The local authorities set up by the government to administer black people in urban areas outside the bantustans continued to rouse widespread opposition from town dwellers dissatisfied with poor living conditions and increased rents. Protests were also directed against tax increases on a range of essential commodities. The protests, as well as a proposed change by the government in the financing of the local councils in African townships, underlined the lack of viability of the separate political structures set up to administer the black urban population made to live in segregated townships.
The councils in African townships, depending largely on rents and tariffs for services to generate income, and working under the close supervision of the government's appointed regional development boards (previously known as administration boards), have little support. Council elections in November 1983 were widely boycotted. Since then a variety of tactics has been employed in opposition to the council system and to specific policies (RDM 7.12.83; see FOCUS 50 p.1).
- In July protests in the township of Tumahole, near Parys in the Orange Free State against rent and tax increases, culminated in the arrest of more than 50 people who were later charged with public violence, theft and creating a public disturbance. One person arrested during the protests, Johannes Bonakle NGALO (26), died in police custody fourteen hours afterwards, it was thought from multiple injuries. Police alleged that Ngalo was injured in a brawl with another man, later charged with murder. However, the family of Ngalo announced it was suing the Minister of Law and Order for wrongful arrest, detention and damages in respect of his death.
The protests, involving about a thousand youths, continued for several days and police used teargas and batons against the protesters (GN 17/19.7.84; MS 19.7.84; RDM 21.7.84).
- Residents in Thokoza on the Witwatersrand belonging to the Thokoza Progressive Association announced their intention in April to petition the Supreme Court to declare the 1983 town council elections null and void (S 18.4.84).
- In June civic associations in two townships on the Rand launched protests against higher rents. The Tembisa Civic Association organised a meeting to get signatures and objections from residents, following a legal victory against earlier rent increases in April. In Daveyton, after the announcement in May of rent increases of 80 per cent and increased service charges, three civic bodies threatened legal action. Residents marched to the council chambers in protest (S 30.5.84, 5/7/12.6.84).
- In the Western Cape four hundred Nyanga residents marched on the Western Cape Development Board offices demanding electricity in the township and protesting against government intentions to move them to the township of Khayelitsha 25 miles outside Cape Town. They were also opposed to moves by the Board to demolish backyard shelters. Police used a 'sneeze machine' and rubber bullets to disperse the demonstrators (CT 20.6.84; Argus 26.6.84).
- In July residents of Mitchell's Plain, a Coloured township outside Cape Town, protested against the increases in sales tax and higher rents, and demanded a hospital for their area. They also expressed opposition to the elections for the new parliament in August and to conscription. A protester was arrested and charged with attending an illegal gathering (RDM 3.7.84; see POLITICAL TRIALS).
In Soweto an organisation called the South Africa Suicide Squad claimed responsibility for a series of petrol bomb attacks during 1984 on the homes of councillors in the area. By June five Greater Soweto councillors had had their homes petrol-bombed, some more than once. The council appealed to the government in March to increase councillors' pay because of the 'high risk' involved in their jobs: they said that over 90 per cent of Soweto residents completely rejected them, placing them in a position of some danger. In June it was reported that the council was under an armed twelve-hour guard, while the 'mayor', Ephraim Tshabalala, was being guarded 24 hours a day (SNS 7.3.84; FM 15.6.84; S 28.6.84).
A petrol bomb was also used to attack the home of a councillor at Duncan Village, near East London in February. It was believed to have been in response to the council's decision to press authorities to demolish 'squat' shacks in the Ndende area (SNS 7.3.84).
The new 'town' and 'village' councils which are being set up under the Black Local Authorities Act to replace the community councils, are charged with a wide range of responsibilities. But their powers are still limited and they must still submit their investment proposals and budgets to the Minister of Co-operation and Development (Star 22.11.83; see also FOCUS 50 p.1).
The new councils have inherited huge debts from their predecessors: by May Soweto was faced with a debt of R13 million and this was rising at the rate of R2 million per month. In June it was announced that the financial problems of the councils would be partly relieved by three new taxes to be levied on industry and commerce, providing more than R2,000 million per year. The scheme, drawn up by the Croser Working Group operating under the Department of Finance, constitutes an acknowledgement by the government of the inadequacy of previous financing methods which relied heavily on rents and income from liquor sales. (RDM 27.6.84).
