Undeterred by protests which obliged it to shelve a Bill proposing drastic extensions of the pass laws, the South African regime proceeded with the implementation of policies embodied in the Bill. Following the shelving of the Bill in September 1982, operations by Administration Boards to evict 'illegal' Africans from 'white' urban areas intensified, and a spate of new administrative regulations restricting urban contract workers was reported. These restrictions, together with forthcoming measures indicated by the Minister of Co-operation and Development, will have the effect of implementing some of the major provisions of the Bill before it is enacted.
When the Orderly Movement and Settlement of Black Persons Bill was published in May 1982, there was strong opposition from civic and labour organisations. It was finally referred to a Parliamentary Select Committee for review and it is now considered unlikely that it will be enacted before 1984.
If enacted in its present form, the Bill would make it even more difficult than it already is for Africans from outside the 'white' urban and rural areas, to enter those areas.
Currently the movement of the African population is mainly controlled by use of the Blacks (Urban Areas) Act. Apart from those who already have rights of residence under Section 10 of this Act, the proposed new law would prevent all those deemed to be 'citizens' of 'independent' bantustans from acquiring rights of permanent residence outside a bantustan. Africans born in an urban area outside a bantustan would only automatically qualify for rights of permanent residence there if both parents had those rights.
The Bill proposed new restrictions, and an attempt to develop in November 1982. While greatly increased penalties, relatively to the provision of employment and accommodation of African workers and their dependants. It also proposed a curfew on Africans without rights of residence in 'white' urban areas, and greater powers to remove 'squatters'.
These measures would allow the state to keep down the numbers of Africans in 'white' areas in line with the economy's demand for labour in those areas. As this was thought by the government to be important also for the effective combatting of guerilla activities, the Departments of Defence and of Law and Order, as well as the National Intelligence Service, were allowed to have a major hand in drafting the Bill.
The actions which seek to implement the policies entailed in the Bill began as early as September 1982.
During September and October the Western Cape Administration Board sent out thousands of circulars warning against the employment of 'illegal' Africans and referred to the R5,000 fine proposed in the Bill. As a result several employers fired workers whom they did not have permission to employ.
During September the Department of Co-operation and Development instructed the West Rand Administration Board to refuse African contract workers permission to change their jobs. This ruling was already in force on the East Rand. Consequently more workers among the growing number being retrenched in this area, will have to return to the bantustans even if they have found new jobs.
In January 1983 the West Rand Administration Board introduced another two new clauses into contracts of employment. They state that a contract worker will lose his job if joined by members of his family from outside the area.
Plans to introduce a curfew on 'unauthorised' Africans in Durban and other urban areas were announced by the Department of Co-operation and development in November 1982. While these measures were being introduced, pass raids and arrests were occurring at a greatly increased rate.
During October and November 1982, pre-dawn pass raids by Administration Board officials were taking place in the Western Cape. At least 4,000 people were arrested and charged, usually with being in the area for more than 72 hours without permission, for which they were fined R90 or sentenced to 90 days imprisonment.
The West Rand Administration Board carried out what was described as a 'systematic inspection for illegal residents' in Orlando during November 1982. Over 1,000 residents were arrested in one night, and over 300 charged.
