DISTURBANCES IN PONDOLAND

Press, Volume XCIX, Issue 29373, 28 November 1960, Page 6

DISTURBANCES IN PONDOLAND

Tribesmen Raze Huts In Township Press Association—Copyriphtj (FLAGSTAFF (Cape Province), Nov. 25 Screaming women fled Bala township as a raiding party of tribesmen razed at least 60 huts in new Pondoland disturbances last night. When police arrived they fired over the heads of the party. The glow from the burning huts could be seen 16 miles away in Flagstaff. The situation in eastern Pondoland was today described as ''very tense.” It was not known whether there were any casualties. A strong force of police was standing by in Bizana, about 25 miles east of Flagstaff, with a Saracen armoured' car and several riot cars. Two South African Air Force Harvard aircraft and a helicopter arrived today. Recent violence and hut burning in the African reserve has been attributed by Pondo tribesmen to the Bantu authorities set up by the Government. The South African Minister of Bantu Administration and Development (Mr Daan de Wet Nel), has denied this, and has blamed communism.

A pro-government chief and several headmen and their supporters have been murdered and hundreds of huts burned to the ground in a campaign of terrorism.

The Chief Magistrate of Transkei (Mr Victor Liebbrandt), addressed a meeting of 600 Pondos of the Imizizi clan at Bizana today, and warned of action to be taken against rebellious tribesmen.

Mr Liebbrandt said after today’s meeting, which was closed to newspapers, that Imizizi tribesmen had resisted rebel orders “in spite of threats and intimidation.” ' “I told them that if rebels attacked them they would be at liberty to defend themselves,” he said.