DOCTOR ALEXANDER'S APPEAL STILL PENDING by Connie Kir kby*
News has just reached us from South Africa that it is still not possible to give the exact date when Dr. Alexander and his 10 associates can make their appeal against prison sentences for conspiring against the South African Government. It is necessary to get the signatures of all 11 before Counsel can get the date of the appeal fixed. Signatures of the 4 women serving sentences in Worcester jail have been obtained but Counsel has been refused permission to go to Robbens Island, the notorious prison island - South Africa's Alcatraz, where prisoners are assaulted, degraded and humiliated in every way. How long it will be before the seven men are brought from their concentration camp to the mainland so that their signatures can be obtained, remains to be seen,
Meanwhile we must go on getting the maximum financial support so that once their signatures are obtained, there can be no further delay in making their appeal, for financial reasons,
Amounts received to the fund in the last three weeks total over £200. Congratulations to the Nottingham group of readers who raised 11 guineas for the Alexander fund by holding a social. Can other groups of readers living near to each other organise gimilar events and enjoy a social evening together while at the same time help fo swell the funds? Workers at Bristol Aircraft Corporation made a collection of £11.6.9. NALSO students in Durham have been successful in getting a motion through two college JCR's for a 1/64 a head levy (with contracting out), I+ is symptomatic of the level of feeling about South Africa among Durham students that very few people have contracted out at Hatfield College where £21, 3. Od has been raised in this waye In addition, this college has sent in a cheque for £5.12.6, collected by two students at the students' union debate on South Africa, The motion calling for ‘immediate and drastic action! was carried by 90 votes to 50,
Newcastle student, Rachel Lever, has sent in the magnificent sum of £26. 10,0d on her collection sheets. Labour Party member, Robert Hope, has sent in £10.15.0s for a start and is still taking his collection sheet around. All these and other wonderful responses reflect the very strong feeling that exists against the tyranny of the South African Government. It is well to remember that in South Africa it is not possible to raise money for these purposes - by making every effort we will give encouragement to our fellow socialists in South Africa who are risking their lives, serving long terms of imprisonment and being separated from their families in exile for daring to oppose the fascist measures of the Verwoerd regime, This is not a fight for South Africans alone but one which requires the full support of the socialist movement.
How are the collections going throughout colleges, Labour Parties, trade unions, and other sympathetic organisations? Let's have news about the collections even though you still want to go on colledting.
Over 250 people turned up to the social held in London, November 14th at A rica Unity House. Socinlists enjoyed themselves dancing to a non-stop African steel band. A net profit of £50 was raised and has already been handed in to Defence and Aid. Barnei Desai, Chairman of the South African Coloured People's Congress, one of the sponsors of our committee, appealed for additional cash during the evening and a collection of £12 was made. * Secretary of the Alexander Defence Committee, 27 Thursely Ho., FoImewoad Gans »