of the Apartheid system led to the spread of mass student and workers' resistance against the entire regime. All across the country, students held demonstrations and workers organized successful strikes in major industrial centres.

The slide-tape show also tries to point out how the South African government is able to sustain its economy in the face of instability. Foreign investment as well as Canadian corporate involvement and Canadian bank loads to South Africa play an important role in helping the government out of economic difficulties.

In the face of such violent opposition, the resistance of the oppressed peoples of South Africa is gaining new momentum daily as expressed by the last few slides in the program.