LOOKING BACK

FROM THE SUNDAY TIMES 50 YEARS AGO

Dr. Jan Grobler, a qualified clinical psychologist and a minister of the N.G.K., met some Hippies of Hillbrow yesterday. After spending two hours with the “tame flower children”, he said: “Leave these kids to qualified people . . . give them kindness.” Dr. Grobler has made a study of the Hippie cult in America and Britain. He told me: “This was my first meeting with the Hillbrow Hippies and the kids I met struck me as unusual, though their problems follow the usual line. They have been deprived of a happy family life, need affection and friendliness. They all struck me as happy. These are not the psychopaths we know about elsewhere.” — May 12 1968

FROM THE SUNDAY TIMES 25 YEARS AGO

Pressure is mounting for a break-up of South Africa’s corporate conglomerates which are blamed for concentrating economic wealth in the hands of a tiny elite. The corporations came under the spotlight this week after Gencor decided to unbundle — one of the most significant events in SA business history. The Competition Board wants a revision of rules which allow pyramid companies on the JSE. A few families control more than R100billion of listed companies. The ANC plans to introduce tough anti-trust legislation which may enforce unbundling. A spokesman says: “Conglomerates can lead to monopolistic practices. This constrains the growth potential of small and black business.”— May 16 1993