The South African government has continued to ban political gatherings and use the police to break up demonstrations, meetings and protests in spite of an undertaking, given at its second formal meeting with the ANC in August, to 'continue reviewing security legislation and its application in order to ensure free political activity'.
Although the State of Emergency was completely lifted on 18 October the government responded to widespread community action with increasing use of local emergency measures by declaring areas of the Transvaal and Cape as 'Unrest Areas' in terms of the Public Safety Act.
All outdoor meetings, except sports events and funerals in cemeteries, and some indoor meetings are prohibited in terms of an order issued by the Minister of Law and Order under Section 46 of the Internal Security Act, which was renewed for a year on 30 March 1990.
Magistrates may give permission for outdoor gatherings if the organisers apply. In some areas, permission for marches and meetings has been repeatedly refused by magistrates or local councils, and the ANC and local organisations have resorted to consumer boycotts and other actions to press for the legalisation of protests.
- East London 28 September More than 100 people, including marshalls, were arrested and charged with illegal gathering when a planned march was declared illegal. * Mdantsane 6 November The ruling military council in the Ciskei bantustan dismissed an application by the Mdantsane Residents Association to hold a protest march as 'impertinent' and a 'blatant provocation'. * Vanderbijlpark 10 November ANC-allied organisations planned to renew a boycott of white businesses following the refusal of the local council to allow a protest march through the town. A three-month boycott had been called off at the end of September after the council indicated that it would allow marches. * Johannesburg 17 November Two people were killed when police attacked a march organised by the Civic Associations of the Southern Transvaal (CAST). The organisers has applied for permission, but were only told the evening before the march that the magistrate had refused it.
Often political gatherings are called at short notice, giving organisers no time to request permission, or they arise spontaneously out of local incidents. Police have often acted ruthlessly giving little or no warning to demonstrators to disperse before using teargas, rubber bullets or shotguns.
- Cape Town 30 August Police tear-gassed 500 students demonstrating outside the University of the Western Cape to demand an end to police violence. Students said that the demonstration was 'orderly and disciplined' and that police fired teargas before the expiry of a five-minute deadline to disperse. * Soweto 6 October A march demanding the release of political prisoners was called off by ANC officials when police declared it illegal and threatened to forcibly disperse the marchers, who had gathered at Elkah stadium. Police used teargas and rubber bullets as people left the stadium. * Huhudi 16 October Police forcibly dispersed 700 people marching to the local police station, shooting dead a schoolboy. The police said that the crowd had refused to disperse. * Khayelitsha 25 October Seven people were shot dead and at least 45 injured when police stopped a march by residents demanding the dissolution of the local council. Shotguns, teargas and rubber bullets were used. * Soweto 3 November A youth, Leroke HLATSWAYO, was seriously wounded when police opened fire on a crowd holding a vigil outside a church after the death of the President of the Pan Africanist Congress, Zephania Mothopeng.
Police have powers under the 'Unrest Areas' regulations which can be imposed under the Public Safety Act. Restrictive regulations, similar to those of the State of Emergency, were imposed on 27 black residential areas on the Witwatersrand on 24 August. These empowered police and soldiers to disperse gatherings by force, detain and interrogate people and enter premises, search and seize property without a warrant. They also empowered Commissioners of Police to impose additional restrictions such as curfews. The measures were subsequently extended to other parts of the country.
- 21 September Curfews imposed on Tokoza, Katlehong, Vosloorus and Soweto. * 5 October Curfew lifted in Soweto. * 12 October Curfew lifted in other three townships. * 18 October Curfew imposed on Toekomsrus. * 31 October 'Unrest Areas' declaration lifted in areas to the east of Johannesburg. * 1 November Crossroads, Khayelitsha and Lingelethu-West (Wynberg magisterial district) in Cape Town declared 'Unrest Areas' and curfews imposed. * 6 November Curfew extended to Bekkersdal. * 11 November Atteridgeville and Saulsville in Pretoria declared 'Unrest Areas' and curfews imposed. * 14 November 'Unrest Areas' declaration lifted in areas to the west of Johannesburg. * 29 November Zonkizizwe township near Heidelberg on the East Rand declared an 'Unrest Area' and a curfew imposed.
