Word: suzman
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...first formulated her own conclusions about the government's apartheid policies when she lectured on economic development at Witwatersrand University. Making a study of the benefits of using non-white labor for professional jobs, Mrs. Suzman concluded that the recognition of South Africa as a multi-racial society was a necessity for the future development of the country's modern industry...
...Suzman entered Parliament in 1953 after winning an uncontested seat as a member of the United Party--the official opposition to the government's Nationalist Party. During the following six years, she became increasingly disenchanted with her party's "opposition" to the blossoming racist regime. After attempting reform from within, Mrs. Suzman and 12 of her colleagues broke from the UP in 1959 and formed the Progressive Party. The subsequent elections in '61 were a disaster for the Progressive Party: only Mrs. Suzman survived, and since then she has remained the sole voice against apartheid...
...Suzman attributes much of her own political success to the high income level of her constituents. In poorer areas, she explains, whites feel threatened by non-whites as potential competition for their jobs. Another factor which helps her is that by constantly challenging the government on crucial issues, she receives a great deal of publicity which helps her during elections...
...first to admit that in practical terms she can not initiate any legislation which would pass or stop apartheid bills, Mrs. Suzman is convinced that even if she is only a token, it is important to keep the voice of liberalism alive. Another function which she feels she performs is continuing to elicit information from the government, information which without her questioning, would never be aired...
Although Mrs. Suzman is probably not very popular among members of Parliament, the government is pleased that it can point to her and say that she proves Vorster's regime is not wholly repressive. However fallacious this logic may seem, Mrs. Suzman feels that the advantages of having an official mouthpiece in Parliament far outweigh any propaganda mileage that the government may be able to make out of her presence...