South Africa Cracking Down in Alexandra

By Jill Smolowe

For the 172 accredited foreign journalists in South Africa, it did not seem possible that life could get more frustrating. Since early November, photographers and television crews have been barred by the government of State President P.W. Botha from recording any public disturbances or police actions in declared emergency areas. Print journalists have been required to have police escorts in turbulent townships. Despite the restraints, reporters have managed at times to slip undetected into restricted areas. But when racial violence erupted last week in Alexandra, a black township near Johannesburg, the police and army clamped down on both print and broadcast journalists with new ferocity.

Even as local officers issued polite messages to news organizations requesting that "journalists please refrain from entering Alexandra township," police and army forces were throwing up an impenetrable cordon around Alexandra. Several journalists climbed to hills overlooking the township to monitor and film the violence. The ruse, however, only provoked the authorities, who quickly issued new regulations banning reporters and photographers not only from Alexandra but from all surrounding areas.

Cameras were forbidden "within telephoto range" of the township, and correspondents were barred from taking notes within the same radius. To enforce the restrictions, police were dispatched to round up uncooperative members of the press. In all, more than 20 journalists were arrested and then released. Many had cameras and film confiscated. Others, including a TIME correspondent and photographer, were threatened with further investigation and prosecution.

Several factors seemed to be behind the crackdown. To begin with, Alexandra lies just six miles north of downtown Johannesburg, where most news organizations are headquartered, giving reporters easy access to the story. Officials did not want Alexandra swarming with journalists who would upset the picture of relative calm that for no apparent reason other than simple exhaustion on the part of protesters, seems to have settled over South Africa in recent weeks. Moreover, the mile-square township is hemmed in on three sides by light industrial complexes and on the fourth by white suburbs. The outbreak of violence so close to white communities, which have remained largely untouched by 17 months of racial unrest, prompted the unusually heavy deployments of security forces that officials did not want scrutinized by the press.

Finally, the violence in Alexandra came on the eve of a meeting between South African officials and international bankers who have been demanding evidence of racial reforms before they would agree to reschedule part of South Africa's $24 billion foreign debt, which has been frozen since last September. Last week the two groups met in London and agreed to a short-term compromise that renews existing loans to South Africa.

The unrest in the traditionally quiet township began Saturday, Feb. 15, as thousands of mourners were returning from the funerals of two local blacks. It is uncertain how the disturbances began, but within moments blacks were hurling stones at police, who counterattacked with tear-gas canisters. The violence quickly escalated. By Monday the turbulence had spread to the outskirts of the township, where black youths peppered local factories with Molotov cocktails.

Because they were barred from the area, journalists had to rely on casualty figures released by South African officials and township leaders. At week's end, officials said that 23 people had died in the unrest, while Alexandra leaders cited 46 deaths. Although only sporadic disturbances continued, by Tuesday the police effort in Alexandra had gained all the trappings of a large-scale military operation. Security forces sealed off the township borders, army troops were stationed on every access road, and armed forces patrolled the township's streets. Overhead, police and army helicopters hovered protectively. At the approaches to neighboring white suburbs, truckloads of steel-helmeted troops stood at the ready.

Township leaders, appalled by the display of military muscle, called on the government to guarantee that the forces were supervised by experienced officers. "Obviously, give any youngster a gun," warned Michael Beea of the Alexandra Civic Association, "and he will enjoy shooting at people, particularly when he has satisfied himself that the law will be on his side." Snapped a police spokesman: "Our men are well trained and don't just patrol the streets at their own discretion."

Such reassurances did not calm the fears of black leaders. The civic association called a rally in the local sports stadium, attracting more than 30,000 of the township's 100,000 residents. The crowd demanded the withdrawal of the security forces. The police commander agreed to remove patrols from the township streets and to permit Bishop Desmond Tutu, the Nobel Peace prizewinner, to speak in the stadium. "I know we all want freedom," Tutu told the crowd, "but we must get it in a disciplined manner." The throng returned to their homes peacefully. Later in the week, however, Tutu was angrily booed when he announced that a meeting with government officials had produced no concessions.

Meanwhile, a regional court in Krugersdorp, west of Johannesburg, withdrew charges against Winnie Mandela, the wife of jailed Black Leader Nelson Mandela, for violating her banning order, a legal device that places restrictions on her movements. Mandela is currently challenging the validity of the banning order before South Africa's Supreme Court. If the ban is upheld, the charges in the regional court may be reactivated. Even less clear is the disposition of investigations opened into the activities of several journalists. If formal charges are brought, it will be the first time that journalists have been criminally charged since the press restraints were imposed.

With reporting by Bruce W. Nelan/Johannesburg