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NATAL INDIAN CONGRESS(FOUNDED BY MAHATMA GANDHI IN 1894)

AGENDA BOOK

ELEVENTH ANNUAL PROVINCIAL

CONFERENCEheld at

D U R B A N

on

21st, 22nd & 23rd NOVEMBER, 1958

Opened by

Dr. ALAN PATON(National President of the Liberal Party of South Africa)

Headquarters:

312 LAKHANI CHAMBERS PHONE 226432 SAVILLE ST DURBAN P.O. BOX 2299

• P I1 D Y PR INTERS l.urb**

With compliments from:

NATAL IN D IA N CO N G RESS(Founded by Mahatma Gandhi in 1894)

Headquarters:312 LAKHANI CHAMBERS,

(Third Floor)2 SAVILLE STREET.

Telegraphic Address: ‘'N IC ELY ”

C O N T 5 N T S

SECTION 1. (i) Agenda of Conference

SECTION 2. (i) Official Opening AddressDr. Alan Faton

(ii) Presidential Address, read by Vice-Fresident

SECTION 3 . SECRETARIAL REPORT:

(A) POLITICAL:

i . Intc motional ii National.

(B) GROUP AREAS.

(C) i. Housing & Amenities, ii Labour. iiiEducation.

(D) ORGANISATION.

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Telephone 22643

P .O . B O X 2299. D U R B A N .SO UTH AFRICA.

* MESSAGES (under Section 1.)

SECTION 1 .

GENDA OP CONFERENCE

CONFERENCE AGENDA

1ST SESSION; FRIDAY: 21st. NOVEMBER,1958 7.30 P.M.

OPENING: MAHATMA BANDHI HALL,52, Lome Street, Durban.

1. Chairman

2. Official Opening - Dr. Alan Paton.

3. Presidential Address

4. Messages to Conference

5. Fraternal Delegates

6 . Vote of thanks

7. Motion for adjournment of Conference.

Conference will adjourn and resume at 2.30. p.m.

2ND. SESSION: SATURDAY - 22ND. NOVEMBER,1958 2.30 P.M.

.VENUE: Mahatma Gandhi Hall,52, Lome Street, Durban.

Chairman:

1. Provisional Report of Credentials Committee.

2. Adoption of Agenda and Standing Orders.

3. Election of Resolutions Committee.

4. General Secretary's Annual Report.

5. Report of Credentials Committee.

6 . Discussion on General Secretary's Report

and relevant Resolutions.

Conference ad J bums .at 7.30 p.m. and resumes at 10 a.m. on Sunday

23rd. November,1958.

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3RD. SESSION:

VENUE:

1 .

2 .

3.

4TH. SESSION

1 .

2 .

3.

4.

5.

6.

SUNDAY - 23RD. NOVEMBER.1958 10 .AM.

Mahatma Gandhi Hall,52, Lorne Street, Durban.

CHAIRMAN:

Provisional Report of Credentials Committee

Continuation of discussion on General

Secretary’ s Report and relevant resolutions.

Nominations: Officials andExecutive members.

Conference adjourns for Lunch at 1 p.m. and resumes at 2 p.m.

SUNDAY - 23RD. NOVEMBER.1958 2 P.M.

CHAIRMAN:

Joint Treasurers' Financial Statement

and Audited Balance Sheet.

Discussion on Treasurers* Statement

and relevant resolutions.

Amendments to Constitution if any.

Election of Officials and

Executive members.

Venue and date of next Conference

Gene ral.

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EXTRACTS PROM MESSAGES TO THE 11TH. PROVINCIAL CONFERENCE OF THE NATAL INDIAN CONGRESS HELD IN DURBAN ON THE 21ST, 22ND AND 23RD NOV. 1958.

From: . Shriwastava, IC.G.-Ss..Gretary, All-India Trade Union Congress. India.

" It is with great feeling that we venture to greet your Annual Provincial Conference, to salute the brave men and women, who are fighting heroically against the world's most hated racialist reactionaries in South Africa.

On behalf of the All-India Trade Union Congress, we assure you of our wholehearted support, and we are sure, in the battle against colonialist and racialist oppress­ion, the people will triumph."

From: L. J. Collins,Christian Action. LONDON.

