LOOKING BACK

FROM THE SUNDAY TIMES 50 YEARS AGO

The granting by the Government of a 25-year lease on 1 200 acres of rich sugar canegrowing land in Zululand to a wealthy Nationalist, Mr. J.W. Bell, was referred to in the Senate this week as “having the makings of a first-class scandal”. The matter was raised by Senator Radclyffe Cadman. He referred to the speech by Minister of Posts and Telegraphs, Mr. “Basie” van Rensburg, in which the Minister replied to rumours that Nationalist Cabinet Ministers were using their high office to enrich themselves. “We have all heard the stories,” said Cadman. “We have heard the whispers concerning diamond concessions. We have heard the whispers concerning fishing concessions.” — June 23 1968 FROM THE SUNDAY TIMES 25 YEARS AGO

AWB members yesterday defiantly taunted the government to “arrest us if you dare” while policemen scanned videos of the rightwingers’ attack on the World Trade Centre on Friday. Thirty-six hours after seizing control of the home of the multi-party talks, none of the hundreds of heavily armed men who assaulted negotiators, urinated on the floor and forced cabinet ministers to cower behind closed doors had been arrested. Despite promises by President FW de Klerk that arrests would be made, by late last night, the SAP had only issued photographs of five rightwingers suspected of public violence — a serious offence which carries a penalty of up to 10 years in prison. — June 27 1993