South Africa expels priest

Press, Volume CXI, Issue 32524, 6 February 1971, Page 15

South Africa expels priest

(N.Z.P.A.-Reuter— Copyripht) JOHANNESBURG, February 5. The South African police yesterday served a deportation order on a British-born Anglican priest, Father Colin Davison.

Father Davison, who has lived in Johannesburg since 1963 and has a permanent residence permit, was given until the end of the month to leave South Africa. No reason has been given by authorities for his expulsion. The action against Father

Davison came after the refusal by South African immigration authorities to allow him to re-enter after a visit to Swaziland earlier this week. Later they relented. Father Davison left South Africa on February 1 to take a friend’s child to school in Swaziland. On his return he was told at the border that he needed a re-entry visa. Later he was told that because of a technical fault—he was not notified in writing that he would need a re-entry visa—he would be allowed back into the country. He has said that he will seek South African citizenship, to avoid deportation. Father Davison was one ot a group of demonstrators arrested during a protest march through Johannesburg last year, against the prolonged detention without trial of 22 Africans, under the Suppression of Terrorism Act.