" My greetings and very best wishes for your 1958 Annual Provincial Conference. Against naked and callous racial discrlminatioh your task is immense: but I know you will continue in faith and integrity to strive for justice and freedom and love. In your non-violent struggle you have the fullest support of Christian Action. May God bless the Indian Congress in its work. And may those who desire the political, economic, and social equality of all peoples in South Africa, regardless of their colour or creed, succeed in creating and sustaining the spiritual and moral power necessary to destroy every vestige of racialism in South Africa. I join with you in hoping that South Africa may become the home of a happy and. flourishin multi-racial community in which exploitation and injustice give place to friendly co-operation and social, political and economic justice."

From: Mr. Fenner Brockway, (M.P.)Chairman,, Movement for Colonial Freedom. LONDON.

" .......... I have just been reading the first volume ofGandhi1s letters and most of them are devoted to the formation of your Congress, of which he was the first Secretary, and to the campaign against the beginning of discrimination against the Indian community. You have a long record of struggle for liberty and racial equality since these days.

I want to assure you of the admiration which many of us feel for Congress and of its activity. The day of attain­ment may still seem far off but it will come and will be brought nearer by your labours.

From: Dr. W.Z. ConcoDeputy President. African National Congress. Natal.

" ............... Gone are days when our struggle was measuredin centuries. The day we adopted the slogan "Freedom in our lifetime", we all acknowledged the fact that we were now thinking in terms of decades than in centuries.From that date we set the pace faster than ever before.

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And it was not very long the Nationalist Government set its pace in tune with ours, not only by legislation but administratively as well, as shown by bans, banishments and deportations of our leaders. Friends we set the pace of struggle in decades, and let us keep it up and see our freedom in decades rather in centuries.What has happened ̂ in the last decade? To enumerate the full glossary of Nationalist legislation, would bore your Conference with detail. In all this massive legis­lation the pattern is the same. There is a stress on race, the entrenchment of a ruling racial group, the whittling away of all vestiges of democratic rights of the non-whites. On the other hand, the Congress Movement has not taken all this lying down. We have so fearlessly exposed the Nationalists that we are in fact their only real opposition in this country.

It must be clearly understood that our method of struggle in South Africa is clear and distinct - non­violent and without bitterbess, and we are pledged to remain on this plane however fast the tempo of events may be.

I can assure you friends that the African National Congress in Natal with all in its power, is poised to meet the Verwoerd era. And in this tremendous task before us, we sincerely trust that we shall meet this challenge not alone, but with the Natal Indian Congress and other allied organisations side by side. As we move along this pathto freedom and democracy, let us remind ourselves that democracy will never be divisible, and no one can wish it for one section and deny it to another."

P. Benjamin,Secretary. S.A. Congress of Dpmocrats (Transvaal Region)

" Your Conference is being held at a time when the pernicious racialist policies of South Africa's Government are intensifying. Daily, we witness further inroads on freedom existing rights of our people - attacks*, on freedom of movement, speech and thought. At the same time the opposition to these policies is broadening as more and more complacent sections of the people are affected by these inroads on their traditional democratic rights.It is today more than ever necessary for all democratic South Africans to unite in the struggle for a future free from ra-cial discrimination and race hatred.

Mr. Bediako Poku,General Secretary. Convention People's Party. GHANA.

" It is now time this South African apartheid policy of man's Inhumanity to man, should be entirely eradicated from our soil, and to unite under one banner as free and independent African nation".

Mr. H. Naude,Organising Secretary. S.A. Coloured Peoples' Organisation.

II The Indian people have behind them a great tradition of struggle, and resistance to oppression, and we are convinced that the Natal Indian Congress will maintain these noble traditions until we have reached our goal.

We of the S .A .C .P .O . pledge our support for the struggle for the just demands of all the oppressed, and will do all in our power to bring the Coloured people more firmly into the great Congress alliance.

.............../ ..................

From: Mr. Geo. B. Nya.nd.oro,Secretary General. Southern Rhodesia African National Congress.

" I have every hope that your Conference will dedicate itself to making life of the oppressors untenable by non­violent positive actions. Your continued co-operation with the African National Congress, and your allied efforts, will despite all obstacles placed in your way, reward you freedom.

It is our desire therefore, that our struggle to full democratic rights must be accelerated, based chiefly on Gandhian tactics of non-violence. Africa must be freed from all forms of oppression. The rule of majority must be established.

On behalf of the Southern Rhodesian African National Congress I therefore, wish you ever success in your deliber- afciohs which I hope will take into accountshe interest of the masses, languishing under the quasi-kingdom of the Afrikaaner".

