LOOKING BACK

FROM THE SUNDAY TIMES 50 YEARS AGO

Unless the ZPG (zero population growth) formula, which provides for no more than two children per family, was adopted as an urgent remedy, the social and economic structure of South African society “will collapse under the sheer weight of numbers”, says Dr Connie Mulder, Minister of Information, Social Welfare and Immigration. Dr Mulder’s warning and the views of eight fellow contributors to a symposium held in Pretoria last October are published in a book, Population Explosion, by Dr Nico van Rensburg, deputy superintendent of the HF Verwoerd Hospital and chairman of the symposium. In his paper, Dr Mulder says: “It appears that the words ‘population explosion’ are most definitely applicable to the present situation in South Africa.” — June 25 1972

FROM THE SUNDAY TIMES 25 YEARS AGO

Presidential aide Joel Netshitenzhe has emerged as the man most of the ANC’s senior leaders want to take over the deputy presidency of the organisation from Thabo Mbeki. Mbeki is set to take over the ANC presidency from Nelson Mandela, who will step down from the ANC, but not as president of the country, at the party’s December congress. Other names emerging from the lobbying are KwaZulu-Natal ANC leader and current national chairman Jacob Zuma, who is said to enjoy the support of the ANC’s militants, Winnie Madikizela-Mandela and Peter Mokaba. Zuma has demonstrated a sophisticated political streak by forging a peace pact with Inkatha in his home province, but other lobbies are said to favour him serving another term as chairman. — June 22 1997