33 Students Arrested in Protest Over Apartheid

Thirty-three Los Angeles high school and junior high students spent part of the first day of winter vacation in jail Monday after they were arrested at an anti-apartheid protest at the South African Consulate in Beverly Hills.

Ranging in age from 14 to 17, the students turned out at 6:30 a.m., blocking the doors to the consulate, demanding its closure and calling for an end to South Africa’s system of legal segregation and discrimination. The consulate was essentially shut down until mid-afternoon, when police moved in to remove the students.

The students were members of the Los Angeles Student Coalition, a countywide organization that includes youths from more than 50 high schools, junior highs and colleges.

The students said Monday’s protest--the fourth such event staged by the group--was meant to send a message of support and solidarity specifically to the children of South Africa who “have been oppressed and tortured,” said Susan Goldberg, a 10th-grader at Los Angeles County High School for the Arts. At least one South African mother said she appreciated the students’ actions.

“This is the best Christmas gift for black kids in South Africa from kids here,” said Mathabo Kunene, a South African mother of four, who watched as her daughter, Khosi, and others sat arms locked in front of the consulate, preventing both workers and visitors from entering.

Kunene said thousands of children have been killed and detained in South Africa. In spite of the recent overtures of change, she said, the oppression continues.

“It’s really not Christmas in South Africa, it can never be business as usual,” she said.

At a similar demonstration in April, during spring break, 25 of the group’s members were arrested, according to Beverly Hills police.

“Just that little sacrifice that we’re making is nothing compared to the children in South Africa and the sacrifices they have to make,” said Khosi Kunene, who was born in South Africa.

Just before 2 p.m., more than a dozen Beverly Hills police officers arrived and arrested the students.

They were booked on suspicion of blocking public access, and/or resisting arrest. Most had been released to their parents by the end of the day.

Minutes after the last student was arrested, the consulate opened for business.

Vice Consul Rafique Gangat said he respected the right of the students to protest, but said the demands were outdated.

“Their protest could have been valid a couple of years ago, but their protest is not valid today,” he said.

Gangat said South Africa is in the midst of change, pointing to President Frederick W. de Klerk’s recent meeting with Nelson Mandela, jailed leader of the liberation group ANC. Gangat said that signaled a changing South Africa.

But the protesters disagreed.

“What changes? (De Klerk) says ‘no’ to one-man, one-vote and that’s the basis of the struggle,” said Mathabo Kunene.