And the Government told South African newspapers: "She was on two occasions warned through her manager to observe our South African way of life in regard to entertainment and was informed that if she failed to do so she would have to leave the country. She chose to defy the Government and was accordingly allowed to remain in the country for a limited time only."

At the airport, Dusty confirmed that a party of three men had threatened her manager. "Halfway through my act the men from the Ministry said they would be waiting for me at my hotel." And Vic Billings told reporters: "They pestered me for about one and a half days trying to make me sign their document."

Why is Dusty so adamant about her feelings over the apartheid question? "Because I just think that anybody, if they want to buy a ticket, should be allowed to. I was determined not to play to segregated audiences," she said.

Will she ever go back to South Africa? "I'd sure love to because the audiences were fantastic and the kids were marvellous. But I won't be going back until they sort this thing out which I don't think will be in my life-time."

Technically, Dusty was not deported, just "asked to leave." "They say I wasn't deported but it's a very fine line between being deported and being given 24 hours to leave," said Dusty, explaining, "I think the difference is that if you are deported they pay your fare."

Dusty captured the headlines of newspapers throughout the world with her story but she denies that it was just one great big publicity stunt: "I resent the suggestion," she said. "I don't need this kind of publicity."

And the last word from Dusty's press agent, Keith Goodwin: "I am annoyed about it, and anyone who honestly believes this is a publicity stunt is out of their mind. To me, the implications are far too great. It would be silly for someone to say that apartheid is a publicity stunt to draw attention to South Africa."

Record Mirror
December 26, 1964