1.
GV: Dr. Motlana speaking to correspondents seated around table introducing the Committee of Ten (TWO SHOTS)
0.19

2.
CU: Dr. Motlana speaking
3.26


TRANSCRIPT: "The question has already been posed to me, around this table; what happens now that the government has refused to see you? And I say, the chances of a local authority for Soweto, I think, have simply been delayed. Because in the fullness of time the government will be forced to institute a local authority for Soweto along the lines we have suggested.



And I have no doubt that it is just a question of time. The government is going to put up the so called community councils which haven't got a hope of ever being able to control Soweto, not a hope. The response we got to this request for low profile where police (INDISTINCT) on Monday and today. And you see, I made a tour of the schools this morning. I visited the (INDISTINCT) High school (and three other schools) and I spoke to the teachers there. And what they told me about the methods the police used were quite unbelievable. (INDISTINCT) the principal of (INDISTINCT) described how a young boy hung onto his waist while the cops clobbered him all over the head and dogs savaged him. And all his clothes were in tatters and the boy was crying, please teacher speak for me. Tell them to stop and he felt so helpless with, you know, all the police all around him, all the dogs all around him. He described how people tried to scale (INDISTINCT) and dogs brought them down. How one of the kids was shot and he protested. One of the cops said the chap threw his (INDISTINCT). There was no chance of that anyway, the kids were running away and these three schools, well there are just no classes. Teachers are (INDISTINCT) just no school. And I went to, as I say, to (INDISTINCT) I will tell you about these three schools and (INDISTINCT) where (INDISTINCT) between night and day. At (INDISTINCT) no race at all and attendance was over eighty per cent. You know, a normal school day.



That is why I went to say boldly when the schools are finally closed by order of Mr. Kruger and Mr. Botha, let the world know and let our community know that in fact the police closed the schools. I have no doubt in my mind that in order to break the power of the SRC the police have finally decided that the best way to do this is to close the schools."




Initials JS/1650



Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved

Background: The best known doctor in the black Johannesburgh township of Soweto, Dr. Motlana, has warned that unless blacks in the area obtain self local government there will be another outbreak of rioting amongst students in the district. Dr. Motlana is head of what is known as the Committees of Ten which was set up by Soweto's leading citizens in an effort to force the government to hand over control of the townships vital services......such as housing, health, transport and education....... to locally elected black leaders. So far the government has refused to grant authority to local leaders for the operation of such services but Dr. Motlana has said that the white officials who administer the township can not keep control for much longer.

SYNOPSIS: The doctor recently voiced his opinions at a press conference in Soweto. As well as being one of Soweto's leaders he is also becoming one of the best known black politicians in South Africa. Dr. Motlana has said that it will cost more than three thousand million pounds to make Soweto into a modern city.