FT932-15585 _AN-DDMB0AAFFT 930413 FT 13 APR 93 / Pleas to curb South African violence By PATTI WALDMEIR JOHANNESBURG SOUTH AFRICAN political leaders yesterday struggled to contain violent reaction to the assassination of prominent black activist Mr Chris Hani. Condemnation of the killing from across the political spectrum, coupled with pleas for restraint from black political leaders, helped to limit the violence. Mr Eugene Terre'blanche, leader of the right-wing Afrikaner Weerstands Beweging (AWB), while confirming that the alleged assassin was an AWB member, condemned the killing as 'atrocious' over the weekend. Meanwhile, the African National Congress attempted to channel black anger into an organised campaign of mass protest action, due to begin today. But the danger that activists will fail to heed their call was illustrated yesterday when black gunmen opened fire on police and journalists during a rally in the Katlehong black township east of Johannesburg, one of several gatherings held to protest at the assassination of Mr Hani. The mass action campaign is due to culminate with the funeral of Mr Hani, which is likely to be one of the largest political events in South African history. No date has yet been set for the funeral. ANC leaders made clear that negotiations would continue in spite of the murder. They issued a statement urging respect for whites and condemning racial attacks. 'It is true that the person who pulled the trigger that killed Hani is white . . . equally true is that a white person informed the police of the registration and the colour of the car that his murderer used and led to his arrest. Therefore colour does not play a role in this instance,' the statement said. Several townships near Johannesburg were reported tense yesterday, with looting and cars burned, but protests appeared to be under control by evening. The worst incident of apparent reaction came when blacks in a township near Cape Town burned to death three white men who had visited an illegal drinking establishment on Sunday. Attackers cut off part of the tongue of one of the men. Police said there was no evidence that the killings were directly connected to the Hani assassination, but they probably reflect worsening racial tensions. ANC Youth League officials called for armed attacks on whites at one township rally but ANC headquarters deplored the call. Mass protests begin today with a picket at the Boksburg magistrate's court, where the alleged assassin, Mr Janusz Walus, is due to appear. Police said they will charge Mr Walus, a Polish immigrant to South Africa, with Mr Hani's murder. Mr Walus appears to have links with organised white extremist groups, though no such group has claimed responsibility. He had a hit-list of 'eight or nine' assassination targets, including leaders of the ANC, the ruling National party and Hani's South African Communist party. The weapon used in the murder was stolen by white-supremacist Piet Rudolf three years ago from Air Force headquarters in Pretoria. Signs of resilience in a fragile society, Page 14 Countries:- ZAZ South Africa, Africa. Industries:- P9229 Public Order and Safety, NEC. Types:- NEWS General News. The Financial Times London Page 1