Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: FRIDAY, March 30, 1990 TAG: 9003300820
SECTION: NATIONAL/INTERNATIONAL PAGE: A/7 EDITION: EVENING
SOURCE: Associated Press
DATELINE: JOHANNESBURG, SOUTH LENGTH: Medium
President F.W. de Klerk today warned that political violence was becoming a threat to stability and the government would use force to restore order. He said a growing wave of violence and demonstrations was getting out of hand.
"Demonstrators openly espousing violence or preaching class and racial hatred are playing with fire. Fanning these flames may easily lead to a catastrophic intergroup conflagration," he told the Cape Town Press Club.
De Klerk said he would make a statement to Parliament April 2 on measures to stop the violence, but gave no details. South Africa has been hit by a wave of violence that has claimed hundreds of lives in recent weeks.
De Klerk starts talks next month on ending white-minority rule and sharing political power with blacks. The speech Friday appeared to be aimed at radical black groups who oppose a negotiated settlement and call for violence against the government.
Police said at least 36 people had been killed since Tuesday in widespread clashes between Zulu war bands in the rugged hill country near Edendale.
"It's impossible to say how many people have been hurt. It's in the hundreds," police Maj. Piet Kitching said.
Rival war bands were clashing today in rural areas, exchanging gunfire, but the situation was quieter, police said.
"It's very tense. It could erupt again at any time. It's a terrible situation," Kitching said.
Three bombs exploded early today in Thohoyandou, capital of the nominally independent homeland of Venda on the Zimbabwe border, police said. No injuries were reported in the homeland that has been hit by political unrest.
Police patrols trying to restore order in Natal were ambushed during the night. Police units came under heavy gunfire, but no officers were seriously hurt, Kitching said. South African army troops were supporting police operations, he said.
War bands of between 2,000 men and 4,000 men armed with guns, spears, knives and clubs had been roaming the area, attacking and burning villages, residents said. Police said at least 250 homes had been burned.
Thousands of terrified refugees, mainly women, children and old people, had fled from villages in the Edendale Valley. Refugees were seeking shelter in schools, churches and community centers, police said.
Schools, businesses and shops were closed today, and thousands of workers unable to get to work because bus services had been halted. Many people were hiding in the hills or seeking shelter at refugee collection points such as churches.
White officials in the nearby city of Pietermaritzburg called on the government to impose martial law on the area.
by CNB