SERIOUS VIEW OF RIOTING ON THE RAND

Greymouth Evening Star, 16 February 1950, Page 5

SERIOUS VIEW OF RIOTING ON THE RAND

CAPE TOWN, February 15 (Rec. 10.45 a.m.)—The South African Opposition leader, General Smuts, told the House of Assembly today that the Witwatersrand riots were a serious threat to safety and well-being of the country. . * He spoke after the Minister of Justice, Mr C. R. Swart, had said that detachments of the union defence force would be used if neceSThe Transvaal Indian organisation today appealed to the Premier, Dr. Malan, for military intervention to prevent further riots on the outskirts of Johannesburg. An official of the organisation said that Indian and Chinese shopkeepers in the area had been warned that their shops would be “dealt with tonight. Shopkeepers were busy moving their goods to places of safety. An earlier message said that large-scale rioting and looting broke out in three African townships on the outskirts of Johannesburg last night. The trouble areas included Newclare, which was the centre of disorders yesterday. . Five shops were set on fire in Newclare. Africans set up road-blocks to try to stop the fire brigades, but police battled their way in against a barrage of stones. Throughout all three townships there were hot exchanges of rifle fire, and traffic was stoned. Twelve Europeans were injured by stones, two of them seriously. .