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  • Fascinating pictures of illegal underground bars.

    Posted by margaritatilley on July 5, 2021 at 7:51 pm

    <p class=”mol-para-with-font”>Fascinating pictures of illegal underground bars in apartheid South Africa have been shared, marking the anniversary of the referendum that saw the country vote to abolish the system of racial segregation.</p><p class=”mol-para-with-font”>The pictures were taken in the late 1960s when the minority white South African government was 20 years into its discriminatory apartheid policy, that relegated the black majority population into second class citizens.</p><p class=”mol-para-with-font”>Taken inside secret bars and nightclubs, the photographs show people of different colours and creeds happily partying together despite the laws banning racial mixing in South Africa.</p><p class=”mol-para-with-font”>On March 17, 1992 – 29 years ago – white South Africans voted overwhelmingly in a referendum to abolish the apartheid system, paving the way for revolutionary change in the country that would go on to elect Nelson Mandela as the country’s first black head of state, and first elected president in a fully representative election.</p><div class=”mol-img-group xwArtSplitter”> <div class=”mol-img”> <div class=”image-wrap”> Rare pictures of underground bars in apartheid South Africa have been released marking the anniversary of the referendum that saw the country vote to abolish the system of institutionalised racial segregation. Pictured: Two women flash their breasts as they sit with two men inside The Catacombs bar, Cape Town, South Africa, Wednesday March 12, 1969 </div> <noscript> Rare pictures of underground bars in apartheid South Africa have been released marking the anniversary of the referendum that saw the country vote to abolish the system of institutionalised racial segregation. Pictured: Two women flash their breasts as they sit with two men inside The Catacombs bar, Cape Town, South Africa, Wednesday March 12, 1969 </noscript> </div> <p class=”imageCaption”>Rare pictures of underground bars in apartheid South Africa have been released marking the anniversary of the referendum that saw the country vote to abolish the system of institutionalised racial segregation. Pictured: Two women flash their breasts as they sit with two men inside The Catacombs bar, Cape Town, South Africa, Wednesday March 12, 1969</p></div><div class=”mol-img-group xwArtSplitter”> <div class=”mol-img”> <div class=”image-wrap”> A group of friends laugh and smile as they drink brandy together inside The Catacombs bar, Cape Town, South Africa, Saturday December 23, 1967, despite by socialising, the group are breaking apartheid rules in the country at the time </div> <noscript> A group of friends laugh and smile as they drink brandy together inside The Catacombs bar, Cape Town, South Africa, Saturday December 23, 1967, despite by socialising, the group are breaking apartheid rules in the country at the time </noscript> </div> <p class=”imageCaption”>A group of friends laugh and smile as they drink brandy together inside The Catacombs bar, Cape Town, South Africa, Saturday December 23, 1967, despite by socialising, the group are breaking apartheid rules in the country at the time</p></div><div class=”mol-img-group xwArtSplitter” style=”style”><div class=”splitLeft”><div class=”mol-img”> <div class=”image-wrap”> A woman poses inside a car outside The Catacombs bar with a bottle of brandy on the seat, Cape Town, South Africa, Saturday October 14, 1967 </div> <noscript> A woman poses inside a car outside The Catacombs bar with a bottle of brandy on the seat, Cape Town, South Africa, Saturday October 14, 1967 </noscript> </div></div><div class=”splitRight”><div class=”mol-img”> <div class=”image-wrap”> A guitarist poses on the stage he will later perform on inside The Catacombs bar, Cape Town, South Africa, Friday November 3, 1967 </div> <noscript> A guitarist poses on the stage he will later perform on inside The Catacombs bar, Cape Town, South Africa, Friday November 3, 1967 </noscript> </div></div><div class=”clear”></div><p class=”imageCaption”>Left: A woman poses inside a car outside The Catacombs bar with a bottle of brandy on the seat, Cape Town, South Africa, Saturday October 14, 1967.

