In the 1960s, the tournament received international media coverage as Sewsunker Sewgolum, a colored golfer, controversially was allowed to enter the event and won it twice.

In the final years of the Natal Open, Bobby Cole dominated, winning four times apiece.

Sewgolum, recent back-to-back champion of the Dutch Open, had his application for entry into the 1961 event rejected.

He had to accept these prizes outside in the rain, however, due to the country's racial discrimination laws prohibiting non-whites from the clubhouse.

[6][7] Sewgolum's win and discriminatory victory celebration received international media attention, including from The New York Times.

[8] He became the first non-white person "to win a sanctioned golf tournament in competition with whites" in South Africa.

New owners of tournament sponsors, Vavasseur International, withdrew support for the event, and the Natal Golf Union were unable to find a replacement.