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2/1/1963 - The Underground War by James C. Brewer

NOT FOR PUBLICATION INSTITUTE OF CURRENT WORLD AFFAIRS JCB The Underground War February Arcadia Street Pretora Transvaal Republic South Africa Mr Richard Nol Institute Current World Affairs badison Avenue New York New York Dear Mr Nol South Africa unique which direct limited faces enemy clear battle between Government increasingly violent activities underground movements Even before National Party became Government fearful Communist menace those advocated mulCh racial state Not distinguish between acted As result African opportunities political pression legally destroyed And major European political groups forced moderate leadership hands those accept violence There three political under ground organizations active Republic They formed since PAC ANC banned April shown signs development activity It gather information about So called informed sources either little afraid Several people actively involved African politics explain thins going could dangerous Thus sorts theories nformaton rounds often contradictn other accuracy impossible check But I Imve following seems relat relable pcture Who Underg_rpun The organized groups Spear Nation Umkonto Szwe National Committee Liberation NCL multi racial The third Poqo completely White White membershp An African journalist tressed importance first groups It important Whites participate underground multi racialsm society maintained Without hostility toward Government would become hostilty toward WhteSo JCB They their identities known December The NCL started telephone calls newspapers The Spear outdone immediately circulated handbills which statement purpose spelled It marked break We striking along Both these groups receive financial supplies training facilities sources other countries Assistance American organizations individuals negligible I disgruntled NCL member The Spear centered Reef surrounding Johannesburg while NCL Reef worked mostly Natal parts astern Cape However panded other areas Their extent number membership known members Both groups follow M Mandela Pl system cells communicating indirectly other leader knowin leader Why these groups together The Spear includes members militant banned ANC other groups Congress Alliance banned Communist Party NCL while having members ANC nominally violent liberal organizations ailwtt3t statiott You Just carry where One Man Ote turrtrigat Nats4reNais straightonto ResistPoliceSttte letat DownWith ThelorsterBill JCB Communists This difference greatest stumbling block united front Non Communists Spear willing Communists common cause NCL leaders Communists Government equal enemies While competition trying publicity cessful sabotage organization efforts bridge difference For writing political slogans persis means I months groups taken decisively toward violence After hesitation within ANC circles argument violent action gained reluctant acceptance JCB When police picked Duma Nokwe found document which listed arguments against volence verdict violence And Mandela strong advocate violence clearly pointed decision statement during trial JCB warned repeatedly Government resorting violence breed country counter violence Already there indications people people African turning deliberate volence force against Government order persuade language which Government shows actions nderstands The first stage program these groups effect period attacks Government buildings power railway telephone telegraph installa Government warning serious organization effectiveness discipline secur explosives The second stage prolonged attack targets major importance parts country dsrup communications economy If these unsuccessful changing Government policy there would alternative errorsm attacks human The Government these underground organizations prepare possibility guerrilla terrorist Whether comes depends things Governmen European reaction potency military police preparations other countries oppose Government policies actions underground totality discipline themselves severe battle whether together Meanwhile Underground Government enlarged their trained personnel gained knowledge Algerian War first tightened security formed special units Sabotage expertly Both tried influence public primarily JCB uropeans other uropenSo But while Government successfully convinced uropean electorate necessity actions recruit needed members police armed forces underround groups difficulty They expect recruit additional Europeans Ruropeans reluctant involved something which might housing income educational improvements already received They conditions different violence sacrifice themselves desired change Some single educated young especially future offer recruited organizations underground proves itself successful active support recruitment increase Up their emphasis On quality quantity creaing elite rained disciplined members When their prospects overwhelming changing Government impossible quickly point Algeria Cub If Cs could overwhelm regime supported powerful interests United States ofpower gains wishes America succeed other African countries To Che Guevar Cuban Bible Members Poqo third group think along these lines there resemblance Accordin expert Poqo means PAC Xhosa O explain stands Alone We stand alone Both translations something about group It violently White prefers alone purely