South African National Front
Encyclopedia
The South African National Front, also known as the National Front of South Africa (SANF) was a neo-fascist organisation in South Africa formed in 1977. It was an initiative of John Tyndall
of the British National Front
; sister organisations were also formed in Australia and New Zealand at the same time.
SANF's first Chairman was Jack Noble, with the party being organised during the 1970s by Ray Hill
. SANF channelled funds to the NF as part of an international network of neo-fascism
. It moved beyond a mere gathering of expatriate
s when it linked up with Italian and Portuguese neo-fascists and the South African Ku Klux Klan
. It also tried to link with the Afrikaner Resistance Movement
(AWB) and the Herstigte Nasionale Party
(HNP) (from whom it received funding) with the ultimate aim of a single united racist/neo-fascist party in South Africa but this 'embryonic’ party never came to fruition .
SANF published its own magazine Hitback. It also “published a number of anti-black and ‘anti-Zionist
’ pamphlets which led to calls for it to be prosecuted for incitement to racial hatred”, SANF’s policies would have led to a “massive increase in the death rate of black infants”. By 1979 SANF's anti-semitism
led Jewish youths to threaten to take matters into their own hands; Harry Schwarz
and Alf Widman of the Progressive Federal Party
called on the government to do something about the party.
In 1979 the HNP replaced Noble as leader with Alan Fotheringham, a former HNP candidate , and Ray Hill returned to England.
SANF formed its own paramilitary wing Wit Kommando/White Commando, a not unusual development in the context of right wing South African politics.. In 1980 the Wit Kommando/White Commando began a campaign of terrorism
mainly against blacks. A number of bombings took place, notably against the offices of the South African Institute of Race Relations
and the University of South Africa
. In 1981 they planned to also attack whites whom they regarded as “white kaffirs” or race mixers
. The South African police made arrests and discovered a hitlist of targets which included Bishop Tutu
, the White Commando having previously "threatened him repeatedly". Fotheringham was not charged but Max (Massimo) Bollo from SANF's national directorate, and leader of the Italian associated grouping UNIDO, received a lengthy jail sentence, as did two other fellow Italians. SANF disbanded in the early 1980s.
John Tyndall (politician)
John Hutchyns Tyndall was a British politician who was prominently associated with several fascist/neo-Nazi sects. However, he is best known for leading the National Front in the 1970s and founding the contemporary British National Party in 1982.The most prominent figure in British nationalism...
of the British National Front
British National Front
The National Front is a far right, white-only political party whose major political activities took place during the 1970s and 1980s. Its popularity peaked in the 1979 general election, when it received 191,719 votes ....
; sister organisations were also formed in Australia and New Zealand at the same time.
SANF's first Chairman was Jack Noble, with the party being organised during the 1970s by Ray Hill
Ray Hill
Ray Hill was a leading figure in the British far right who went on to become a well-known informant.Born in Lancashire, he spent three years in the army before making his first steps in the far right with the Racial Preservation Society in Leicester in the late 1960s...
. SANF channelled funds to the NF as part of an international network of neo-fascism
Neo-Fascism
Neo-fascism is a post–World War II ideology that includes significant elements of fascism. The term neo-fascist may apply to groups that express a specific admiration for Benito Mussolini and Italian Fascism or any other fascist leader/state...
. It moved beyond a mere gathering of expatriate
Expatriate
An expatriate is a person temporarily or permanently residing in a country and culture other than that of the person's upbringing...
s when it linked up with Italian and Portuguese neo-fascists and the South African Ku Klux Klan
Ku Klux Klan
Ku Klux Klan, often abbreviated KKK and informally known as the Klan, is the name of three distinct past and present far-right organizations in the United States, which have advocated extremist reactionary currents such as white supremacy, white nationalism, and anti-immigration, historically...
. It also tried to link with the Afrikaner Resistance Movement
Afrikaner Weerstandsbeweging
The Afrikaner Weerstandsbeweging is a South African far right separatist political and former paramilitary organization, since its creation dedicated to secessionist Afrikaner nationalism and the creation of an independent Boer-Afrikaner republic or "" in part of South Africa...
