Looking Back

From the Sunday Times 50 years ago

BASIL D’Oliveira, South Africa’s world-ranking Coloured cricketer, burst into an office at a nonWhite cricket ground in Durban today and spoke out strongly against any measures to prevent anyone from watching him play cricket because of race. What prompted the outburst was a visit to the ground by Group Area inspectors seeking evidence for a prosecution.

The game was a two-day match between two non-White teams led by D’Oliveira and Tiny Abed.

The spectators were mainly Indian, but there was a scattering of Whites and no segregation. — February 5 1967

From the Sunday Times 25 years ago

A CABINET minister has become embroiled in a row over a R500 000 payout from a statutory fund to prop up travel firm TFC Tours. The money was paid from the fidelity fund of the Travel Agents Board after negotiations organised by Minister of Trade, Industry and Tourism Dr Org Marais.

The vice-president of the Association of South African Travel Agents, Rupert Lawlor, said: “If it is found the minister authorised this payment . . . it would constitute a misuse of travel agents’ funds and the industry should call for his resignation, the fund should be disbanded and contributions paid for this year should be refunded to travel agents.”— February 2 1992