African group although allowed other Europeans associated It initially formed extreme White PAC Wes Ca They split PAC riots Langa Cape Town African Location PAC members willing liberal Whites From since cause faction Cape urban locations where Poqo become violent disturbing element Compared other groups Poqo poorly organized PAC headquarters Basutoland attempted guidance mprove dscplne recruit raning underground warfare Poqo never welcomed educated family oriented urban Africans But called bachelor quarters separated their familes easily nfluenced persuasion threat A younger generation which growing creasingly Whi provides membership potential White groups among Coloureds Malays Cape Poqo Lately search greater support focus changed urban areas rural reserves It started organizing Reef Natal It seeks Africans behind beleves Government Europeans If Europeans panic skins polce react unthinkingly violently against nnocent Africans other uropeans forced Poqo activities always terroristic I killed tortured Africans Coloureds collaborated Government stood It klled uropeans A prominent African businessman Johannesburg violence settle political differences recently believe Poqo mentality answer problems Only organization Poqo becomes strong Government ruthlessly White White there change At present members Spear National Committee still distinction between Government people It blames system tacks bombing Government property In forced accept Poqo attitude Right White violent toward people because accomodate liberal Whites If Whites stand Verwoerd problem would simple enemies would clear Since White people Government treat others justly respect perhaps threat V pe0ple What threat could demonstrated November Paarl pretty little heart Cape miles Cape Town Over there official count Poqo inspired Africans Paarl ekweni Native Township marched group attacked police station ostensibly after release several Africans township detained suspicion murder another group started breaking their European homes During_ terror filled hours young uropean young clubbed death Three other uropeans injured Five attacking Africans killed police irate house owners while vounded Riots Sharpeville spontaneous uropean residents Paarl quickly alized planned deliberate The group marched three miles ithou being heard stopped latercame police Africans stoned though important protect police station store ammunition protect homes civilans along route Reaction among Europeans Paarl wavered between anger police leaving unprotected determination Government speed removal Africans Western Cape intentions mount attack against Native townshpo While police insisting criminal matter political subsequent inquiry causes revealed unrest which Poqo exploited Government racial policy Before inquiry finished Minister Justice inister Bantu Administration Development conceded political basis blamed White agitators enemies State appeared cleric office business executive unres Paarl other places Following Poqo members appear fanned Transkei possibly Ciskei On December group Xhosas thwarted their attempt attack Chief Kaiser antanzima chairman Transkei Territorial Authority In battle Africans armed clubs fought police armed rifles Six Africans killed numbers wounded Police began extensive round searching buses trains those In search railway filled Africans Queenstown station violence exploded Africans attack police fashioned kerries killing wounding others In ulting round through residential surrounding station Africans At first police insisted Paarl there nothing political these riots Later prove their Conten peaceful politically Tzanskei announced Poqo launched invasion shock troups Cape Town headquarters organization Basuto A letter which appeared December issue Contact seems confirm police announcement Written Potlako Leballo former national secretary banned PAC Basutoland after serving sentence political activities banished Ubombo Zululand He writes As result Pan Africanis Congress which powerful Cape there doubt there would emerge vigorous revolutionary underground movement place The Poqo organization therefore manifestation helplessness striving democratic demands without PAC before banned The present uprising Cape beinning general throughout South Africa The reported growth Poqo Cape apparent extension other centers warning White South Africa democratic African majority The reckoning mlnen S Stead_y While events Paarl Transkei Queenstown shocking South Africans sabotage violence which developed months There Algerian crisis There panic Most people olice Govornment everything under control But South Africans become conditioned bannings house arrests threats raids blocks routine necessity almost daily occurance sabotage their lives morning paper afternoon A reported violence sabotage attempts month period staggering In October Deliberately ignited sugar fires Natal An incendiary thrown African policeman Port Elizabeth Native Township New Brigh offices D C H Uys linister Agricultural Economics Marketing Pretoria bombed above resultan damage about JCB Telephone cable behind board offices Cape Town eliminating about telephones Thick underground cable serving electric power station Athlone Cape Town severed An attempt Madoline building police station Durban A exploded coach Natal north coast railway An attempt explode entrance Gove rnment Bantu Administration Development office Durban An