Minster of Justice, Pelser defends the banning orders on eight leaders of SASO

Date: 8 Mar 1973
Updated: 30 Sep 2019

The banning of eight prominent Black Consciousness (BC) exponents in March 1973 came as a direct result of the popularity that these leaders enjoyed among Black South Africans. The reason for the popularity of the BC movement was that it advocated Black independence and a robust argument for dismantling the Apartheid dispensation. These goals were contrary to the objectives of the Apartheid state that sought to subjugate non-white South Africans. With this in mind, the state then began a campaign of surveillance against the BC leaders. Among the Black Consciousness leaders banned was Steve Biko. The Minister of Justice, Petrus Cornelius Pelser, defended these banning orders on 8 March 1973 during a parliamentary debate, in which he justifyed the action by stating that he was preempting future acts of terror. Opposition politicians called this into question as these individuals had not been brought to trial.

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01Nelson Mandela Foundation,"March 1973",From: Nelson Mandela Foundation,[online],Available at:www.nelsonmandela.org,[Accesssed: 30 August 2011]
02Share News,"Stephen Biko was the founder of the Black Consciousness Movement",From: Share News,[online],Available at:sharenews.com,[Accesssed: 30 August 2011]

Last updated · 30 Sep 2019

Cite this entry

South African History Online. (2011, March 16). Minster of Justice, Pelser defends the banning orders on eight leaders of SASO. South African History Online. https://sahistory.org.za/ref/E-0012189

South African History Online (2011) 'Minster of Justice, Pelser defends the banning orders on eight leaders of SASO', South African History Online, 16 March. Available at: https://sahistory.org.za/ref/E-0012189 (Accessed: 21 July 2026).

South African History Online, Minster of Justice, Pelser defends the banning orders on eight leaders of SASO [website], https://sahistory.org.za/ref/E-0012189, (accessed 21 July 2026).

"Minster of Justice, Pelser defends the banning orders on eight leaders of SASO." South African History Online, 16 Mar. 2011, https://sahistory.org.za/ref/E-0012189. Accessed 21 July 2026.

South African History Online. "Minster of Justice, Pelser defends the banning orders on eight leaders of SASO." South African History Online. March 16, 2011. https://sahistory.org.za/ref/E-0012189.