Police Beat South Africa Protesters : Demonstrators Object to Tour by English Cricket Team

Riot police with attack dogs today beat and dispersed scores of anti-apartheid protesters led by Winnie Mandela who demonstrated against an English cricket team defying a ban on sports ties with South Africa.

Dozens of police, wielding batons and spraying tear gas, charged into about 100 mostly black protesters who tried to enter the international terminal at Jan Smuts Airport to protest the arrival of the English team. Snarling police dogs lunged at protesters, biting people and knocking them over.

Dozens of protesters fell on one another and were trapped as they scrambled to escape the dogs. Police officers beat protesters with long batons as they lay on the ground, trying to ward off the blows.

Several protesters were led away with blood pouring from head cuts and other wounds, but no injury toll was released. A senior police officer said an unspecified number of people had been arrested.

Winnie Mandela, wife of jailed African National Congress leader Nelson Mandela, was not injured or detained.

Demonstrators in six buses arrived at the airport to protest the arrival of a so-called “rebel” team of top English players on a six-week professional tour. The players face five-year bans from international competition for competing in South Africa.

Most nations, including Britain, ban official sports contacts with South Africa because of its policies of discrimination against the black majority.

“Ban racist tours,” said placards carried by protesters along with the green, black and yellow flag of the outlawed African National Congress, the main black political organization.

Police initially kept the protesters on the buses, but about 100 were allowed to march to the terminal and gather there, peacefully singing and dancing. Riot police tore into the crowd after the protesters were ordered to disperse.

The protesters were chased back to their buses by the police officers and dogs. Police then ordered the buses to leave.

A senior police officer said the demonstration was illegal because the protesters failed to obtain a magistrate’s permit. He said the violence used by police was not excessive.

The arrival of the team, headed by leading English cricket player Mike Gatting, was delayed by three hours due to technical problems with the plane in London. Police dispersed the protest before the team arrived.

The English players reportedly are receiving $160,000 each, with Gatting getting $320,000, for their appearance.