VERWOERD STILL “SATISFACTORY”

Press, Volume XCIX, Issue 29178, 12 April 1960, Page 17

VERWOERD STILL “SATISFACTORY”

Faculties May Be Impaired

(Ni. Press Associatioa—Copyright) (Rec. 1030 pjn.) JOHANNESBURG, April 11. The South African Prime Minister, Dr. Hendrik Verwoerd, was likely to be incapacitated for about six weeks following the abortive assassination attempt on Saturday, according to the British United Press.

Medical experts feared that his faculties of speech, balance and hearing might be impaired even longer. The latest bulletin from Pretoria General Hospital, where Dr. Venvoerd was moved yesterday,' said that his condition was satisfactory.

The man who. shot at him David Pratt, a wealthy farm and factory owner is expected to appear in the Johannesburg Magistrate’s Court today.

Commenting on the incident today, the pro-Govemment Johannesburg newspaper “Die Transvaler," of which Dr. Verwoerd was once editor, said: “Verwoerd is still alive and all believing inhabitants of the Union will see the hand of God in this. “God has called Verwoerd to a very special task and because that task was not yet completed, He who holds the power of life

or death has ordained that the attack should fail.”

Today is likely to be a big day, politically, in South Africa. The Cabinet is expected to meet and discuss the situation caused by the assassination attempt. A one-man commission is opening into the shootings at Sharpeville last month in which 67 Africans died, and three Cabinet Ministers are. to give a press conference this afternoon.

They are the Minister for External Affairs (Mr Louw), the Minister of Justice (Mr Erasmus) and the Minister for Defence (Mr Fouche). No reason has been announced for the conference, which was arranged on Friday. The Cabinet is regarded as certain to confirm .the appointment of the Deputy-Prime Minister and Minister of Lands (Mr Sauer) as acting Head of State until Dr. Verwoerd is fit to return to duty. Police yesterday raided Durban’s trouble township of Cato Manor and detained 330 Africans. Of these 134 were arrested. A weapons search located a .22 calibre rifle, a sabre,-and several choppers, pangas (cane knives) and fighting sticks. Three Saracens, 12 armoured cars, and 1500 armed men took part in the, drive. The township's African population was passive during the search and no incidents were reported.