S. Africa Police Tear Gas Black Cricket Protest

Police fired tear gas today to disperse about 2,000 blacks who tried to protest an English cricket team touring the country in violation of an international sports boycott of South Africa.

At least six people were arrested, police said.

Later, riot police with batons broke up a second protest by about 100 black youths outside a downtown office building housing the British Consulate. The protesters were chased through the streets, even though a British diplomat had asked police to let them stay.

The first confrontation occurred when police ordered demonstrators to disembark after they had boarded mini-bus taxis that were to take them from the black township of Alexandra to the nearby Wanderers stadium, where the Englishmen began a five-day test match against South Africa’s national team.

A judge had refused to grant a permit for a protest outside the stadium.

According to police, the crowd “dispersed peacefully” after tear gas was used. A local anti-apartheid group, the Alexandra Civic Organization, claimed that some protesters were beaten and said the township was in chaos.

Several journalists covering the confrontation were briefly taken to a police station. Police said six activists from Alexandra were arrested on suspicion of stealing vehicles that were to take protesters to the stadium.

Moss Mashishi, a protest organizer, claimed 30 people were injured. He said police had set up roadblocks at exits from Alexandra and were searching outgoing cars.

A few hours later, about 100 black youths, some carrying flags of the African National Congress guerrilla movement, gathered at a pedestrian mall outside the British Consulate. Riot police allowed the youths to remain about an hour, then declared the gathering illegal and chased some of the protesters along the mall and into the streets.