Show Of Force By S.W. African Police

Press, Volume C, Issue 29506, 6 May 1961, Page 11

Show Of Force By S.W. African Police

(NZJ’.A.-Reuter—Copyright)

JOHANNESBURG, May 4. Strong contingents of armed police supported by four Saracen armoured vehicles today drove through Walvis Bay, South-west Africa, in a “show of force.”

The officer commanding the trust territory’s police, Colonel D. N. Acker, said it was part of a police exercise He said everything was “quiet and normal among non-Europeans throughout the territory.” Yesterday police entered an African location in Waives Bay and Windhoek, but it was not known whether they made any arrests or removed any documents. Police activity in South Africa continued in scattered areas today. At Fort Beaufort, 80 miles north of East London. Cape Province, police staged an early-morning raid on an African township. They told reporters the aim was to “check up on natives in the locations.” However, an African resident of the township said the police had told him they were searching for dangerous weapons. In Pretoria, the administrative capital, senior police officials held a day-long conference after the examination of documents seized in yesterday’s raids. Several of those who were raided by Johannesburg police yesterday demon-

strated on the steps of the City Hall today carrying placards reading: “Find any Reds Under the Beds?” and ‘ Nats Need Raids to Rule.” A white representative for Africans on the Cape Provincial Council. Mr Ben Turok, whose Johannesburg home was raided yesterday, said "This invasion of privacy is unjustified. “I can only conclude the aim of the police is to create an atmosphere of alarm and crisis throughout the country.” Mr Turok, one of the 156 defendants in the recently ended treason trial, was among those whose homes were raided while they were out. They returned to find official receipts for seized papers. In Cape Town, security police raided the home of a Liberal Party official. Mr S. Dick, early today. Nothing was taken. He was the seventh party official to be raided. Durban police staged a pre-dawn raid on the nearby African township of Cato Manor. No incidents were reported and the raid went off quietly. A police officer said the raid was routine.