S.A. In Near State Of Emergency

Press, Volume C, Issue 29525, 29 May 1961, Page 11

S.A. In Near State Of Emergency

<N ZS’. A .-Reuter—Copyright) JOHANNESBURG, May 28. Armoured cars are rolling through Durban streets with South Africa under a full state of emergency—in all but name—a day before the African “stay at home” demonstration begins.

Thousands of white territorials have been called up. “rifle commandos.” a kind of home guard, have been mobilised in country areas, and farmers have formed vigilante committees.

The police have mounted what is perhaps their biggest security operation ever. But the leader of the all-in African National Council. Mr Nelson Mandela, which is organising the protests, called on non-whites to try to conduct stay-at-home demonstrations in a “quiet and peaceful way.”

The three-day demonstrations were called immediately before South Africa becomes a Republic on Wednesday, in protest against the Government’s apartheid policy. The military convoy of armoured cars, supported by territorial infantry, toured Durban's southern areas, together with a police broadcast van. urging Africans to remain calm and to go to work next week

Many police officers believe however that there will be no violence during the three-day demonstrations from tomorrow until Wednesday.

Former servicemen will be sworn in as special constables with powers of arrest tonight to help police patrols. Police reservists were ordered to report for duty yesterday in Port Elizabeth and troops were standing by in the city Police officials in the Eastern Cape and East London today promised all possible protection to persons ignoring the stay-at-bome call

Pamphlets distributed by the African Workers’ Union in the Vereeniging district, 40 miles south of Johannesburg, called on Africans to ignore the strike call.

In Johannesburg. African leaders have dropped their plans to bring a large number of non-whites into city and town centres to demonstrate. An African National Council directive ordered nonwhites to stay away from all-white republic day demonstrations.

Meanwhile, white persons are taking precautions in case of trouble. Women have been joining pistol clubs and stocking up with provisions. Some firms have

set up nurseries in their premises so that working white mothers will be able to bring their children to work.

Dr. Verwoerd. speaking in Cape Town, said he would send the Queen a message recording South Africa's continuing warm regard for her.

The change to a Republican constitution on May 31 would not affect this or the “warm regard and friendly relations” between South Africa and the Commonwealth Governments, he said A South African Progressive Party member of Parliament. Mr Zac de Beer, has challenged the Government to prove in Court that its ban on all meetings is not invalid, bad in law and of no effect British United Press reported. Tn an affidavit lodged yesterday at the Supreme Court in Cape Town, he described the ban as “grossly unreasonable. oppressive and incapable of being observed bv any person pursuing the activities of normal daily life.”