Fro1/.: Officials and Members: Durban L0cal Committee - South African Congress of Trade Unions.

the" Your Congress has a,lways been in/fore, giving a progressive lead to congress alliances and other democrats in the fight to up-root all evils directed against the people. Your militant stand against oppression is highly accepted by all democratic loving peoples in South Africa and abroad. We hope your Conference will leave no stone unturned in furthering the cause of the oppressed people".

From: Mrs. Jessie McPherson,Chairman: S.A. Labour Party. JOHANNESBURG.

11 It behoves all decent minded people to stand together in the great trials that lay ahead, our hearts and souls cry out against the terrible injustices carried out in the name of democracy and Christianity, this cry is resounding throughout our beloved land and is being heard far beyond our borders. History has taught us that when an oppressed people desire freedom and are willing to struggle for that freedom, FREEDOM SHALL BE THEIRS J

From: Dr. Cheddie Jagan,Leader. Peoples’ Progressive Party. BRITISH GUIANA.

3 Guianese today stand in shocked amazement and horror at the oppressive and inhuman policies of the Fascist Government of South Africa. Apartheid and the denial of^ the most elementary civil rights to the overwhelming majority of the Union*s citizens constitute grave crimes against humanity. The Guianese people recognising that a victory against oppression, national or foreign, in any part of the world, is a contribution to the cause of universal freedom for all mankind, unreservedly pledge their full support to the Conference. 'They also wish it a.bundant success, and earnestly hope for the early emancipation, not only of all oppressed peoples in South Africa, but also of the teeming millions of others throughout of the whole of the great African continent,"

From: Mr, M, Moola,Secretary. South African Indian Youth Congress. JOHANNESBURG.

" The axe of the Group Areas Act has fallen on Durban and Pretoria, and we trust that Conference will discuss at length how to counter the sinister move of the Government 1 , ' *b kmW -*m »U U.'. • -i.

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to ruin our people. We must however emphasise, that although the immediate future may look bleak the cause for human dignity and freedom in which we are engaged - Indian, African, Coloured and European - is a just and invincible one, and that a South Africa as envisaged in the Freedom Charter is not very far off".

Mr. Govan Mbeki. PORT ELIZABETH.

" Your Congress has a proud history of struggle against the evil racial forces which have always been unleashed by Governmentsof this country. I am confldeht that in this hour of crisis your Conference will not only reaffirm its determination to fight for the attainment of democratic rights, but will map out a clear organisational course that will facilitate the effective execution of programmes calculated to end Nationalist- racial tyranny."

T.T. Makwabe,Secretary. African National Con.zress, CAPE PROVINCE.

11 Once more you meet under the dark racial storm clouds that threaten to rob the people of the fruits of their labour. We stand with you in the defence of your homes.The forces of oppression that Nationalist oppression is unleashing have to be met by the stronger forces that base their fight on the inalienable right of man to live".

Mr. S. Essackjee and Dr. D.B.Manga,Joint Secretaries. Transvaal Indian Youth Congress. JHB.

" We are confident that the Natal Indian Congress will not falter and will continue to play an ever-increasing role in leading the Indian people of Natal until final victory, when all people irrespective of their race colour or creed, will be able to walk our streets in peace with their heads arect and free from fear".

Rev. Arthur W. Blaxall,S.A. Fellowship of Reconciliation. HYDLEBERG. TVL.

"The piling of restrictive legislation, callous disregard of human dignity, together with the shameful expenditure of money on a privileged few, are but some of the factors which are ruining this fair land of ours. I had just finished reading Michael Scott’ s autobiography in which so much of the struggle of your Congress is recorded - do not allow yourselves to grow weary or imagine that it is no good struggling when we do not see immediate results.It is just at such times that all who value the freedom of the spirit must stand together - right now is a time to show that tyranny will be resisted to the end, for the sake of those who will come after us."

Miss F. Mkize,Secretary. A.N.C. Women's League. Na'TAL.

When the oppressed and colonial people of the world are throwing off the fetters that bound them for centuries and shaping their own destiny we find a race-mad Nationalist Government bent on taking South Africa back to the Dark Ages. We must not allow the Nats to get away with it'. Anything that is evil must be destroyed, and we must through our unity, courage and strength, destroy the Nationalist monster that is enveloping our country. We must make South Afrtbca a happy place for all, both black

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and white, where every man woman will be able to give his or her best to society. We are confident that your Conference will take fighting decisions against such laws as the Croup Areas Act, the Population Registration Act and other oppressive measures".

