Regaining Lost Ground and Countering the Anti-Apartheid Sports Movement: The Committee for Fairness in Sport (CFFS), Bureau of State Security (BOSS), and the International Sports Boycott, 1973-1978

Abstract

Because of the determined effort of the anti-apartheid movement to secure South Africa’s expulsion from the international sports arena, the Bureau of State Security (BOSS) established the Committee for Fairness in Sport (CFFS) in 1973. This front organization was tasked with the promotion of South Africa’s sports bona fides internationally. Beyond the regular publication of progress reports about integrated sports in targeted newspapers, CFFS supplied information to interested parties globally. Aided by the South African diplomatic corps, CFFS also used advocacy and lobbying through paid agents to promote the country. It also used pro-apartheid personalities such as golfer Gary Player to promote a narrative that the sports boycott and international isolation were detrimental to the aspirations of black sportspersons. Collectively these activities created a situation in which some countries, groups and individuals felt comfortable enough to either search for a formal relationship with South African sport or to maintain existing relations.