Sunday Times

Looking Back

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From the Sunday Times 50 years ago

FACED with mounting opposition in South Africa — and growing concern in Nationalis­t circles — the Government will have to decide by Monday whether to postpone the Prohibitio­n of Improper Interferen­ce Bill, or to go ahead with it regardless of internal and internatio­nal consequenc­es.

Described as “totalitari­an” and “half-baked”, the Bill seeks not only to prevent the Progressiv­e Party from winning any of the four Coloureds’ Representa­tives seats in the Assembly in the November elections, but to introduce drastic political apartheid between Whites, Africans, Coloureds and Indians. — September 25 1966

From the Sunday Times 25 years ago

A MARRIAGE “made in hell” was laid bare in a court after a violent spree that shocked Nelspruit.

On trial — for culpable homicide, attempted murder, arson and assault — was secretary Magda Rothman, 45, who went on an arson and shooting rampage last November.

Giving evidence in aggravatio­n of sentence, Magda’s husband of 24 years, Danie, a businessma­n, pleaded with the judge to jail his wife.

In a two-hour judgment, Mr Justice Louis Weyers said the Rothmans’ pending divorce was 23 years too late. Mr Rothman had admitted that he repeatedly assaulted his wife and that her life had been hell. — September 22 1991

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