From: Transvaal Indian Congress, JOHANNESBURG,Messrs. B.T.Naldoo and Salim Saleh (Jt.Hon.Secretaries)

"Our people throughout the Union face uprooting, ruin, and starvation under the Inhuman Group Areast Act. They, and more particularly the people of Natal, look forward to Conference for a well-considered, courageous and inspiring lead. We are confident that delegates to Conference will not fail the democratic forces in this country."

From: Mrs. Helen Joseph.National Secretary. Federation of South African Women.JHB.

" The history of South Africa and India, echoes with the heroic stand taken by Indian men and women against the rule of tyranny and we know that this noble tradition of courageous resistance will inspire the future programme of the liberation movement in South Africa in which the Natal Indian Congress plays so great a part.

As women and mothers we dread the Implementation of the Group Areas Act which will render homeless so many thousands of Indian, African and Coloured families and we foresee with deep anxiety the unbearable consequences of passes for African women.We pledge our support as women of all races to whatever steps are to be taken in militant opposition to these inhuman measures and to all other savage and discriminatory legislation. We shall not rest until we have won for our children their fundamental right the freedom, Justice and Security."

From: Natal Indian Teachers1 Society. DURBAN.

" The officials of the Natal Indian Teachers' Society wish the Conference every success and Congress every luck in all its undertakings."

From Mr. B. GosschalkCongress of Dpmocrats. CAPE TOWN.

The Indian people in South Africa have for years spearheaded the movement of resistance, the movement for freedom in our country. Today with the many millions of Africans as your allies, with Coloured and. European democrats supporting your struggle, with millions of people throughout the worldon our side, the struggle has become more intense...........But much more remains to be done. We are sure that this Conference will plan new ways of involving the people in the struggle to win the Freedom Charter...."

From The Natal Indian Youth Congress.

We reiterate our full and unqualified support to the Congress Alliance of which the N .I .C . is a partner................In the struggle for freedom in our lifetime theyouth will not be found wanting and we for our part shall do everything possible to rally the youth for this great cause........ "

From The A.N.C. Youth League

" ............ We join all freedom loving people in SouthAfrica and the world In greeting the Natal Indian Congressmeeting in conference ..........'Mayi buye Afrlka1.

As a member of the great Congress Alliance we salute the N .I .C ., our partner in the struggle for a free and democratic South Africa!

Forward to the Implementation of the Freedom Charter!"

From The Natal Youth Action Committee

"Today on the eve of the 2nd Anniversary of the Treason Trial we the representatives of organised Indian and African youth greet our comrades and brothers meeting in Conference.

Let us pledge to increase our activity; solidify the unbreakable bond of unity created during the historic Defiance Campaign, and intensify our struggle with determination and vigour for the greatest cause in South Africa:-

Freedom and Democracy for All In our Lifetime! "

L A T E _______ M E S S A G E S

From Sadiq All, General Secretary, Indian National Congress ____________________ ________NEW DELHI.

"You are meeting to consider, among other things, the grave problem of racial discrimination with all its evil consequences Mahatma Gandhi fought against it and won some measure of success. You are obliged to renew this fight by all peaceful and honourable means. The sympathy and goodwill of lovers of freedom all over the world are with you in your good fight.

Whilst we hope that under pressure of world opinion racial discrimination will abate, you have essentially to rely on your courage, unity and the rightness of your cause.All our sympathy and goodwill are with you.

From Michael Sp.ott. LONDON

"All good wishes for your conference in face of the most serious crisis confronting your people.

(1)

(li)

♦

Offioial Opening Address Dr. Alan Prton.

Presidential Address, read by Acting President.

OPENING ADDRESS

BY

D R . A L A N P A T O N

DELIVERED TO THE 11TH ANNUAL PROVINCIAL CONFERENCE OF THE NATAL INDIAN CONGRESS HELD AT MAHATMA GANDHI HALL, DURBAN ON FRIDAY 21ST NOVEMBER, IQ5 8 .

Mr. Chairman, Ladies and Gentlemen, as National President of the Liberal Party of South Africa, I bring to your Congress the fraternal greetings of the Party. Their message reads as follows:

"The Liberal Party of South Africa sends to the 11th Conference of the Natal Indian Congress its fraternal greetings, and its wishes for a successful meeting, we sympathise with you that neither your President, Dr. G.M. Nalcker, nor your Secretary, Mr N.T.Naicker, may be present with you on this occasslon, and we hope with you that they would soon be able to return to their normal lives and occu­pations, and be freed from the burdens which this long drawn out trial has imposed upon them and you. We know your record in the fight against racial discrimination and injustice, and your struggle for liberty for all people. We hope that we shall be found your equals in courage and determination.

