In the face of a massive campaign in protest at the celebrations of the twentieth anniversary of the South African Republic, the security forces mounted what a police spokesman described as 'the biggest security operation ever seen in the country'. Police and troops were mobilized throughout the country at the end of May following mounting protest meetings, strikes and a series of guerilla actions by the African National Congress.
Many protesters were arrested, and security police detained a number of people.
The campaign against the republic day celebrations was supported by an extremely wide range of political, community, religious, trade union and other organisations. The early stages of the campaign were described in the last issue of FOCUS, and it continued to spread widely and rapidly.
In mid-May 100 organisations attended an anti-republic meeting in Durban where the celebrations were due to end on 1 June with a parade involving 10,000 troops. Numerous anti-Republic Day meetings were held throughout the country, in the townships, in the cities, at universities and elsewhere. Many were organised by the Anti-Republic Day Ad Hoc Committee.
Churches in the campaign urged their followers to boycott the celebrations, and many held church services as a protest during the military parade in Durban.
University campuses were a major focus of protest, with meetings and demonstrations, as well as boycotts of lectures. At a number of campuses the South African flag was burnt in protest, and at one, the University of the Western Cape, the flag of the African National Congress was hoisted.
Anti-republic meetings were well attended. They were addressed by community leaders, worker representatives, students and church leaders. The theme of the meetings was the oppression of the black majority under apartheid and the Republic, and the political repression.
Several guerilla actions directed against the celebrations were reported.
On May 20 a railway near Port Elizabeth was cut by explosives.
On 25 May, there were nearly simultaneous actions in different places. Railway lines were cut near Johannesburg and in Natal, and power lines were cut in the Orange Free State. There was also an armed attack on a police station in the Eastern Cape and shortly afterwards on a group of Ciskeian policemen, including the Chief of Police. One of the policemen was wounded in the arm and leg.
The ANC confirmed that it was responsible for the attacks on the police station, the railway lines and the power lines.
On 27 May there was a further explosion, at a South African Defence Force recruiting office in Durban.
Following the guerilla actions, and the growing demonstrations, the security forces took action.
Students were warned that all outdoor gatherings were banned, and the police arrested numbers of demonstrators and dispersed several meetings. 48 students were arrested under the Riotous Assemblies Act in Cape Town, 20 pupils and some parents were arrested at a Johannesburg High School after police used teargas, batons and sjamboks (whips) to disperse a meeting. Police broke up meetings of students in Durban and in Johannesburg 200 riot police went onto the campus.
Following the guerilla attacks on 25 May, extensive security measures were taken. Police units were placed on the alert throughout the country and roadblocks set up on many roads. A 200 strong special task force was put on the alert ready to be flown anywhere in the country. 600 extra police were drafted into Durban. A motorized column of troops was reported to be on its way to participate in the celebrations and guard against disturbances. Durban was described by a journalist as a maximum security area with troops and police patrolling the streets.
