POLICE QUELL RACE RIOTS IN JO'BURG

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXXVI, Issue 23041, 3 September 1949, Page 5

POLICE QUELL RACE RIOTS IN JO'BURG

( N.Z.P.A.—Reuter—Copyright.)

(ID a.m.) JOHNNESBVRG, Sept. 2. Racial rioting Dared up in Johannesburg and (he surrounding towns last night and (lie police had to take action against Africans and Europeans.

In Johannesburg one African was shot dead, (our policeman were injured and tramcars and other vehicles were stoned. The trouble here started when an African throw a stone at a policeman. Thereupon hundreds of natives began stoning the police, using stones from heaps apparently gathered for the purpose.

The district commandant of police. Major P. Grobler, led mounted police in a charge against the crowd. The police fired shots when the natives stood their ground;': hurling heavy stones at them. One native was killed by a bullet in the head. Police baton charges finally broke up the storm centre of the rioting, but marauding bands of rioters then stoned public vehicles.

As well as the clash with the natives the police had to disperse hundreds of Europeans who attacked Africans in a nearby area. The police had to use batons to rescue two Africans from hostile Europeans. The cause of the rioting was the City Council's decision to raise the natives’ tram fares from 2d to 3d. Hundreds of nativ.es in towns sursounding Johannesburg also stoned public vehicles. Late last night all was quiet but police officials said that more trouble was'expected today. This is the second large-scale racial disturbance in the Union in 1949. Between January 13 and January 16 142 people were killed and 1037 injured when Indians and Africans clashed in Durban. The tram service is to be temporarily withdrawn after sundown each day to lessen the risk of further incidents.