Vorster agrees to abolish passbooks

Press, 5 November 1977, Page 9

Vorster agrees to abolish passbooks

NZPA-Reuter Pretoria The South African Prime Minister (Mr John Vorster) has agreed to abolish passbooks for black South Africans, probably the most hated symbol of apartheid, in a move aimed at reducing racial friction. He has also agreed that blacks working in white areas may bring their wives and families to live with them if they have proper housing. Enforced separation of families has long been at‘acked as a big fault of the apartheid system, which makes blacks theoretically mere temporary residents in “white” South Africa.

Blacks at present are required by law to carry passbooks at all times, on risk of instant fines or imprisonment.

The books, also known as reference books, contain identity details, photograph, residential permit stamps, employers’ signatures, tax certificates, driving-licence details, and other particulars.

Under an agreement reached between Mr Vorster and leaders of seven black homelands (bantustans), the passbooks will be replaced

by travel and identity documents issued by homeland authorities instead of the white South African Government.

Still unclear, however, was whether the police would still be empowered to demand identity papers from any black, at random, on pain of arrest. Chief Cedric Phatudi, Chief Minister of the Lebowa homeland, told reporters that if the practice continued, “it will be an irritation and will have to be removed. . . the whole idea is to remove irritation.”

A joint communique after the meeting between Mr Vorster and the homeland leaders said the changes, were designed to eliminate “irritations, problems, and delays.” All but one of the eight homelands — the former Transkei homeland is counted as an independent State — were represented at the meeting. The exception was Kwazulu, the main Zulu homeland whose outspoken Chief Minister, Chief Gatsha Buthelezi, stayed away on the ground that previous meetings with Mr Vorster had proved a waste of time.