    Right: A guitarist poses on the stage he will later perform on inside The Catacombs bar, Cape Town, South Africa, Friday November 3, 1967</p></div><div class=”mol-img-group xwArtSplitter”> <div class=”mol-img”> <div class=”image-wrap”> Photographer Billy Monk, third from right, pictured in Cape Town, South Africa, circa 1968. Monk took a series of eye-opening photographs showing all types of people partying together inside underground bars in South Africa at a time when apartheid was in place, separating people of different races in an oppressive societal structure </div> <noscript> Photographer Billy Monk, third from right, pictured in Cape Town, South Africa, circa 1968. Monk took a series of eye-opening photographs showing all types of people partying together inside underground bars in South Africa at a time when apartheid was in place, separating people of different races in an oppressive societal structure </noscript> </div> <p class=”imageCaption”>Photographer Billy Monk, third from right, pictured in Cape Town, South Africa, circa 1968.

    Monk took a series of eye-opening photographs showing all types of people partying together inside underground bars in South Africa at a time when apartheid was in place, separating people of different races in an oppressive societal structure</p></div><p class=”mol-para-with-font”>However, the people in these raucous pictures – taken by photographer and doorman Billy Monk – still had many years to go before they would be legally allowed to socialise as they are in the photographs.</p><p class=”mol-para-with-font”>While Monk was a doorman, he taught himself photography as a way of earning some extra cash. His pictures capture the raw uninhibited carnage of a night out, showing people having a wild and wonderful time together.</p><p class=”mol-para-with-font”>Images of black patrons linking arms with their white friends whilst pouring shots of alcohol together would have appalled the ruling national party, at a time when the government were forcing 3.5 million black South Africans from their homes to live in segregated neighbourhoods.</p><div><div data-track-module=”am-related_carousel^related_carousel” data-track-selector=”.rotator-panels a:not([class*=external])” data-dm-rotator-rotate=”false” data-track-pos=”static” data-preferred-shared-network-enabled=”” data-dm-rotator-auto-init=”” id=”p-28″ class=”related-carousel with-fb-or-tw news half” data-dm-rotator-active-class=”active” data-dm-rotator-page-count=”1.0″ data-dm-social-article-auto-init=”” data-dm-rotator-page-size=”1″> <div class=”rotator bdrcc”> <div class=”rotator-title”> <h2>RELATED ARTICLES</h2> <ul class=”rotator-pages link-xocc”> <li class=”rotator-prev”>Previous

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    </div> </div><div class=”mol-img-group xwArtSplitter” style=”style”><div class=”splitLeft”><div class=”mol-img”> <div class=”image-wrap”> Two musicians work together on a tune inside The Catacombs bar, Cape Town, South Africa, Friday October 20, 1967 </div> <noscript> Two musicians work together on a tune inside The Catacombs bar, Cape Town, South Africa, Friday October 20, 1967 </noscript> </div></div><div class=”splitRight”><div class=”mol-img”> <div class=”image-wrap”> A woman with a beehive hairstyle poses for a picture inside The Catacombs bar, Cape Town, South Africa, Sunday July 16, 1967 </div> <noscript> A woman with a beehive hairstyle poses for a picture inside The Catacombs bar, Cape Town, South Africa, Sunday July 16, 1967 </noscript> </div></div><div class=”clear”></div><p class=”imageCaption”>Left: Two musicians work together on a tune inside The Catacombs bar, Cape Town, South Africa, Friday October 20, 1967.

    Right: A woman with a beehive hairstyle poses for a picture inside The Catacombs bar, Cape Town, South Africa, Sunday July 16, 1967</p></div><div class=”mol-img-group xwArtSplitter”> <div class=”mol-img”> <div class=”image-wrap”> Four smartly dressed men pose inside The Spurs nightclub, Cape Town, South Africa, Friday October 11, 1968. Until 1992, it was illegal for black Africans to socialise in bars with white people in South Africa </div> <noscript> Four smartly dressed men pose inside The Spurs nightclub, Cape Town, South Africa, Friday October 11, 1968. Until 1992, it was illegal for black Africans to socialise in bars with white people in South Africa </noscript> </div> <p class=”imageCaption”>Four smartly dressed men pose inside The Spurs nightclub, Cape Town, South Africa, Friday October 11, 1968.

