Faster Growth Of Bantustans Likely

Press, Volume CI, Issue 29726, 20 January 1962, Page 11

Faster Growth Of Bantustans Likely

(N.Z.P.A -Reuter—Copyright) JOHANNESBURG, January 19. Higher taxes to pay for faster development of Bantustans (black states) and bigger defence outlay are expected to be imposed on South Africans during the Parliamentary session which opens in Cape Town today.

This will be the first full session since South Africa became a Republic outside the Commonwealth last May 31.

eye on the United Nations and world criticism of apartheid. The Prime Minister (Dr. Verwoerd), according to one Afrikaans paper, is expected to make a statement on selfgovernment for the first of the Bamtastens—the Tramskei —on Monday. An important bill dealing with the millions of urban Africans is also forecast with tighter Government control of African and urban areas and entry to them by Africans from the tribal areas.

Political commentators both Afrikaans and English-speak-ing, are predicting an accelerated programme to give more local self-government to the Bantustans, with an

With a majority of 48 over all other parties, Dr. Verwoerd is in a stronger Parliamentary position than ever before.

Parliament is expected to approve large sums for defence. The Minister of Defence, Mr Francois Fouche, toured Europe last year and is said to have discussed buying French fighters and other equipment.

Observers say the defence forces are being strengthened both against any outside attack and also internal troubles. The Minister of Justice, Mr Balthazar Vorster, is reported to be ready to introduce an anti-sabo-tage bill, with the death penalty for saboteurs. English-speaking journalists say there is a possibility that Dr. Verwoerd may introduce legislation to curb the press. Last night, Dr. Verwoerd announced in Cape Town that the first part of the longawaited Press Commission report would be tabled in Parliament as soon as the Minister of the Interior, Senator Jan de Klerk, had had the opportunity of studying it.

He said that the Government had decided to relieve the Minister of Information, Mr Frank Waring, of the administration of the Press Commission and place it under the Interior Ministry, because "it concerned interior matters rather then matters of information.”