Terrorist Group ‘Destroyed’ In S.A.

Press, Volume CIII, Issue 30389, 13 March 1964, Page 17

Terrorist Group ‘Destroyed’ In S.A.

(N.Z.P.A-Reuter—Copyrtflht)

CAPE TOWN, March 11.

The South African Justice Minister (Mr Vorster) yesterday claimed destruction of the "Spear of the Nation’’—the terrorist arm of the outlawed African National Congress—and revealed what he said was a six-phase plan by African States to topple the white Government.

The six phases were: incitement, creation of disorder, sabotage, guerrilla warfare, invasion, take-over of the Republic.

Mr Vorster specifically attacked the “anti-apartheid movement” in Britain which, he said, was giving active support to the terrorists planning to attack South Africa. Speaking in a debate on a confidence motion before the Senate, he said probably between 900 and 5000 people had left South Africa to train as saboteurs. Many of these had already returned and more than 150 had been caught He said that since December, 1961, when sabotage had begun on a large scale, there had been 203 serious cases, but only 21 of these since July, 1963. The reason for

this was the introduction last June of the 90-day detention clause of the General Law Amendment Act, he said. Referring to the three British Protectorates in Southern Africa. Mr Vorster said: “Bechuanaland has become the corridor for saboteurs and others to receive training in sabotage.” In Swaziland, "they are organising against us openly” and saboteurs were “quite openly recruited" in Basutoland, he said. Mr Vorster said terrorist! were establishing sabotage training camps in places like Tanganyika, Ghana, Algeria, and Cuba. “It is an open secret that these people are seeking to bring a sabotage camp nearer to the borders of South Africa," he said. Mr Vorster said that in spite of internal and external threats internal security had been maintained. On January 31 there were 59,885 people serving sentences in prison. This included 41.559 African males and 4900 African females, he said.