A Dry White Season Page #4

STUDENT LEADER:

There must be discipline. We

start marching from here and we'll

join up with the others at the

main road. Please take care of

the younger ones. Let's go.

The Students start marching led by one of the banners,

singing a freedom song.

Amongst them is Jonathan and Wellington. They are singing.

The march turns round one of the streets.

CROSSROAD:

Several groups of students marchers converge to join the

march that has already started, including Jonathan's

group. There are several banners condeming Bantu

education, apartheid, etc.

(CONTINUED)

9.

CONTINUED:

Examples:
"EQUAL EDUCATION NOW"

"ONE MAN ONE VOTE"

"FREE OUT LEADERS"

"NO TO THE AFRIKAANS LANGUAGE"

There are chants of slogans as they march:

STUDENTS:

'If we learn Afrikaans vorster

must learn Zulu.' 'Bantu

education! Stinks! Stinks!

Stinks!' 'Equal education! Now!

Now! Now!'

They also start singing a freedom song.

FURTHER UP STREET

Three police Jeeps block the route of the march. A

little distance behind are police troops carriers

('hippos'). About six police-dog-handlers in camouflage

uniforms stand across the road waiting for the march to

approach.

As the march gets closer the students' singing increases

in volume.

The Soweto police COMMANDANT steps forward with a loudspeaker

in hand. He confronts the lead of the march. He

signals for them to stop. The dogs are straining at their

leashes and their handlers taunt the leading group.

COMMANDANT:

Now listen to me, this is an

illegal demonstration. I order

you to disperse immediately.

The Students start singing the African national anthem

'Nkosi Sikelele.'

Children of 8, 9, 10 years singing lustily with their

fists clenched as everyone else.

Jonathan and Wellington singing.

Camouflauged police scrambling out of Jeeps with guns and

tear gas grenades. They stand with the rifles pointing

at the marchers. The singing continues.

The Commandant confers with a junior officer who hurries

to the group of policemen and gives them instructions.

The ones carrying tear gas move towards front. The

police start donning gas masks.

(CONTINUED)

10.

CONTINUED:

COMMANDANT:

This is the last warning.

Disperse immediately or I will

take action.

A voice in the crowd shouts "Banutu education..."

The crowd shouts back "Stinks, Stinks, Stinks."

The Commandant gives a hand signal.

Tear gas canisters are thrown into the crowd, the dog-

handlers attack. There is panic with Students running in

all directions, several choking.

Some of the students start throwing stones at the police,

hitting one in the face; he is helped away by a black

policeman.

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