Seeking as we do a non-violent solution to the problems of our multi-racial society and knowing that you cherish the same hopes,we trust that you will go on from strength to strength, until the day comes when you and the people you represent will be able to use their great gifts of courage,persistence, wisdom and tolerance, in the service of a South Africa whose rights and duties shall be open to all South Africans."

There is nothing that this Congress desires for the Indian community that we in the Liberal Party do not des­ire for you also. We look to the day when South Africans of Indian descent will participate fully in the rights and dut­ies of South African citizenship. I may say that those of us who know you well, believe that South Africa will be all the richer for your participation, and we believe that, partly because of your innate qualities, partly because of your situation, you are the giost faithful upholders of democracy of all the groups in South Africa. You are not attracted by nationalism, because in any event it holds no promise for you; you are not attracted by totalitarianism, because you have a strong sense of human purpose and dignity.You have gifts of tolerance and reasonableness that can shame ma!ny of us especially many of us Christians, because you believe in doing unto others as you would they would do unto you. I believe - and if I am wrong then you have been deceiving me- that you are in a sense the most civilised group in our coun­try.

2. MY OWN PEOPLE,

MY OWN PEOPLE.

My own people in South Africa are by no means without civilisation, but their civilisation is suffering from a wasting malady known as Baasskap's disease. This disease attacks particularly the higher centres, but it does so in a strange way. It does not destroy brotherly love , but it confines it to certain areas and keeps it in these areas by making it laughable or impractical, or even treasonable, in other areas. It does not destioy the sense of justice, but it attacks it in the same strange way, so that one can be just to one's own children and unjust to the children of others. It attacks truth in the same way, so that what is held true in the university is not held true in the city, so that what is held true in the anthropology class is not held true o-n the football field, so that what is held true in the Gospel is not held true in the church, so that what is held true by the Teacher is rejected by the disciple, and what is more, the disciple still claims to a disciple.

Of course I know..that this disease is known to the whole world in other forms. There is always a great gap between human ideals and human behaviour. But the great question is, do we set our ideals high and struggle to live up to them with many failures, or do we tailor our ideals to match our behaviour? When we do the second, we have the disease, and In its most virulent form it is called Baass­kap's disease. We want to be baas, and we make our ideals tell us that it is good and right to be baas, and that it is only if we are baas that all others will be happy,

I said that this disease attacks the higher centres; infact it attacks the seat of reason itself, so that one that can believe that the highest moral duty is to love one's neighbour as one's self,. and at the same time one can believe in the Group Areas Act. I don't think one can be sicker than that.

Nevertheless I am glad to report to you that many of our young people are developing an immunity to this disease; and we should try to bring them together with your young people, not only for political but for quite non politi­cal purposes. If we could only bribng more of our young people together for non-political purposes, we would help to clear the political atmosphere of our unhappy country.

COOPERATION IN THE FIGHT AGAINST THE NATS.

I am also glad to be here, Mr. Chairman, because we believe in the Importance of cooperation between ourselves and the Gongresses; and we also bellve, as you do, that there are possibilities for cooperation with non-political bodies like the churches, as in the Multi-Racial Conference, which was held, you may remember, at the request of the Interdenomi­national African Minister's Federation. This Conference de­clared that the choice before South Africa was not betweeh total separation or total intergration, but whether or notwe would recognise our interdependence and the need for cooper­ation. That still is true.

We cannot live without each other any more.If the words "South Africa" mean anything at all, thgiy mean this country that holds and sustains us all. Any harm done to any section of the South African people is a harm to South Africa itself. God put us all down here together, and gave us one of the most beautiful countries in the world to live in.

3. And our Government...........

And our Government which imagines that it has some kind of special love for South Africa, once to cut her into a thous­and pieces. A strange way to show one's affection.

The Nationalists are running away from the great opportunity and the great challenge that history gave them.Their forefathers trekked from the South and founa that the- Afri-

t?SetttetSth?rfl?Hein1-nSi? hb0Tr^ on every side* Zt ls iuite It is tril bf ^ g Indlan labour here to Natal but

berg, and t S ? theSL ? f f % d ^ Indlan trader over Drakens-

e a r ly “ L ^ o c L t T i S Y ^ f t b K ’ S ’ i K hlB fU n 0 tl°n ln tto done. In any case h L < other person could have

%£la£rti r kK ^ ’ nosa vs- harp. where they cane from . The statesmanl e s M n s ? M l ? ? L = ® £ eF le ’ here l s the l a n i . here a re my responsibilities, what must I do?

