Uproar broke out among white Eastern Transvaal sportsmen this week after a town council decided to allow an Indian cricketer to play for a white team on a white ground.

But Barberton Town Council reversed its decision when faced with strong opposition.

At January's meeting of the council, the De Kaap Cricket Club, a white team, applied to the council for permission to allow an Indian player in their team to use a white ground, Coronation Park.

The club was eventually given permission by one vote. The councillors were split on the issue and only the Chairman's casting vote allowed the Indian to play for De Kaap.

Reaction

The Council's decision boomeranged when it was faced with a barrage of opposition from the local National Party, the rugby club and Junior Rapportryers.

Reaction to the decision was so severe that it threatened the continued existence of the 60-strong rugby club and brought a storm of protests from basketball and tenniquoit players.

The rugby club is reported to have appealed to the council to respect the feelings of most sportsmen who were opposed to other races making use of Coronation Park.

S.A. Sunday Times 2.3.80