Not a happy anniversary

Press, 29 May 1981, Page 8

Not a happy anniversary

NZPA-Reuter Johannesburg After 48 hours of guerrilla attacks by the outlawed African National Congress, celebrations marking South Africa’s 20 years as a republic have been clouded with controversy and violence.

In a statement issued in Tanzania yesterday, the A.N.C. admitted responsibility for the attacks, saying: “The people have nothing to celebrate in a fascist republic.”

The while minority Na-, tional Party Government had intended this week’s Republic .Day celebrations to demonstrate . national unity under the slogan “unity in diversity.” Opposition groups have organised meetings throughout the country to protest against the celebrations, saying the ; vast majority of

disenfranchised blacks had nothing to celebrate. University and high school students have boycotted classes, and riot police yesterday forced several hundred students to leave the campus of the University of the Witwatersrand in Johannesburg when they held protest meetings.

An incident in which the South ' Africari flag was burned brought a statement from the Police Minister (Mr Louis le Grange) that the police would “act. relentlessly” if it was repeated.

The country’s main Churches, apart from the Dutch Reform Church, have supported a boycott of the celebrations which are due to reach their climax this weekend.

About 1600 black mineworkers who refused to come

to the -surface after their shift at the ■ Buffelsfdntein gold mine were sacked, yesterday after disturbances and damage to mine property after they were hoisted to the surface- yesterday morning.

The General Mining Union Corporation said that “due to their irregular behaviour, lack of co-operation, and the necessity to maintain ,discipline, it- was. decided to discharge these workers.” Genedr said the' 1600 work-, ers had refused to come off shift at the mine’s 26 level, Orangia shaft on. Wednesday afternoon. “These workers were eventually hoisted to the surface early this morning.

“Disturbances followed and mine property was damaged,” Gencor said. Meanwhile, General Mo-

tors and Firestone Tire and Rubber Company workers decided at a mass meeting in New Brighton, near Port Elizabeth, yesterday to continue their demands. „

In a. new development, the workers’ union Macwusa announced plans to launch a self-help community project that would give strikers and unemployed a source of income.

The decision to continue the. strike came after a deadIpck between the Firestone management and union officials since Tuesday. The union demanded that Firestone reinstate 150 workers who lost their jobs during a strike over pension contributions earlier this year. Firestone was standing by its decision to re-employ the dismissed workers only as vacancies arose.