Minneapolis spokesman., 1962-11-09
Focus On
Africa
BY EDDIE L. MADISON, JR.

AS the shocking Vorster Sab
otage Bill descends on non
whites in the Republic of South
Africa, the Nationalist Party
Government of DR.. Hendrix
Verwoerd becomes increasingly
fearful of sabotage attempts
and what it calls violence"
Aside from the fact that they
have no political voice, non-whites
in the country suffer mass starva-
ton, prevalent in the Transkei:
mass removal from the urban
areas; deliberate smashing of fam
lilies and homes, and the ruthless
implementation of apartheid (seg-
regation) in all aspects of life.
This leaves non-whites, black Afri-
cans in particular, with no alterna-
tive but to protest by any avail
able means left to them. All non
white political organizations like
the Colored Peoples National Un-
ion, headed by George Golding.
The Sabotage Bill, named for
Justice Minister B. ]. Vorster, pro-
vides the death penalty for any
person convicted of sabotage. It
carries a compulsory minimum
sentence of five years imprison-
ment with hard labor. This applies
to juveniles as well as adults con-
victed Of sabotage. The bill de-
fines sabotage in the broadest
terms and can include the unlaw-
full possession of firearms or ex-
plosives and the unlawful entry of
any building or land.
This broad Interpretation of sab
otage can include mere trespass-
ing on property. The harsh meas
ure provides that persons can be
jailed or silenced or have their
movements restricted for staging
political demonstrations if the gov
ernment considers this necessary
to suppress alleged communistic
or other subversive actions.
The bill spells out clearly that
the African has no right that
could be respected and deprives
him Of the elementary preroga-
tive or protest or appeal
In recent weeks there have been
numerous sabotage attempts, fol-
lowed by nationwide investiga-
tions. Late reports from Port
Elizabeth said police have arrested
A persons and at least % have al
ready appeared in court. One ex-
plosion wrecked the office of DR..
D. c. H. Uys, minister Of agricul-
ture, economics and marketing, at
the government buildings in Pret-
oria. Police suspect that the office
was sabotaged.
In johannesburg, the Board of
Governors Of the South African
Broadcasting corporation said in
a special announcement that the
sabotage attempts recorded in a
number of South African towns
over the past five weeks were
aimed at the destruction Of South
Africa's Christian and democratic
way Of life. All indications were
that the sabotage was being con-
Quoted on an organized and sys-
tematic basis"
The white-controlled government
fears violence - meaning its own
retaliation - more than anything
else. Minister of Defense James
Fouche made this clear when he
said: Our most important mill
tary principle in combating inter
nal uprisings can be summed up
in a few words; the minimum OF
violence. We know as well as any.
one else that the sound of one rifle
shot will echo round the world. We
know that the purpose (of the non.
whites) is to force us to use force
and violence"
However, observers on the
South African front believe that
the uprisings will continue and
J the government win be "com-
J pelled' to use violence against
non-whites, knowing In advance
that world reaction will oppose
any massive campaign against
Africans.
A trend in this direction wa
noticed In a statement from Be
Shoeman, transport minister, VIII
repeated at harrisburg, near 10
4 hannesburg, that the Government
would use its full weight agains
saboteurs whose acts, he believed
were directed from outside Sout
Africa because Of their coincidenc
with apartheid debates at tn
United Nations. He pointed out ths
' despite concessions and policy c
o partnership, sabotage still Occur
red on a large scale In Rhodesii
He recalled that the minimum per
. atty for such acts was five year
Y Imprisonment and the maximum
. penalty was death.
= Meanwhile, Justice Minister Vol
y ster has banned until April 81
: 1868, all protest meetings tn
y Republic and In Southwest Afric,
N in connection with arrest, trial {
= conviction Of persons involved 1
= subversive activity. Neverthele:
" a number Of demonstrations hav
taken place in recent days in pr
y y test against the arrest and trial {
| AYaI.A,.