Another Five Years

His followers call it "living death." For heading the African National Congress, an organization dedicated to passive resistance against apartheid, the South African government five years ago banished Albert John Luthuli to his 25-acre sugar farm near the Zulu village of Groutville and to the little town of Stanger. Since then he has won the 1960 Nobel Peace Prize and quietly kept up his stance of resistance, although he was forbidden to speak or write for publication.

Last week, the day before the five-year ban was up, two Special Branch detectives caught up with Luthuli in a shop near his farm and handed him a notice. It banished Luthuli for another five years, this time under even more rigid conditions; henceforth he may not even go into Stanger or attend services in the local Congregational Church for fear he would incite other blacks to riot.

Basis for the new ban: the Minister of Justice, who under the law need not furnish proof, declared himself "satisfied" that Luthuli had engaged in "prohibited" activities and espoused the "cause of Communism." He also linked Luthuli to other leaders of the African National Congress, Nelson Mandela and Walter Sisulu, currently on trial for their lives on charges of sabotage.

Since the ban prohibits visitors to Luthuli's home unless they have government permission, his neighbors caught only glimpses of him last week. A Bible clutched to his chest, he seemed "at ease, patient and quiet."

This file is automatically generated by a robot program, so reader's discretion is required.