War Situation

On the night of June 4, several of Johannesburg's Black suburbs were sealed off while the police and army embarked on a house to house search.

Church leaders of all races went to the area as police continued the search, and the president of the South African Council of Churches, Peter Storey, said "I am deeply concerned about the use of the army in this. The privacies of people have been invaded and it would appear as if we are in a war situation."

This army-backed sweep resulted in between thirty and forty student leaders being taken for screening.

The arrest of student leaders is nothing new - there have been numerous arrests made, particularly since last year's protests against racially unequal education. They are usually held for some time without charge and then released.