Caswell Moloi was described by the government as a leader of the ‘recalcitrant natives’ in the Witzieshoek Native Reserve, Harrismith District, Orange Free State [now Free State Province].

He apparently ‘gave a solemn undertaking that on his release from goal he would remove himself voluntarily from the Reserve for a period of two years.’ This he did at first, but subsequently returned to the Reserve despite the fact that the conditions in the Reserve were ‘still far from normal.’

His presence in Witzieshoek was considered to be ‘inimical to the peace, order and good government of the Natives therein.’ As a result, he was banished to Frenchdale Native Trust Farm,Mafeking District, in the Northern Cape (now North West Province) on 27 March 1952. On his release from banishment in 1959, he returned to live in Harrismith.

Caswell Moloi’s banishment order was revoked on 18 June 1962.

References

Contribution by Professor S. Badat on Banishment, Rhodes University, 2012. From the book, Forgotten People - Political Banishment under Apartheid by Professor S. Badat.

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