REPUBLIC OF SOUTH AFRICA (BASUTOLAND CRICKET TEAM)

HC Deb 29 July 1963 vol 682 cc13-4W

71. Mr. Brockway

asked the Lord Privy Seal if he will make representations to the Government of the Republic of South Africa regarding the maltreatment, including physical torture, of members of the Basutoland cricket team by the South African police when travelling to Queenstown after receiving a permit to do so from the South African authorities.

Mr. Heath

Reports reached the British Embassy in Cape Town on 5th April of rough handling and assaults of members of the Basutoland cricket team by the South African police, who had interrogated them as to possible POQO membership on 30th March. Representations were at once made to the South African authorities and no further incidents were reported to the Basutoland authorities. Further representations have been made to the South African authorities as a result of the receipt by the Embassy of fuller details of the alleged assaults.