 In January 1971 the attacks were related to Winter's tolling of the cathedral bell with special lunchtime prayers following the arrest of the Anglican dean of Johannesburg, Gonville Aubie ffrench-Beytagh.In December 1971, most of the Ovambo contract workers in Namibia went on strike.After a week most of the strikers went home to Ovamboland, and a state of emergency was declared there, with meetings banned.