Were it not for the seriousness of matters on the ground, the situation among the ANC-supporting opposition in Johannesburg in 1962 could often have provided material for a slapstick comedy. There were police spies, SA Communist Party and secret Trotskyist cell members -- all belonging to the same organisation. Linked to this was at least one multi-ethnic youth group in search of a revolution.
After returning to Johannesburg in July 1962, having completed the six-month Argus newspapers training course, I faced another problem: the police refused my press card application. In those days press accreditation cards were issued by the police and were applied for by newspaper managements on behalf of their journalists. I was summoned to the general manager's office, quizzed about what I might have done to "upset the police" and told I had better "get the matter sorted out".
...