During Apartheid thousands of books and other publications were banned. Some of these publications were banned because they were protesting against the Apartheid government. The following are some examples of books that were banned during the Apartheid era.

Procedure to request access to sources kept in the Reserved Collection: 1. Students who wanted to consult sources kept in the Reserved Collection needed a written motivation from their department stating that they required access to said sources for study purposes. The library provided a standard form which had to be completed and signed by the student and the lecturer.2. The completed form was handed in. Once the form had been received, checked and permission had been granted by the deputy university librarian, the sources were issued to the student for a certain period of time, which was then indicated on the form.3. The form was subsequently filed in the register, so that the library had a record of such requests. This register still exists, and is on display below.

That was then….

NOW

Just check it out on your student card, and

READ

A world of strangers by Nadine Gordimer was banned in 1958.

Down 2nd Avenue by Es’kia Mphahlele was banned in 1962.

Ysterkoei-blues by Breyten Breytenbach was banned.

When the lion feeds by Wilbur Smith was banned in 1964.

The late bourgeois world by Nadine Gordimer was banned in 1966.

Bandiet by Hugh Lewin was banned in 1974.

An instant in the wind by Andrè P. Brink was banned in 1976.

Snake by James McClure was banned on the 28th of September 1977

Magersfontein, O Magersfontein by Etienne Leroux was banned on the 6th of January 1977.

Mine boy by Peter Abrahams was banned on 3 May 1978.

Rumours of Rain by Andrè P. Brink was banned on the 13th of June 1978.

Kennis van die aand by Andre P. Brink was the first Afrikaans book to be banned in South Africa.

A dry white season by Andre P. Brink was banned in 1979.

Waiting for the barbarians by J.M. Coetzee was banned in 1980.

Publications Act, 1974:

To provide for the control of certain publications or objects, films and public entertainments;

Emergency by Richard Rive was banned on the 18th of August 1982

Life & times of Michael K. by J.M. Coetzee was banned in 1983.

Pirates have become our kings by D.P. Kunene was banned on the 27th of September 1984.

A walk in the night and Other Stories by Alex La Guma was banned on the 4th of November 1984.

Cry the beloved country by Alan Paton was banned on 17 October 1985.

My traitor’s heart by Rian Malan was banned in 1990.

To find out more information about books that were banned during Apartheid the following

websites can be consulted: