This Day in History: 8 June 1950
The Johannesburg Bar declared that if the Suppression of Communism Bill was passed, the freedom of people in South Africa would be in jeopardy. The Bar made this point with reference to a speech in parliament by Justice Minister C.R. Swart, wherein he stated that the Communist Party of South Africa (CPSA) would be outlawed should the Bill be passed. Under this Bill, not only was the CPSA to be outlawed, but it was to become a crime, punishable by ten years' imprisonment, to propagate or further the aims of communism.