Coloureds asked to halt demonstrations

Press, 7 September 1976, Page 8

Coloureds asked to halt demonstrations

NZPA-Reuter Cape Town The Mayor of Cape Town has appealed to the Coloured community to halt demonstrations, pending proposed talks between Coloured leaders and the Prime Minister (Mr Vorster). The peace plea from Mr John Tyers on Monday came after rioting by Coloureds in the city centre and townships last week. The Administrator of Cape Province (Dr L. A. Munnick) has agreed to ask Mr Vorster to listen to Coloured grievances. Mr Vorster is expected to return today from talks in Zurich with Dr Kissinger. Dr Munnick’s pledge to involve the Prime Minister came after a meeting between city officials and Coloured community leaders on Friday. The Coloured Labour Party also announced that it was seeking an urgent meeting with Mr Vorster and the Justice Minister (Mr James Kruger). Black and Coloured townships throughout South

Africa were relatively calm at the week-end, although three Coloured schools near Cape Town were set on fire or. Saturday night.

But militant blacks were reported to be planning a nationwide strike from today. It could reignite riots that have claimed almost 300 lives in South Africa since June. The riot police chief (General David Kriel) said the police had heard of such plans and would take special precautions. He said his men would act against strike organisers and anyone preventing people from going to work. It is two weeks since black youths ii. South Africa’s biggest township, Soweto, tried to enforce a three-day strike in protest against the Government’s race policies. The new strike call is being made by word of mouth, according to Soweto residents. It is supposed to last three weeks instead of three days. Mr Kruger, who denied allegations from Soweto leaders that the police had deliberately instigated last

month’s Zulu backlash, may be considering giving legal status to tribal vigilante groups in the townships. These groups, known as Makgotla (a Sotho word meaning “groups of people meeting together”), have operated unofficially in Soweto for several years. They work by tribal law and occasionally administer public floggings. The Makgotla said last week in a meeting with Mr Kruger they wanted to act independently, with full to settle family disputes and deal with “disobedient children.” This could apply to schoolchildren, thousands of whom have boycotted schools and joined in rioting and intimidation during recent weeks.