There’s a group on Facebook about the history of Cape Town. A few days ago I noticed an interesting picture. John Tailor told me what it was all about. It was June 1972 and there was a protest by UCT students at St. Georges Cathedral. A colonel Crouse – who was in charge – was himself hit, presumably by one of the students.
Tailor continues:
The students were protesting and it was declared an illegal gathering. Colonel Pieter Crous was in charge. The meeting got out of hand and the police baton charged the students. Crous was hit so hard he said he “thought his spleen had burst”.
However, despite this he considered the force being used by his men against unarmed students was excessive. He stepped in between his men and the students to prevent further bloodshed. The overseas press was there and picked up on this. Next day’s head lines were “SA’s St George” a South African colonel defends rioting students against the brutality of his own men etc etc etc. You get the drift.
Well I knew Crous very well. I was working for Foschini at the time and was stationed in Adderley street. Crous was dating my supervisor Rosa Venter a widower. They eventually got married. Because of Crous’s stand at the Cathedral he was considered a liability, promoted to Brigadier and sent to Kimberley to quietly retire. A more decent and upstanding man I have yet to meet.
If anybody has more information on this incident or any similar others, please do send them along.
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