On 12 September 1960, the Anglican Bishop of Johannesburg, Rev. Ambrose Reeves was secretly deported through Jan Smuts Airport. The Bishop’s departure did not take any of the formal procedures. According to The Star newspaper, 23 passengers were listed on DC7B flight for London with a seat in the tourist section marked “occupied”, but with no name on it.
12 September 1960
The Anglican Bishop of Johannesburg, Rev. Ambrose Reeves is secretly deported

- Updated
- 30 Sep 2019

How we know this
- 01The Star (12 September 1960), ‘Bishop Reeves deported in great secrecy’, [Available at the national Library of South Africa, Cape Town Campus] pg 1.
- 02Khanya.com, 2011. ‘On keeping the faith’[online] Available at www.khanya.wordpress.com [Accessed 19 July 2011]
- 03 Time Magazine, (26 September 1960), ‘South Africa: Out goes the Bishop’from Time Magazine U.S. [online] Available at www.time.com [Accessed 19 July 2011]
Last updated · 30 Sep 2019
South African History Online. (2011, August 31). The Anglican Bishop of Johannesburg, Rev. Ambrose Reeves is secretly deported. South African History Online. https://sahistory.org.za/ref/E-0068055
South African History Online (2011) 'The Anglican Bishop of Johannesburg, Rev. Ambrose Reeves is secretly deported', South African History Online, 31 August. Available at: https://sahistory.org.za/ref/E-0068055 (Accessed: 10 October 2026).
South African History Online, The Anglican Bishop of Johannesburg, Rev. Ambrose Reeves is secretly deported [website], https://sahistory.org.za/ref/E-0068055, (accessed 10 October 2026).
"The Anglican Bishop of Johannesburg, Rev. Ambrose Reeves is secretly deported." South African History Online, 31 Aug. 2011, https://sahistory.org.za/ref/E-0068055. Accessed 10 Oct. 2026.
South African History Online. "The Anglican Bishop of Johannesburg, Rev. Ambrose Reeves is secretly deported." South African History Online. August 31, 2011. https://sahistory.org.za/ref/E-0068055.
Also on 12 September
- 1835Adam Kok II, Griqua chief, dies at the Berg River
- 1977SASO founder and Black Consciousness leader, Steve Biko dies in detention
- 1988Presidents of Mozambique and South Africa meet
- 1989Biko day is almost unheeded by workers
- 1989Advocate Anton Lubowski secretary-general of the SWAPO is assassinated
- 2004Ray Simons dies
Search events by date
This day in history
What happened on your birthday?
SAHO is free because readers fund it. Donate →