    Until 1992, it was illegal for black Africans to socialise in bars with white people in South Africa</p></div><div class=”mol-img-group xwArtSplitter” style=”style”> <div class=”mol-img”> <div class=”image-wrap”> An elderly man and woman having a wild time pose for a photograph inside The Catacombs bar, Cape Town, South Africa, Monday February 5, 1968 </div> <noscript> An elderly man and woman having a wild time pose for a photograph inside The Catacombs bar, Cape Town, South Africa, Monday February 5, 1968 </noscript> </div> <p class=”imageCaption”>An elderly man and woman having a wild time pose for a photograph inside The Catacombs bar, Cape Town, South Africa, Monday February 5, 1968</p></div><div class=”mol-img-group xwArtSplitter” style=”style”> <div class=”mol-img”> <div class=”image-wrap”> A pair of revellers inside The Catacombs bar, Cape Town, South Africa, Monday July 31, 1967, with paintings of the pyramids in Egypt on the wall behind them </div> <noscript> A pair of revellers inside The Catacombs bar, Cape Town, South Africa, Monday July 31, 1967, with paintings of the pyramids in Egypt on the wall behind them </noscript> </div> <p class=”imageCaption”>A pair of revellers inside The Catacombs bar, Cape Town, South Africa, Monday July 31, 1967, with paintings of the pyramids in Egypt on the wall behind them</p></div><div class=”mol-img-group xwArtSplitter” style=”style”><div class=”splitLeft”><div class=”mol-img”> <div class=”image-wrap”> Two sailors are drawn to two blonde women inside The Catacombs bar, Cape Town, South Africa, Tuesday October 24, 1967 </div> <noscript> Two sailors are drawn to two blonde women inside The Catacombs bar, Cape Town, South Africa, Tuesday October 24, 1967 </noscript> </div></div><div class=”splitRight”><div class=”mol-img”> <div class=”image-wrap”> A randy couple inside The Catacombs bar, Cape Town, South Africa, Thursday November 30, 1967 </div> <noscript> A randy couple inside The Catacombs bar, Cape Town, South Africa, Thursday November 30, 1967 </noscript> </div></div><div class=”clear”></div><p class=”imageCaption”>Left: Two sailors are drawn to two blonde women inside The Catacombs bar, Cape Town, South Africa, 주소모음 Tuesday October 24, 1967.

    Right: A randy couple inside The Catacombs bar, Cape Town, South Africa, Thursday November 30, 1967</p></div><p class=”mol-para-with-font”>Most of the pictures were taken at an underground bar called The Catacombs in Cape Town where the number one drink was brandy & coca-cola.</p><p class=”mol-para-with-font”>The bar attracted sailors, gay, lesbian, transgender, Asian, black and white people.
    Despite the apparent differences, the punters – who were all misfits in wider society to varying degrees – clearly enjoyed mingling.</p><p class=”mol-para-with-font”>None more so than the photographer himself, who was clearly right at home in this underground environment.

    Monk is even pictured in a number of the photographs, socialising in mixed-race groups friends. </p><p class=”mol-para-with-font”>Among the photos, two women are shown flashing their breasts as their partners watch on, a number of couples can be seen locked in passionate kisses, groups of people of various races are seen sharing drinks, and a few people even appear a little worse for wear as their lie on comfortable seats to take a nap. </p><div class=”mol-img-group xwArtSplitter”> <div class=”mol-img”> <div class=”image-wrap”> A couple pose for a photograph inside The Spurs nightclub, Cape Town, South Africa, Tuesday 6th February, 1968 </div> <noscript> A couple pose for a photograph inside The Spurs nightclub, Cape Town, South Africa, Tuesday 6th February, 1968 </noscript> </div> <p class=”imageCaption”>A couple pose for a photograph inside The Spurs nightclub, Cape Town, South Africa, Tuesday 6th February, 1968</p></div><div class=”mol-img-group xwArtSplitter”> <div class=”mol-img”> <div class=”image-wrap”> One gentleman looks worse for wear inside The Catacombs bar, Cape Town, South Africa, Saturday December 14, 1968 </div> <noscript> One gentleman looks worse for wear inside The Catacombs bar, Cape Town, South Africa, Saturday December 14, 1968 </noscript> </div> <p class=”imageCaption”>One gentleman looks worse for wear inside The Catacombs bar, Cape Town, South Africa, Saturday December 14, 1968</p></div><div class=”mol-img-group xwArtSplitter” style=”style”><div class=”splitLeft”><div class=”mol-img”> <div class=”image-wrap”> Three men, one wearing an eyepatch, drink brandy and coca-cola inside The Catacombs bar, Cape Town, South Africa, Thursday April 3, 1969 </div> <noscript> Three men, one wearing an eyepatch, drink brandy and coca-cola inside The Catacombs bar, Cape Town, South Africa, Thursday April 3, 1969 </noscript> </div></div><div class=”splitRight”><div class=”mol-img”> <div class=”image-wrap”> A sailor and a girlfriend appear to have had enough brandy inside The Catacombs bar, Cape Town, South Africa, Tuesday February 28, 1967 </div> <noscript> A sailor and a girlfriend appear to have had enough brandy inside The Catacombs bar, Cape Town, South Africa, Tuesday February 28, 1967 </noscript> </div></div><div class=”clear”></div><p class=”imageCaption”>Left: Three men, one wearing an eyepatch, drink brandy and coca-cola inside The Catacombs bar, Cape Town, South Africa, Thursday April 3, 1969.

