PERMITS TO STAND OR SIT?
The May issue of Anti-Apartheid News reports that the Cape Town city council expects the Verwoerd government to clamp down. soon on the last. forty-nine "multi-racial toilets" kept open by the South African city as a public service, compelling the council to segregate them,
However, a “tricky legal problem is involved that has constitutional authorities scratching their heads:
“Lawyers say there are two hets of Parttament under which the Government could act against the toilets. There is the Reservation of Separate Amenities Act of 1953 and the Group Areas Act No. 77. of 1957,
"Tn the Group Areas Act ‘occupation! is the operative word as far as the toilets are concerned,
"So far, the provision which defines occupation has been directed at people of different races sitting down together in cinemas and restaurants.
"They only break the law when they are seated, but when they stand up they are in the clear. Lawyers say that if the same cri- - terion is applied to the multi-racial toilets, then standing in them would be legal, but sitting down in them would not."
Anti-Apartheid News reports one lawyer as offering the opinion: "The Government could, of course, issue permits for the people to use the toilets but this’ is not likely."
Such a perfect refinement of the South African pass system should nonetheless be considered. The permits might be still further refined by issuing one for apartheid sitting and one for apartheid standing only.