More Control Of S.A. Intimidation Urged

Press, Volume C, Issue 29509, 10 May 1961, Page 20

More Control Of S.A. Intimidation Urged

(N.ZJ’A.- R cuter —Copyright;

CAPE TOWN, May 8. Intimidation in South Africa had taken on “gruesome proportions,” the South African Minister of Justice (Mr Francois Erasmus) told Parliament today. Mr Erasmus was speaking during a debate on the second reading of a general law amendment bill, introduced by the Government, and providing for sterner measures against internal disorders.

People had been threatened with having their throats cut or having their houses burned unleM they succumbed to intimidation. In such a situation, existing legislation was inadequate, he said. Mr Erasmus said there was evidence that Africans were planning country-wide strikes to coincide with South Africa’s transition to a Republic on May 31. He believed plans existed for a three-day strike beginning on May 29. Evidence showed that other demonstrations might be planned. In South Africa such planned demonstrations could easily lead to violence, he said. South Africa did not want an emergency situation. Existing legislation, together with provisions made in the amendment bill under debate, would be sufficient to maintain law and order. The safety of the public could not be allowed to be endangered, he said. With the coming republic, people who took action against the ordered state of South Africa should know that they would not win. Unrest was widespread in Africa, and sometimes came very close to South Africa’s border, the Minister said. Ali-African Conference Mr Erasmus referred several times to an all-African conference held at Pietermaritzburg last March 25. The conference passed a resolution which, he said, called on Africans not to co-

operate or collaborate with the forthcoming South African Republic. In parts of the continent the black man was trying to drive the white man out. He was sure that the vast majority of whites in Africa would resist to the end. Whites who believed they could maintain peace by making concessions were living in a fools* paradise. The Communist idea which lay at the back of unrest among black people in Africa. Including South Africa, was that the black man should take control, he said. Communist Activities But all the activities of Communists in South Africa were being meticulously watched by the Government. Mr Erasmus said he hoped that courts would be more stringent in their punishment of offences of intimidation. It was essential that lawabiding people be protected. It was therefore proposed in the Bill that bail should not be allowed, and defendants should no longer be looked upon as innocent until proved guilty, but should be required to prove they were acting lawfully. The Government should also be empowered to detain people for 12 days. The Leader of the Opposition United Party (Sir de Villiers Graaf) moved an amendment declining to pass the Bill’s second reading. He said the Bill placed arbitrary powers in the hands of the executive, unduly invaded the liberties of the subject, removed the in-

dividual from the protection of the courts, and failed to provide a solution to the problems it was designed to meet. “It is quite apparent that the Minister has been frightened by what was said at the all-African Congress at Pietermaritzburg and by the threats made there in connexion with strikes,’’ he said.