    Right: A sailor 주소모음 and a girlfriend appear to have had enough brandy inside The Catacombs bar, Cape Town, South Africa, Tuesday February 28, 1967</p></div><p class=”mol-para-with-font”>After Billy Monk stopped working at the Catacombs and other nightspots, he gave up his camera and carried on doing various odd-jobs or whatever he could to survive.</p><p class=”mol-para-with-font”>A decade later Monk’s negatives were handed to Jac de Villiers who was intrigued by them and exhibited the work with Monk’s blessing.</p><p class=”mol-para-with-font”>The show proved to be a success and Billy Monk took leave from a job as a diamond diver to attend.</p><div class=”mol-img-group xwArtSplitter” style=”style”> <div class=”mol-img”> <div class=”image-wrap”> Two strikingly similar looking couples pose inside The Catacombs bar, Cape Town, South Africa, August 1967 </div> <noscript> Two strikingly similar looking couples pose inside The Catacombs bar, Cape Town, South Africa, August 1967 </noscript> </div> <p class=”imageCaption”>Two strikingly similar looking couples pose inside The Catacombs bar, Cape Town, South Africa, August 1967</p></div><div class=”mol-img-group xwArtSplitter” style=”style”><div class=”splitLeft”><div class=”mol-img”> <div class=”image-wrap”> A man takes part in a spot of karaoke inside The Catacombs bar, Cape Town, South Africa, November, 1968 </div> <noscript> A man takes part in a spot of karaoke inside The Catacombs bar, Cape Town, South Africa, November, 1968 </noscript> </div></div><div class=”splitRight”><div class=”mol-img”> <div class=”image-wrap”> Photographer Billy Monk, right, pictured in Cape Town, South Africa, circa 1968 </div> <noscript> Photographer Billy Monk, right, pictured in Cape Town, South Africa, circa 1968 </noscript> </div></div><div class=”clear”></div><p class=”imageCaption”>Left: A man takes part in a spot of karaoke inside The Catacombs bar, Cape Town, South Africa, November, 1968. Photographer Billy Monk, right, pictured in Cape Town, South Africa, circa 1968</p></div><div class=”mol-img-group xwArtSplitter” style=”style”> <div class=”mol-img”> <div class=”image-wrap”> Two revellers, one with a black eye, poses for a photograph whilst drinking brandy and smoking cigarettes inside The Catacombs bar, Cape Town, South Africa, Friday October 13, 1967 </div> <noscript> Two revellers, one with a black eye, poses for a photograph whilst drinking brandy and smoking cigarettes inside The Catacombs bar, Cape Town, South Africa, Friday October 13, 1967 </noscript> </div> <p class=”imageCaption”>Two revellers, one with a black eye, poses for a photograph whilst drinking brandy and 주소모음 smoking cigarettes inside The Catacombs bar, Cape Town, South Africa, Friday October 13, 1967</p></div><div class=”mol-img-group xwArtSplitter” style=”style”><div class=”splitLeft”><div class=”mol-img”> <div class=”image-wrap”> A couple pose for a photograph inside The Catacombs bar, Cape Town, South Africa, 1968 </div> <noscript> A couple pose for a photograph inside The Catacombs bar, Cape Town, South Africa, 1968 </noscript> </div></div><div class=”splitRight”><div class=”mol-img”> <div class=”image-wrap”> A large man sits on a small chair inside The Catacombs bar, Cape Town, South Africa, Thursday January 25, 1968 </div> <noscript> A large man sits on a small chair inside The Catacombs bar, Cape Town, South Africa, Thursday January 25, 1968 </noscript> </div></div><div class=”clear”></div><p class=”imageCaption”>Left: A couple pose for a photograph inside The Catacombs bar, Cape Town, South Africa, 1968.

