S. African Editor Held for Quoting ‘Banned’ Black

The editor of the Cape Times was charged today with quoting a “banned person” in an interview with a black guerrilla leader who has called for the overthrow of the white government, a newspaper spokesman said.

Anthony Heard, a 47-year-old white, appeared in Cape Town Magistrate’s Court shortly after he was taken into custody by security policemen at the Cape Times office, said the newspaper spokesman, who asked not to be identified.

The spokesman said Heard was not asked to plead, was released without bail and told to appear in court Dec. 9 for a hearing. The maximum sentence for quoting a banned person is three years in prison, the spokesman said.

The English-language newspaper, South Africa’s oldest, on Monday published Heard’s interview with Oliver Tambo, leader of the outlawed African National Congress. The ANC, headquartered in Zambia, is the main group waging a guerrilla war against apartheid, South Africa’s system of racial separation under which 5 million whites dominate 24 million voteless blacks.

Security Laws

In South Africa, security laws make it illegal to quote people designated as “banned” by South African law. The definition would include Tambo as head of the outlawed ANC.

Cape Times reporters picketed outside the newspaper office today after hearing that Heard was to be charged. A newspaper employee said the reporters carried placards reading “Hands Off Our Editor,” “Who’s Afraid to Face the Facts?” and “What’s the Government Afraid Of?”