/ 1 September 1989

‘Censor’ who met ANC quits board

A Pretoria lecturer who met the African National Congress at an Afrikaners Writers conference in Zimbabwe in July resigned from the Publications Appeal Board this week. Lynda Gilfillan, an English lecturer at Pretoria University, joined the Publications Appeal Board in May, 1985. 

She resigned on Monday. ”I have experienced doubts for many months about my continued membership of the board, particularly since the seizure of Cry Freedom (the film about Steve Biko) by the police,” Gilfillan said. However, she was advised by ”progressive lawyers” to remain on the board for strategic and tactical reasons -”in the pursuance of justice”. 

Her decision to sit on the board was guided by a feeling of being able to work within the auspices of the Publications Act. However, Gilfillan became ”dismayed at the increasing preoccupation of the board with state security”. 

Of her visit to the Victoria Falls conference Gilfillan says she was treated with respect despite her association with the censorship board. ”I was certainly not issued with instructions regarding my membership. ”The conference merely confirmed my conviction that it is not heroic to be anti-apartheid – it is indeed normal.” – Cassandra Moodley

 

M&G Newspaper