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Salient. Victoria University Student Newspaper. Vol. 35. No. 13. 14 June 1972

Notes in the House — Just a tickle here and there

Notes in the House

Just a tickle here and there

All Those who were battered and beaten by the police last Friday will be gratified to learn they were not actually hurt. The truncheons that bounced off their skulls were made of; soft rubber.

The good news was announced in the Assembly yesterday by Mr. Jimmy Kruger, one of the Nationalist Party's legal experts.

The victims must regret not having been informed of this earlier. It would have saved unnecessary trips to the hospital and unnecessary treatment by doctors.

The Government's consideration for those who might have got in the way of a charging policeman only began to manifest itself in the debate.

For instance, when Mr. Lourens Muller, the Minister of Police, was asked why tear-gas was not used last Friday, he said it might have harmed people near by.

"You just hit them," said Mr. Hennie van Eck.

But Mr. Van Eck was forgetting about the softness of the rubber truncheons.

"In these circumstances I believe that the police acted with great tolerance." said Mr. Muller.

Just a tickle here and a tickle there.

No violence!

"If the police had used no violence, ran you imagine what would have happened?" asked Mr. Muller.

Yes. There would have been no violence. And the Prime Minister would have been disappointed. He said so.

"If the police didn't take action in the way they did. I personally would have been disappointed." Mr. Vorster told the House.

I am so glad for Mr. Vorster's sake.

Sir De Villlers [unclear: Graaff] asked if someone had to be beaten to death before Mr. Vorster appointed a commission of inquiry.

"That is a senseless interjection." replied Mr. Vorster powerfully.

"Why?" asked an Opposition member.

Mr. Vorster did not say. But it was pretty obvious. If you ask hypothetical questions about someone who is beaten senseless, they must be senseless questions.

'About 30'

In any case, whoever heard of anyone being beaten senseless with soft rubber?

Mr. Lourens Muller said the students should rather have had their demonstration on Rondebosch Common. It would be quiet there and newspapers would be able to take their pictures without, disruption.

This is another example of Mr. [unclear: Muller's] consideraron, one that may be overlooked by people who are so quick to criticize him.

There seemed to be doubt, still, about how many police saved Cape Town from the students, and how long they continued to beat them with their soft rubber truncheons.

Mr. Vorster said "20 or more".

"Double that number," said Mrs. Cathy Taylor.

"In the region of 60," said Mr. Mike Mitchell.

"About 30," said Mr. Muller.

Mere nightmare

Any more offers? Going at 30. Going, going . . . gone to that dapper Minister with consideration for others.

Members were similarly agreed on how long the police beat people. Sir De Villiers suggested that police violence continued 20 minutes after the first baton charge.

"Did you have a stopwatch?" asked Mr. Hennie Smit. of Stellenbosch.

Later Mr. Muller said that the charge lasted five minutes.

Mr. Vause Raw: "Did the hitting last for only a few minutes?"

Mr. Muller: "Yes. My information is that the charge lasted only five or six minutes."

"Your clock stopped," said Mr. Jack Wainwright.

Either that, or people who thought they were beaten up 20 minutes later were gravely mistaken. We all make mistakes. You think you're being chased up the road by a baton-waving man and then wake up in the gutter fooled by a mere nightmare.

Acceptable song

Mrs. Suzman wondered why the Government got so upset when students sang "We Shall Overcome", a Negro spiritual.

'it's an accepted student song." she said.

"Nonsense." shouted Government members.

"They sang it at Harris's funeral " said one.

They will sing it at your funeral, too." said another.

"Yes, they will." said Mrs. Suzman. "So what!"

Mr George Oliver of Kensington kept careful note of all the Government members who had laughs on their faces. He said the MP for Harri-smith, Mr. J. J. Rall, and the MP for [unclear: Stiliontein,] Mr. [unclear: Roeks] Rossouw, laughed their heads off when Sir De Villier Graaff spoke about the pregnant woman who was beaten.

When Mr. Rall noticed that Mr. Oliver was looking at him, he "straightened his face", said Mr. Oliver.

"But the honourable member for [unclear: Stifontein] still thinks it is a great big joke."

Hit them!

Mr. Oliver said Mr. Rossouw had encouraged the police by shouting: "Slaan bulle, slaan hulle."

Mr. Oliver said he also saw Dr. Piet Koornhof laughing when the debate started.

"Come off it." said Dr. Koornhof, without a flicker of a smille.

"The honourable member can laugh in this House if he chooses." said the Speaker.

But for the moment, no one did laugh.

John Scott