WILD DISORDERS

Dominion, Volume 34, Issue 111, 4 February 1941, Page 7

WILD DISORDERS

Political Rioting In Johannesburg MANY INJURED

Soldiers And Republicans At Blows

(By Telegraph.—Press Assn.—Copyright.)

JOHANNESBURG, February 2. Wild scenes were witnessed in the heart of Johannesburg early this morning when a thousand police, civilians, and soldiers were involved in serious riots as a result of which 140 persons, mostly soldiers, have so far been sent to hospital. The police used tear gas and made several baton charges. Armoured cars toured the streets this morning and quiet was restored at 11 a.m.

The trouble can be traced io a meeting of the Ossewabrandwag on Friday, when the leader of the organization, Dr. Van Rensburg, addressed the meeting, which was nor political, but purely cultural. Though the meeting was orderly, when it was over clashes occurred in tlie streets between soldiers and civilians. Some of tlie civilians were wearing beards, which are favoured by members of tlie Ossewabrandwag, an organization of extreme Republican views which is popularly regarded as being .nnti-Britisb. Police interfered in tlie street clashes, and it is reported that soldiers resisted taking orders from policemen who were not wearing orange slashes on their shoulders. These slashes are worn by policemen who volunteer for duty in any part of Africa. The trouble started again on Saturday night and went on till this morning. Property Damaged. The disturbances began when soldiers on leave attacked a man on a trainear who was thought to be a member of the Ossewabrandwag. General rioting followed and shop windows were broken, cars wrecked, and a police van set on fire. Soldiers unsuccessfully attempted to reach the office of the Ossewabrandwag in the building of the “Transvaaler Republican” newspaper. They then ran round the building breaking plate-glass windows. Bricks were also tiling through the windows of the office of “Tlie Vaderland,” General Hertzog’s newspaper, damaging machinery. Theatre-goers were caught in the disturbances when they were at their height. Police reinforcements were sent from outlying towns, the First National Volunteer Brigade was called out, and troops were summoned from military camps.

[A message from Johannesburg, dated February 1, stated: “More than 70 were injured, including 60 soldiers, when the police made a baton charge on rioters following a clash between loyalists and members of the Ossewabrandwag.”]