LOOKING BACK

FROM THE SUNDAY TIMES 50 YEARS AGO

Randburg housewives, who have been ordered by the Government to get rid of all women African domestic servants by the end of this month, have been temporarily reprieved “pending negotiations”, the Town Clerk, Mr. Gerrit le Roux, disclosed this week. He said the Government order had nothing to do with the Randburg Town Council. “We receive certain instructions from the Department of Bantu Administration, but we have entered into negotiations with the Government and no action will be taken.” Earlier this year, housewives were told that their servants would be registered and employed for two years. — October 20 1968

FROM THE SUNDAY TIMES 25 YEARS AGO

Television sets sealed in canvas bags are becoming the new symbol of right-wing protest. The Conservative Party and other right-wing movements have started a campaign to vent their anger against “propaganda” on SABC channels. To show dissent, they are refusing to pay for licences and are asking that their television sets be “sealed”. SABC spokesman Mr Eric van der Merwe said Auckland Park was receiving hundreds of letters daily from right-wingers asking that their sets be sealed. “We have received between 3 000 and 4 000 so far,” he said. The letters will be passed to the Post Office — the agent for the selling and inspection of licences. — October 24 1993