Sunday Times 50 year flashback: Cabinet wives in stir over picture with black artist

A photograph which appeared in the Cape Town newspaper, the Burger, of three Cabinet Minister's wives with the Native woman artist Gladys Mgudlandlu has aroused comment among Nationalists.

The occasion was an exhibition of Gladys Mgudlandlu's paintings in the Rodin Galleries, Cape Town, this week.

In the photograph were Mrs. M. C. Botha, wife of the Deputy Minister of Bantu Administration, Mrs. Alf Trollip wife of the Minister of Labour and Immigration, Mrs. P. M. Le Roux, wife of the Minister of Agriculture and the artist herself, who has-been called South Africa’s “Grandmother Moses.”

"Dawie," political commentator of the Burger , replied to the comment on the picture today.

He said: "Now look. This week the Burger published a photograph of three Cabinet Ministers' wives with the Bantu artist, Gladys Mgudlandlu. And  now they are saying in political circles, 'Oh , heavens the Sappe (United Party) are surely going to use this against us.'

"Now the Sappe will say that this is social integration and there is a provincial election ahead. Now look. How stupid can a Sap become and how frightened can a Nationalist become of stupidity?

"What happened is that the art gallery which exhibited her works arranged a, tea party for the wives of Members of Parliament and the Diplomatic Corps. And there naturally the visitors met the painter. Hence the interesting photograph in the Burger. The Nat. who votes SAP as a result of this was never really a Nat. I think there are politicians who underestimate the mentality of our ordinary man.”

The exhibition was attended by 75 women. Among them were the three Cabinet wives, the wife of the Deputy President of the Senate, Mrs. M. P. A. Malan, Lady de Villiers Graaff and the wives of the United States, Belgian and the West German Ambassadors and the Swedish Minster.

Thirty painting were exhibited. Seven have been sold already. One was bought by  Mrs. J. L. Pretorius, wife of a U.P. Senator.

Another was bought by Mrs.' Satterthwaite, wife of the U.S. Ambassador, and one by Mrs. M. Miller, wife of the Charge d'affaires of the Canadian Embassy.

The exhibition is being transferred to Johannesburg.

FOOTNOTE: The Sappe are unlikely to make any protest about the wives of the Cabinet Minister being photographed with a non-European. On the contrary, they are certain to approve.

It is not necessary, therefore, for the Burger, which seems to have a guilt complex, to try to forestall criticism by moaning about what the Sappe may do.

In so far as we may be permitted to speak for the Sappe, we extend our warm Congratulationsto Mesdames Botha, Trollip and Le Roux for the excellent example they have set.

This story first appeared in the Sunday Times newspaper on May 31, 1964.