NATIVE RIOTS

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 70, Issue 106, 17 February 1950, Page 3

NATIVE RIOTS

SOUTH AFRICAN UNREST

MILITARY FORCES MAY INTERVENE

(N.Z.P.A.—Copyright) LONDON, Feb. 16

The Cape Town correspondent of “The Times’” says that military detachments are beipg held ready to help the police in case of further rioting in Johannesburg's native suburbs. This was announced yesterday by the Minister of Justice (Mr C. R. Swart) during a debate in thei House of Assembly.

The Government, said Mr Swart, also contemplated the formation of special mechanised, highly mobile police squads for use in disturbed areas.

The Leader of the Opposition (General Smuts) said that this week’s riots were a disturbing sign that there was a change coming about in the natives, who were usually orderly and well behaved. A complicated situation was being created. It would require comprehensive remedial measures, but it must be handled at once and firfnlv, otherwise ! there were likely to be grave consequences for the country as a whole.

The Prime Minister (Dr. D. F. Malan) said he agreed with General Smuts that there was a new spirit among the natives which had been growing lip since the Second World War. I The natives were not satisfied with what had been done for them In housing, education, health and social services, and were making claims to wide that they could not he granted by any South African Government.

Dr. Malan said the conclusion was that i there was a serious. colour question, for which a solution must be found, taking into account the differences between the races in the conn try.

Frequency -of Disturbances

The Transvaal Indian Organisation yesterday appealed to Dr. Malan for military intervention to prevent further riots on the outskirts of Johan nesburg. An official of the organisation said that Indian and Chinese shopkeepers in the troubled area had been warned that their shops would be “dealt with.” Shopkeepers* were busy moving their goods to places of safety. A Government-appointed commission is at present inquiring, into the causes of African riots, which have recently become more frequent, especially in the Johannesburg area. Government spokesmen and. supporters have laid the blame on agitators, but the Liberal and Left-Wing view is that the Africans are reaching the end of their patience in submission to a wide variety of discriminatory legislation and other disabilities which are all designed,. Liberals say, to. ensure the .continued- political, financial, and social supremacy bf the white man. The drift of rural Africans to the towns has speeded up in recent years as the crowded , reserves'have deteriorated. The presence of large numbers of unskilled Africans struggling for a bare existence iff the urban areas has contributed to -the recurrent outbreaks of serious crime and violence. These,. In turn, have led the police to more vigorous attempts to control tlje Africans through such measures as “pass raids” in native areas near the cities.