S.A. tightens security

Press, Volume CXVI, Issue 34146, 6 May 1976, Page 17

S.A. tightens security

f.V.Z Press Assn—-Copyrights CAPE TOWN, May 5. Plans for sweeping new powers to reinforce South Africa’s security laws have been announced.

Legislation which already enables the authorities to hold suspects for periods of up to 180 days without trial or contact with lawyers will be extended, so that suspects can be detained for up to a year at a time. For the first time. Southwest Africa (Namibia) will come under the ambit of the new security legislation. (The territory is ruled by South Africa under a disputed United Nations mandate).

Observers say that one of the aims of the proposed new laws may be to outlaw the South-west African People’s Organisation, which is recognised by the United Nations and the Organisation of African Unity as the sole representative body of the territory’s majority blacks, but is not included in all the constitutional talks now going on.

S.W.A.P.O.’s Angolanbased militant wing is waging a guerrilla war against South African troops in the north of the territory. The non-militant internal wing still operates comparatively freely within South-west Africa.

The Minister of Justice (Mr James Kruger) introduced the planned new legislation to the House of Assembly; the ruling National Party has a majority of 75 of the 171 seats in the House, so there is no chance that the changes will be rejected.

The bill widens the provisions of the Suppression of Communism Act — passed in 1950 specifically to outlaw the Communist Party in South Africa — to enable the State to act against organisations and people it considers are engaging in

activities endangering State security or the maintenance of public order. One of the most far-reach-ing clauses in the Promotion of State Security Bill empowers any policeman to arrest and detain in custody for up to seven days a suspect if he is given information that a notice for the arrest of such a person has been issued. Notices for detaining such people will be valid for up to a year at a time. A review committee headed by a judge will study detentions, initially after two months and then at sixmonthly intervals, in secret. The Minister of Justice will not be bound by its ver-

diets, but if he disagrees he will have to report his reasons to Parliament within a month. The new security laws will also extend to the press: publications may be banned if they are considered to contain information calculated to endanger State security or public order. Similarly, organisations considered to constitute the same threat may be declared unlawful. The hill also provides for the detention of State witnesses if the authorities fear that they will abscond or be intimidated. or considers their detention to be in the interests of the administration of justice