LOOKING BACK

FROM THE SUNDAY TIMES 50 YEARS AGO

Dr Chris Barnard kept cool when confronted with the racial implications of the Blaiberg heart transplant during his testimony before a United States Senate hearing. The South African surgeon told a liberal Senator that the fact that a coloured man’s heart had been used was not an issue as far as he was concerned. “The sociological implications never occurred to me,” he said. “The medical doctor knows no such boundaries. It was not an issue at all because there was no difference.” This remark was the high point of a busy day in Washington for Dr Barnard, who plans to return to South Africa on Wednesday to prepare for a third transplant “within the next month”. — March 10 1968

FROM THE SUNDAY TIMES 25 YEARS AGO

The National Party has decided to consult sangomas and other cultural experts in a search for a new symbol that will broaden its appeal among Africans. It is also set to drop the colour orange as one of its official party colours. The NP, which is anxious to distance itself from its apartheid image, has undertaken an extensive review of its colours and symbols. The aim is to adopt ones that are in keeping with Africa for the forthcoming allrace elections. A secret report, by experts who probed the most suitable “logo” for adoption, suggests the proposed new symbols and colours need to be bounced off anthropologists, indunas, sangomas and other cultural experts. — March 14 1993