On the night of 30 March a huge 'combined operation' was mounted in the townships around Johannesburg including Soweto and Alexandra by a joint force comprising the army, police and traffic officers. The operation was ostensibly aimed at 'combating crime' and consisted of a large display of force, roadblocks on all roads leading into the townships, and a search of every vehicle and its occupants. Soldiers conducting the searches were armed with rifles and fixed bayonets. According to police stolen cars, property, drugs and explosives were being looked for but most of those searched disputed this. Several arrests were reported. Some weeks ago a similar roadblock operation was mounted by police in camouflage uniform in Soweto but the 30 March operation was far bigger and more alarming, being apparently the first time the army has been called in to assist police in what was described as a 'routine' anti-crime measure. Dr Motlana, recently released chairman of the Soweto Committee of Ten, said it was in no sense a crackdown on crime 'but purely designed to intimidate the people'. Police admitted that the operation was also designed to 'pioneer' co-operation between police and military, and it is to be expected that such operations will continue, as the authorities attempt to uncover the sources of arms and explosives now being brought into the country and used with increasing frequency in urban guerilla attacks.

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