LOOKING BACK

FROM THE SUNDAY TIMES 50 YEARS AGO

Ten months ago the South African Railways awarded an R18-million contract to General Electric (South Africa) and Dorman Long (Africa) for the local manufacture of 90 mainline diesel-electric locomotives of 2 150 h.p. This week the first unit was rolled out of the paint shop, completed and ready for delivery.

This short delivery period was achieved in spite of having to completely re-model manufacturing facilities at a works in Boksburg. Similar units have previously been supplied to the Railways by General Electric but were manufactured in the United States. — July 14 1968

FROM THE SUNDAY TIMES 25 YEARS AGO

Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe yesterday continued his dogged defence of the government’s policy on land seizure, saying investors who do not like the programme to confiscate 5-million ha for resettlement “should not come”.

He also repeated his assurance that the government would ignore any court decision blocking its powers to seize land, and bar owners from suing for unfair compensation.

This week, reports said at least 27 farmers who owned productive land already in use had been told that their appeals against the “designation” of their farms for resettlement had been dismissed. — July 18 1993