Black Factions in S. Africa Clash, Killing at Least 140

Rival black factions battled today with axes, spears and other crude weapons, hacking people and burning homes as four days of fighting brought the death toll to at least 140.

“We just keep on finding bodies,” a police spokesman said.

The violence was in three black townships east of Johannesburg. It pits mostly Xhosa supporters of the African National Congress against the conservative Zulu Inkatha movement. The independent South African Press Assn. said the township fighting was the worst in years.

Both groups oppose apartheid, but they are divided by leadership rivalry, tribal loyalty and differing visions of a future South Africa.

Police said 140 bodies had been recovered late Tuesday and today in Thokoza, Katlehong and Vosloorus. Police and hospital officials said hundreds of people were injured.

Columns of armored vehicles and trucks filled with police bearing assault rifles and shotguns roamed the stricken areas today in a show of force.

Armed bands of Zulus attacked several shantytowns Tuesday night and early today. The bands set fire to houses and attacked fleeing residents with spears, knives and pangas --a crude, machete-like weapon.

One resident said he saw “more than 2,000” Zulus with guns, spears, butcher’s knives and axes attack a squatter camp in Katlehong.

“I saw mothers with babies on their backs running past my house. . . . I didn’t know what was happening and then I saw the Zulus,” he said.

Witnesses said the Zulus searched houses, hunting out and attacking Xhosa residents. Some residents tried to flee to a nearby swamp but were chased down and hacked to death. Others died when their houses were set afire.

Police used tear-gas barrages and shotguns later today to drive back several hundred armed Inkatha supporters who tried to attack the squatter camp a second time, witnesses said.