(AWB) and the Herstigte Nasionale Party
Herstigte Nasionale Party
The Herstigte Nasionale Party van Suid-Afrika was formed as a right-wing splinter group of the South African National Party.-Formation:...
(HNP) (from whom it received funding) with the ultimate aim of a single united racist/neo-fascist party in South Africa but this 'embryonic’ party never came to fruition .
SANF published its own magazine Hitback. It also “published a number of anti-black and ‘anti-Zionist
Zionist Occupation Government
Zionist Occupation Government or Zionist Occupied Government is an antisemitic conspiracy theory which holds that Jews secretly control a given country, while the formal government is a puppet regime....
’ pamphlets which led to calls for it to be prosecuted for incitement to racial hatred”, SANF’s policies would have led to a “massive increase in the death rate of black infants”. By 1979 SANF's anti-semitism
Anti-Semitism
Antisemitism is suspicion of, hatred toward, or discrimination against Jews for reasons connected to their Jewish heritage. According to a 2005 U.S...
led Jewish youths to threaten to take matters into their own hands; Harry Schwarz
Harry Schwarz
Harry Heinz Schwarz was a South African lawyer, statesman and long-time political opposition leader against apartheid, who eventually served as the South African ambassador to the United States during the country’s transition to representative democracy.Schwarz rose from the childhood poverty he...
and Alf Widman of the Progressive Federal Party
Progressive Federal Party
The Progressive Federal Party was a South African political party formed in 1977. It advocated power-sharing in South Africa through a federal constitution, in place of apartheid...
called on the government to do something about the party.
In 1979 the HNP replaced Noble as leader with Alan Fotheringham, a former HNP candidate , and Ray Hill returned to England.
SANF formed its own paramilitary wing Wit Kommando/White Commando, a not unusual development in the context of right wing South African politics.. In 1980 the Wit Kommando/White Commando began a campaign of terrorism
Terrorism
Terrorism is the systematic use of terror, especially as a means of coercion. In the international community, however, terrorism has no universally agreed, legally binding, criminal law definition...
mainly against blacks. A number of bombings took place, notably against the offices of the South African Institute of Race Relations
South African Institute of Race Relations
Established in 1929 the South African Institute of Race Relations is a leading research and policy organisation in South Africa. The Institute is "one of the oldest liberal institutions in the country," and is independent of government and all political parties; it sees its role as serving its...
and the University of South Africa
University of South Africa
The University of South Africa is a distance education university, with headquarters in Pretoria, South Africa. With approximately 300 000 enrolled students, it qualifies as one of the world's mega universities.-History:...
. In 1981 they planned to also attack whites whom they regarded as “white kaffirs” or race mixers
Miscegenation
Miscegenation is the mixing of different racial groups through marriage, cohabitation, sexual relations, and procreation....
. The South African police made arrests and discovered a hitlist of targets which included Bishop Tutu
Desmond Tutu
Desmond Mpilo Tutu is a South African activist and retired Anglican bishop who rose to worldwide fame during the 1980s as an opponent of apartheid...
, the White Commando having previously "threatened him repeatedly". Fotheringham was not charged but Max (Massimo) Bollo from SANF's national directorate, and leader of the Italian associated grouping UNIDO, received a lengthy jail sentence, as did two other fellow Italians. SANF disbanded in the early 1980s.
See also
- British National FrontBritish National FrontThe National Front is a far right, white-only political party whose major political activities took place during the 1970s and 1980s. Its popularity peaked in the 1979 general election, when it received 191,719 votes ....
- New Zealand National FrontNew Zealand National FrontThe New Zealand National Front is a small white nationalist political party in New Zealand.-First formation:Mirroring developments in the UK, a group called the National Front evolved out of the New Zealand branch of the League of Empire Loyalists in 1967...
- National Front AustraliaNational Front (Australia)The National Front of Australia was an Australia nationalist and anti-immigrant organisation that existed from 1977 to 1984. It was an initiative of John Tyndall of the British National Front but received no funding from the British NF...