S. Africa Assumes Control of Black Ciskei Homeland

South Africa ousted the leader of the Ciskei black homeland Tuesday after hundreds of striking police holed up in a college and took colleagues hostage. It was the second time in two weeks that a homeland leader has been replaced.

The swift action was evidence of the determination by the government and the African National Congress not to let unrest interfere with South Africa’s first all-race elections next month.

The leader of the Bophuthatswana homeland was ousted two weeks ago following widespread violence. By contrast, Tuesday’s action came with the cooperation of Ciskei’s head of state, Brig. Oupa Gqozo.

Gqozo was replaced by administrators from the Transitional Executive Council. The multiracial council, dominated by the governing National Party and the ANC, is overseeing the government until the April 26-28 elections, which the ANC is expected to win.

Mickey Webb, Ciskei’s representative on the transitional council, said the homeland had requested South African police and army troops to intervene against the striking police.

The independent South African Press Assn. said hundreds of strikers demanding early pension payments had barricaded themselves inside a police college and were holding 15 officers and members of their families hostage.