“Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world; indeed, it’s the only thing that ever has,” remarked anthropologist Margaret Mead.
Mead could well have been talking about an emerging band of black swimming activists headquartered in Springfield, Durban, in the 1960s and ’70s. This recently established national organisation, the South African Amateur Swimming Federation (SAASwiF) – assembled under the banner of non- racial swimming – did the unthinkable in the summer of 1973.
Within five years of forming, they convinced the international swimming body Fina, to eject the all-white South African Amateur Swimming Union (SAASU) from competitive pools around the world.
In isolating South Africa – a founding member of Fina – from international sport, they struck a crushing blow to the nation’s pride and aspirations. History records that the success of this moment
