LOOKING BACK

FROM THE SUNDAY TIMES 50 YEARS AGO

Mr Mogamet “Boxter” Kader, a 46-year-old taxi driver, who this week received a suspended sentence under the Immorality Act, is still in love with 22-year-old Miss Alida Snyman, the White girl who told the police of their relationship. He said after his trial: “She did it to spite me because she had been told I was having an affair with another White girl. This was untrue. Now we are suffering because of her visit to the police.” Married by Moslem rites, [t]hey have an 18-month-old son, Sharmiel. Mr Kader was found guilty in the Cape Town Magistrate’s Court [and] sentenced to nine months’ jail, suspended for three years, on condition that he supports his child by paying maintenance of R7 a month. Mr Kader’s first wife left him with their 10 children after he was married to Miss Snyman by a Cape Town Imam (a Moslem priest).

— January 13 1974

FROM THE SUNDAY TIMES 25 YEARS AGO

Independent Electoral Commission Judge Johann Kriegler has catalogued alleged government attempts to undermine the commission’s independence and constrain its budget. In the affidavit responding to a legal challenge over this year’s elections, Kriegler outlines alleged government interference in the administration and funding of the electoral body. The judge singles out the departments of home affairs and finance, [and] states that repeated letters, memos and budget proposals by the commission have been ignored by the departments. He stated that the directors-general of home affairs and state expenditure have repeatedly sought to undermine IEC independence. January 17 1999