‘Kick him out’ calls as Young begins visit to South Africa

Press, 23 May 1977, Page 8

‘Kick him out’ calls as Young begins visit to South Africa

NZPA-Reuter Johannesburg Mr Andrew Young, the black United States Ambassador to the United Nations, isolated from black crowds by tight security, and the target of leaflets saying “Kick him out,” has been denied permission by the South African Government to visit a black ghetto.

The black diplomat flev into South Africa for a 37hour private visit grudgingly approved by the whitesupremacist Government after pressure from Washington. Mr Young was warmly greeted by black airport workers, who surrounded him. trying to shake his hand or even touch him. Burly South African security agents, however, kept him away from other crowds and closed off his hotel floor to all visitors. The Government has also denied Mr Young permission to visit the sprawl-1 ing black township of Soweto, 24km south-west of Jo-! hannesburg, from where race; riots that broke out nearly one year ago spread throughout the country and killed 500 people.

The police in Soweto went on full alert to prevent any demonstrations for Mr Young. Officials recalled that on the last visit by the then United States Secretary ■of State. Dr Henry Kissinger, rioting in Soweto left (five blacks, including three children, dead. Mr Young also had (wanted to meet the banned black nationalist leader. Mr Robert Sobukwe, whose two children are living with Mr (Young’s family in Atlanta, Georgia. i Mr Young’s press spokesman, Mr Tom Offenburger, isaid that the ambassador (would "not go to Soweto land not go to Kimberley,” the diamond mining town ;480km south-west of Johannesburg where Mr Soibukwe lives in .restriction. i Some angry whites scat-

t tered hundreds of leaflets ' around Mr Young’s hotel - saying, "Young insulted us. I Young, hated enemy. Kick : him out” a white traffic ; policeman picked them up. In the 37 hours between t his arrival and scheduled de- ■ parture for Lusaka, Zambia, Mr Young is meeting I South African businessmen, I newspaper editors and black • and white leaders of com- , merce and industry. He is in South Africa as the guest of the gold-and-diamond mining magnate, Mr Harry Oppenheimer. ;; Mr Young originally , planned to address white students of the University of i Witwatersrand in Johannesburg, but that speech was cancelled because of lack of time.