Security Forces Raid S. Africa’s Biggest Anti-Apartheid Group : Tutu Leads 25,000 Blacks in Chanting, ‘We Shall Be Free’

Security forces raided the headquarters of the United Democratic Front, South Africa’s largest black anti-apartheid organization, today while Bishop Desmond Tutu led 25,000 cheering blacks in chanting, “We shall be free.”

The white-minority government announced that police have arrested 441 blacks since a state of emergency took effect early Sunday and, despite worldwide criticism, gave no indication that it intends to stop the mass arrests.

In London, Britain called on South Africa to end the state of emergency and take steps to eliminate racial strife, saying apartheid is “unacceptable, unworkable and indefensible.”

At least eight black people have been killed in riots since the emergency decree--the first in 25 years--gave South African security forces sweeping new powers of arrest, search and seizure.

Apartheid Foe Arrested

One person arrested today, though not under emergency rules, was Molly Blackburn, a respected campaigner for black rights in the Eastern Cape, an hour before a scheduled meeting with three former U.S. Cabinet members, including former Secretary of State Cyrus R. Vance. She was charged with attending an illegal gathering July 14 and was set free on $50 bail. A hearing was set for Aug. 13.

In Kwa-Thema, 25 miles east of Johannesburg, about 25,000 blacks attended funeral services in the city’s sports stadium for 15 victims of anti-apartheid riots. Heavily armed security forces surrounded the stadium, but no incidents were reported.

Tutu, who won the Nobel Peace Prize in 1984 for his passionate opposition to apartheid, addressed the crowd and told them to repeat: “We dedicate ourselves to the freedom struggle for all of us, black and white in South Africa.”

The crowd cheered and, with Tutu leading them on, chanted: “We shall be free! We shall be free!”

Tutu’s Admonition to Crowd

Tutu said he opposes all violence and urged the crowd not to harm other blacks whom they suspect of being government informers.

While the funeral service was in progress, sources said Johannesburg police raided the main offices of the United Democratic Front, the largest and most powerful black anti-apartheid organization in South Africa.

No other details were immediately available.

Police have accused the UDF, an alliance of 600 black groups with a total membership of 1.5 million, of being behind the black violence in the country. In the last two days, they have arrested several of its leaders.

President Pieter W. Botha imposed the state of emergency in 36 districts of South Africa, mostly around Johannesburg and the southern city of Port Elizabeth, to curb racial unrest in black ghettos that has claimed 480 lives in the last 10 months.