J. B. MARKS

The rapid implementation of the 'Abolition of Passes and Consolidation of Documents Act' has unleashed a reign of terror, hitherto unknown in the annals of pass raids in South Africa. The Africans are being hunted in the streets, in locations, in their houses and on railway station platforms. Police demand passes at bus stops in the early morning (many get to work late as a result and even lose their jobs); and again in the evening as workers go home. Recently a police raid for passes took place inside an African restaurant and members of the raiding party went from table to table demanding documents from the people. . . As tragic an existence as the pass laws have always inflicted on the African people, it seems that the future is to be even blacker.

-J. B. Marks, "Hounding The Africans For Passes", Fighting Talk, March 1954.