S.A. police braced for black protest

Press, 18 September 1976, Page 6

S.A. police braced for black protest

NZPA-Reuter Johannesburg South Africa’s security forces were yesterday braced to contain any show of strength by militant blacks to mark the arrival of the United States Secretary of State (Dr Henry Kissinger).

At least eight people were killed and more than 40 injured in outbreaks of antiGovernment rioting in Cape Town during the last 24 hours, the police said yesterday. Eyewitnesses reported that the police opened fire several times in black and Coloured townships around Cape Town on Thursday night. It was reported that groups of armed white civilians were guarding schools and public buildings in white residential areas near the townships. In Johannesburg, blacks hurled three kerosene bombs into a city centre store as rumours persisted of a black demonstration to coincide with Dr Kissinger’s visit. The kerosene bomb attack was the first outbreak of violence in the city centre since the present unrest] over South African racial] policies began in June. There] was little damage to the! store. The police are expected to seal off African townships in Johannesburg and Pretoria during the three-day visit by Dr Kissinger that could spell success or failure to his bid to bring a settlement to southern Africa’s problems. South African radio has reported “a strong possibility” that the Rhodesian Prime Minister (Mr lan Smith) will meet Dr Kissinger in South Africa. At the annual congress ofi

jlthe ruling Rhodesia Front ) J Party in Umtali, Mr Smith was given a mandate to ; negotiate the country's fut--5 ure. 1] The Secretary of State is .(expected to open talks with IMr Vorster this morning (N.Z. time), their third meet- ; ing in two months. They are 1 expected to meet again later I today. 1 Then, depending on progress, Mr Vorster may s travel 35 miles south to Joj hannesburg to watch the last : of the four rugby tests be I tween South Africa and the All Blacks. . Mr Smith is also expected ! tc be at the game, and a ’ seat has been reserved for j Dr Kissinger, but it is not ) known if he will attend. Another theory is that if . this afternoon is a rest ‘ period, the Secretary of State will fly to the Kruger (Game Park, and that he will :j be joined there by the RhoI desian and South African J Prime Ministers. ! Diplomatic sources said a Kissinger-Smith meeting 1 depends on what transpired 1 in Dr Kissinger’s talks with 1 the Presidents of Tanzania, ’ and Zambia, Dr Julius Nyel rere and Dr Kenneth ’ Kaunda, and in last Tuest day’s meeting between Mr • Smith and Mr Vorster. Dr Kissinger has invited i black and Coloured leaders - in South Africa to meet him. i Professor Hudson Ntsanwini, i Chief Minister of the Gazankulu black homeland, has accepted an invitation to flmeet Dr Kissinger.