Back in the day when the government literally had the power of life and death, it dictated the prices of sugar, maize flour and cigarettes among other things. Landlords had to look over their shoulders whenever an angry tenant shouted about going to the rent tribunal.
It was during such a time that the government almost unwittingly caused a revolution. This followed the amendment of the Rent Restriction Act which was assented to on June 29, 1981, and came into effect on July 3, 1981.