    Right: A large man sits on a small chair inside The Catacombs bar, Cape Town, South Africa, Thursday January 25, 1968</p></div><p class=”mol-para-with-font”>However, in a cruel twist of fate, he never made it to his own show. During a pit-stop in Cape Town he got into a drunken altercation and a friend of his was stabbed.
    During the fracas, Monk was shot twice.</p><p class=”mol-para-with-font”>Legend has it that after the second shot he said to his assailant: ‘Now you’ve gone and killed me.’ </p><p class=”mol-para-with-font”>Monk was buried at sea by his remaining family – his three sisters and 주소모음 his wife Jeanette, his son and daughter along with former frequent patrons of the catacombs bar where he took many of his photos. </p><div class=”mol-img-group xwArtSplitter” style=”style”> <div class=”mol-img”> <div class=”image-wrap”> Two revellers inside The Catacombs bar, Cape Town, South Africa, August 1967. The bar attracted sailors, gay, lesbian, transgender, asian, black and white people. Despite the apparent differences, the punters were all misfits </div> <noscript> Two revellers inside The Catacombs bar, Cape Town, South Africa, August 1967. The bar attracted sailors, gay, lesbian, transgender, asian, black and white people. Despite the apparent differences, the punters were all misfits </noscript> </div> <p class=”imageCaption”>Two revellers inside The Catacombs bar, Cape Town, South Africa, August 1967. The bar attracted sailors, gay, lesbian, transgender, asian, black and white people.

    Despite the apparent differences, the punters were all misfits</p></div><div class=”mol-img-group xwArtSplitter” style=”style”> <div class=”mol-img”> <div class=”image-wrap”> One woman, who appears worse for wear inside The Catacombs bar, takes a nap across some chairs in South Africa, 1968 </div> <noscript> One woman, who appears worse for wear inside The Catacombs bar, takes a nap across some chairs in South Africa, 1968 </noscript> </div> <p class=”imageCaption”>One woman, who appears worse for wear inside The Catacombs bar, takes a nap across some chairs in South Africa, 1968</p></div><div class=”mol-img-group xwArtSplitter” style=”style”> <div class=”mol-img”> <div class=”image-wrap”> Two young lovers locked in a passionate embrace with brandy and cokes in their hands, taken inside The Catacombs bar, Cape Town, South Africa, Saturday January 13, 1968. </div> <noscript> Two young lovers locked in a passionate embrace with brandy and cokes in their hands, taken inside The Catacombs bar, Cape Town, South Africa, Saturday January 13, 1968. </noscript> </div> <p class=”imageCaption”>Two young lovers locked in a passionate embrace with brandy and cokes in their hands, taken inside The Catacombs bar, Cape Town, South Africa, Saturday January 13, 1968.</p></div><div class=”mol-img-group xwArtSplitter” style=”style”> <div class=”mol-img”> <div class=”image-wrap”> Photographer Billy Monk, second from right, pictured in Cape Town, South Africa, circa 1968 </div> <noscript> Photographer Billy Monk, second from right, pictured in Cape Town, South Africa, circa 1968 </noscript> </div> <p class=”imageCaption”>Photographer Billy Monk, second from right, pictured in Cape Town, South Africa, circa 1968</p></div><div class=”mol-img-group xwArtSplitter” style=”style”> <div class=”mol-img”> <div class=”image-wrap”> Pictured: Photographer Billy Monk, right, pictured in Cape Town with another patron, South Africa, circa 1968 </div> <noscript> Pictured: Photographer Billy Monk, right, pictured in Cape Town with another patron, South Africa, circa 1968 </noscript> </div> <p class=”imageCaption”>Pictured: Photographer Billy Monk, right, pictured in Cape Town with another patron, South Africa, circa 1968</p></div><div class=”art-ins mol-factbox news” data-version=”2″ id=”mol-fd85be00-87d0-11eb-aacf-dfb07ff6339a” website show 1960s South Africans of all races revelling in bars

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