LOOKING BACK

FROM THE SUNDAY TIMES 50 YEARS AGO

If the 20-acre Diagonal Street district of Johannesburg is proclaimed a White group area , it will mean the end of the Indian community in Johannesburg, Mr. Alf Widman, M.P.C. leader of the United Party in the City Council, said yesterday. There was no alternative trading accommodation for the many Indian shopkeepers involved and it would mean “the death-knell of the traders in the vicinity”, Mr. Widman said. The Diagonal Street scheme is now being considered by the Group Areas Board. The Department of Planning recently made known its intention to investigate the proclamation of this area in terms of the Group Areas Act. The inquiry will take place on April 2. — March 17 1968

FROM THE SUNDAY TIMES 25 YEARS AGO

The last resting place of the legendary Sarie Marais, on a farm in Natal, is now open to visitors. Gert von Benecke, who bought the Welgegund farm near Greytown three years ago, has announced that visitors are welcome to visit the 1877 grave in the middle of one of his mielie fields. Most of the previous owners of the historic farm did not encourage people to visit the site. But Mr Von Benecke said: “I don’t mind people coming. Somebody has now offered to restore the gravestone, so it will look even better soon. The home we live in was the home of Sarie Marais.” The grave of the woman immortalised in the Afrikaans folk song was rediscovered by forestry inspector Jac Uys in 1974.— March 21 1993