WHITE MAN AMONG BLACKS sm,--It is perhaps important that we
should be more acutely aware than we are of the realities of the situation in the Union of South Africa with regard to all relations between white and black and basic human rights. Two Anglican clergymen have recently been in gaol for having infringed the provision of what is popularly called the " Ghetto Act." One of them, the Rev. Michael Scott, was brought before a Court again on February 13th. The charge this time was that he had contravened regulations which forbade his residing in a location or native village without the permission of the Minister of Native Affairs and the con- currence of the Johannesburg State Council.
Since Scott is supposed, as an Anglican Clergyman, to work among the black men, he had decided that the only proper way to do this was to live among them, and he had, therefore, taken up residence in the Tobruk squatters' camp at Orlando. While the case was under discussion it was reported that an outbreak of smallpox in the shanty town was becoming alarming, and a discussion of the case in Court was therefore adjourned, because it was stated that Michael Scott was needed to help deal with the situation. When the smallpox epidemic is over, provided Scott has not fallen a victim to it, the case will be resumed and the appropriate sentence will be passed on a white man who presumes
to live among the blacks.—Yours faithfully, STANLEY G. EVANS. 38 Barrow Hill Road, N.W.8.
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