TALKING POINTS FOR THE DDI SOUTH AFRICA: UNREST UPDATE

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP91B00874R000100210012-6
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: S
• Document Page Count: 3
• Document Creation Date: December 23, 2016
• Document Release Date: August 2, 2011
• Sequence Number: 12
• Publication Date: July 21, 1986
• Content Type: MISC

Declassified in Part -Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2012/01/10: CIA-RDP91 B00874R000100210012-6 25X1
21 July 1986
TALKING POINTS FOR THE DDI
SOUTH AFRICA: Unrest Update
Black unrest has continued at high levels since the declaration of the state of emergency five
weeks ago although Pretoria is claiming that its policies are succeeding.
-- Pretoria probably is pleased that although it has been unable
to stamp out unrest, largescale confrontations have been
avoided.
-- Official South African reports indicate that more than 160
people have died in unrest related incidents since the state
of emergency was imposed 12 June.
-- The respected South African Institute of Race Relations
reports that the death rates for May and June (213 and 177)
were the highest since the current round of unrest
began in 1984. The daily number of unrest related deaths
reported by the government is continuing at similarly high
levels.
-- The International Committee of the Red Cross believes some
6,000 people are now being detained under emergency regulations;
other sources suggest that as many as 10,000 could be in
detention.
-- Eastern Cape Province appears to be the area of most intense
opposition to the government. Black townships in this area
remain particularly volatile despite curfews, heavy security
force presence, and detentions.
Violence also is continuing in some of the black homelands.
A homeland official in KwaNdebele--near Pretoria--recently
said that large-scale intimidation of civil servants is
disrupting government services.
Although largescale detentions of union officials have nearly paralyzed industrial relations, black
labor continues to offer the strongest challenge to Pretoria's emergency regulations.
-- Union officials clearly recognize, however, that they are
Declassified in Part -Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2012/01/10: CIA-RDP91 B00874R000100210012-6
 Declassified in Part -Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2012/01/10: CIA-RDP91 B00874R000100210012-6 25X1
vulnerable to a harder crackdown, and, more recently have
pulled back somewhat from direct challenges to the government.
Last week's "Day of Action" demanding the release of jailed
union leaders, sponsored by the 660,000 member Congress of
South African Trade Unions, drew mixed support in different
regions and industries. Union officials invested little
political capital in the strike, preferring instead to allow
unions to exercise local options.
Although most black students reportedly returned to schools when they reopened last week, the
situation remains highly volatile since the detention of many student activists has created a
leadership vacuum among black youths.
New grating government regulations require students to
re-register, carry ID cards, and ban meetings of student
councils. The police also are attempting to control admission
to school grounds by maintaining a heavy security presence,
including road blocks and army and police patrols.
-- The US Embassy reports that school principals in the Pretoria
area doubt that the school term will last long and expect that
once students are able to organize protests schools will be
closed quickly.
-- In what may be a precursor of new demonstrations, pupils at
most high schools in Soweto refused to go to class last week,
and violence reportedly erupted in at least two Soweto area
schools. Students also reportedly burned ID cards and refused
to attend classes in the Durban area.
Declassified in Part -Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2012/01/10: CIA-RDP91 B00874R000100210012-6
 Declassified in Part -Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2012/01/10: CIA-RDP91 B00874R000100210012-6
Declassified in Part -Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2012/01/10: CIA-RDP91 B00874R000100210012-6