LOOKING BACK

FROM THE SUNDAY TIMES 50 YEARS AGO

The Government is taking a far tougher line over the continued exploitation of the country’s resources by wholly foreign-owned companies. The apparent hardening of the Government’s line could affect the many foreign-owned groups in South Africa which control investments worth hundreds of millions of rands. American groups without South African participation would probably be most affected. In opening the new Sadem diesel and motor assembly plant of the German Klockner-Humboldt-Deutz group, Minister of Economic Affairs Mr. S.L. Muller said the Government attached great significance to local participation in foreign-financed ventures. — May 31 1970

FROM THE SUNDAY TIMES 25 YEARS AGO

It was a day, oh what a day it was. With the eyes of the world on South Africa, Rugby World Cup ’95 got off to a start as emotional as it was spectacular, as memorable as it was important, and joyously, vibrantly and colourfully African. The weather was perfect, the opening ceremony showed off the rainbow people to the best effect and the crowd chanted “Nelson! Nelson! Nelson!” with genuine affection when the president arrived. The only thing which could spoil so perfect an occasion would have been defeat for the Springboks. But how the team responded to the exhortations of a nation sitting to attention in front of thousands of television sets on Thursday afternoon. — May 28 1995