There is no extant copy of the newspaper on Feb 24, 1945. The following excerpt is from the previous day’s edition.

CAPE TOWN: Demanding a statement on the South African Government’s attitude towards the “challenging and defying” interference by India in South Africa’s domestic affairs, Mr. M.C. Nel (Nationalist) speaking in the House of the Assembly said the Natal Residential Property Regulation Ordinance was a mild measure, embodying the principle of separation which is a fundamental part of the Nationalist Party’s policy. It applied equally to Europeans and Indians. He defied Indian leaders to prove that even the weakest Indian in South Africa was not better off than millions in India under the caste system where the wages and exploitation of child and female labour were worse than anywhere with the possible exception of China.

Europeans in South Africa were uneasy, Mr. Nel declared, because they were not sure of Government’s policy and knew that General Smuts invariably put Empire interests before those of South Africa. Already Indians in Natal outnumbered Europeans and as 47 per cent of them were under 15 years compared with 27 per cent Europeans, the question would become more acute.

Published in Dawn, February 24th, 2020