attempt Heideveld railway station Cape Peninsula A petrol thrown Bantu Administrative building Nyanga West Native Township Cape Town An attemp office Southern Paarl A similar attempt office Langa Native Township Cape Town In November An attack launched police barracks New Brighton Native Township Port Elizabeth Four supports steel pylon Alexandra Native Township 3ohannesburg which carries electricity northern dynamite explosion A second attempt against similar power pylon nearby Attempts tension electric pylons Noor dgesig Rand An attempt destroy petrol Industria Johannesburg A mystery explosion blasted Villiage Main factory Johannes Two injured telephone legraph wires Port Elizabeth An attempt derail train Port lizabeth changing inner mechanism switchbox A petrol incendiary thrown hostel European teacher Lovedale African secondary school Ciskei Four power carrying pylons shaken dynamite explosions resuling power blackout Durban Explosions damaged power carrying railway railway Durban Pietermaritzburg A power pylon knocked dynamite explosion disrupting train service Germiston Johannesburg Pretori Four classrooms rooms tearoom Vasco Colouzed High School buzned resultant damage An attempt Vasco Coloured Primary School Telephone cables Goodwood Cape Town Telephone cables Salt River Cape Town AI clectric power pylon damaged dynamite between Benoni Bapsfontein Rand below phone Pienaar Rivier cutting towns Northern Transvaal Railway signal installations exploded Johannesburg resultant damage about And during first December Sabotage suspected derailment passenger goods train carrying dynamite Eastern Cape Two engineers injured derailed telephone telegrapt cables New Brighton Port lizabeth telephone telegraph cables Port Elizabeth A exploded telephone booth Claremont Cape Town A municipal electric cable exploded injured extinguishing lights Worcester Cape Peninsula A phone booth exploded Pineland Cape Town opposite The office A S Kajee president Natal Indian Organization bombed He Indian Natal attend investiture State President A multi telephone cable Woodstock Cape Town The unoccupied house allocated Nana Sita Laudium Pretora Indian township dynamited Mr Si refused township present He found guilty ravening Group Areas Act The windows homes occupied members Township School Committees broken Kwa Mashu Durban Six Africans White policeman killed Transkei skirmish police stopped group Africans attacking Paramount Chief Mantanzima Seven Africans White policeman killed Queenstown There fight between armed Africans White policemen latter arrest murder suspec Tugela Ferry Natal An attempt damage electric power Durban A house provided Government Indians their group destroyed right phone booth Pinelands Cape Town A Tembu tribl chief inured uncle killed Africans ttcked A petrol thrown urban represena Rrbe Duncan Villge London inuring childreno What At beginning December Abraham Theodore Spengler Security Branch Witwatersrand reporter Ne shortly axresting small group people carry sabotage There whole movement collapse There little reson support South Africa liberated I people threshold large scale revolution lking about They often South Africa broado There widespread national movement among Whites State The Underground consists misguided people I country future notwithstanding plots propaganda Ii groups But contrary expec Colonel sabotage decreased There temporary Christmas New Years special police security measures force emergency basis stand Then office plant National Party newspaper Natal Die Nataller successfully bombed attempts milon gallon petrol Cape Town harbour attempt On Old Synagogue where andela trial Treason Trials To people brought trial sabotage announcements arrests The police everywhere roadblocks customary sights Large rewards offered public inforation regard sabotage attempted sabotage The Justice Department created departmen Citizens Protective groups In Pretoria leading citizens ahead their organize Citizen Proection Association which armed neighborhood units equipped police combat sabotage When former local ANC official banned January police banned because nothing political something banning Bantu Investment Corporation All leads wonder police situation It general opinion politically conscious Johannesburg police running scared Government picked information plans afoot underground about June My information leads believe month Poqo planning things around May Robert Sobukwe President banned PAC completes prison other organization probably reach activity before Republic Day Nay At moment seems extent underground potential violence really In meantime South Africa It already expensive money needed repair damage fires bombs maintaining larger special branches police human lives sensitivity decency which become people accept happening routine The Government continues trying underground Communists liberals their place while pushes ahead Bantustan ideal which hopes capture imagination African enough least prevent serious discontinuity European South African If Tznskei fails Government revise Bantustan policy basic aparCheid racial If Government succeeds making Africans happy Bantustans still large group urban educated Africans cities whose discontent violent extremists In either basic problem racial discrimination removed Violence hardly solve problem But forces opposed other neither willing Sincerely yours Received New York March