"No man i s an i<3io ~ r re s p o n s ib le f o r one another.

in a famous passage And he o ^ t L u ^ ^ w h ^ ^ b S f t S 6 send not to ask for whom it tolls, it tolls for thee." *

the National 1 J f ° m thiS great challenge and responsibility

cause of action that aWay-" Thoy P roP ° s« »imooss?blP V is impossible. It is not absolutely

are going to be U * And SOme of these bitsdeceive^h-n^p?^ f ° 4- ? a of Pe°Ple w il 1 be able todeceive themselves that total apartheid ls really taking shape.

Sn a™ „ e Y° Ur Con& ress ls absolutely opposed to apartheid, we. Your Congress thinks that apartheid is a denial of

human dignity and freedom. So do we. We must stand resolutely together in this defence of human values7 f01* they are under attack in many quarters of the world.

It so happened that modem technology was bora in the west and that It enabled the west to expand into almost every country of the world. Now the withdrawal is taking place, but in many countries the colonial peoples were not prepared fully for such withdrawal, they were not prepared fully to take over the tasks of the administration of new kinds of societies very different from the ones their fathers had known. We may therefore expect to see a period of instability and adjustments which will last for many years to come.

But something else is happening as well. The colonial countries originally provided raw materials for the industry of Europe, but gradually they began to establish their own industry; as they became independent, this change proceeded apace. Thus new countries are achieving Independence at the same time as they themselves are undergoing an industrial revolution.

In such a period of adjustment, one must be alert to guard against encroachment on personal liberty. Democracy has taken some hard knocks in new countries. Whether this is genuinely due to maladministration, or to the injection of totalitarinism, one cannot yet say. I come here today to affirm that we believe in the greatest measure of Individual freedom compatible with social order, that we believe ln the fullest possible participation by all people in the rights and duties of society, that we believe that these rights should be safeguarded by means of a constitution, and that parliamentary sovereignity should be qualified in respect of them, and we believe that these rights should be enjoyed and these duties be performed without regard to race, colour, sex or creed,

.................... / ....................

But it is not only in the emergent countries that these values are in danger, as we in South Africa have good cause to know. We believe that the freedom and dignity of man are in danger, throughout the world, that we are passing through a period of human crisis.

VERWOEBD:

You are certainly meeting at a time of crisis in the history of South Africa. Under Dr. Verwoerd our country tries to take a course which is disapproved by the entire world. He has a parliamentary majority so large that it is difficult to see how he can ever be unseated by parliamentary means, or how he can be opposed by a parliamentary opposition. The task of opposing him parliamentarily Is made still more impossible because the official opposition is itself divided on the whole question of apartheid, and is afraid of weakening itself still further if it alienates its own conservative wing. From out­side South Africa the Nationalist Party looks like a lost patrol, from inside it looks like an invincible army. From outside apartheid looks like.an unsubstantial fantasy, from inside it looks as though Dr, Verwoerd is prepared to send more and more money making it more and more of a reality.

Your Congress is debarred from any kind of parliamentary action; it could not take any parliamentary action even if it wanted to. Therefore you think in extra-parliamentary terms.What other terms could you think in ? What other terms can African people think in ? They have a limited parliamentary representation, but they will lose this at any moment. What General Hertzog gave them in 1936 - and it was considered very statesmanlike then - Dr. Verwoerd sneers at in 1?58. When a man like Senator Rubin tries to carry out his parliamentary duties he is told to go back to Israel, and Senator Ballinger is told to go back to England, Your people are told to go back to India, I wish we could send some people back to Holland too; but not because they oomc from Holland only because they are undesirable immigrants.

What forces will finally bring Nationalism to its knees, as brought to its knees it will be? It is impossible for us to see the answer at this moment. I myself believe that it will be brought to its knees by mounting opposition to apartheidfrom without, especially from the emergent nations of Africa; and by mounting opposition from within., as yet unorganised and disorganised. But I expect also that there will be a growing weakness within Nationalist Afrlkanerdom itself, so that the final collapse will be caused, not only by the growing attacks from without, but by the growing defeatism within.

Your Congress is meeting at a difficult hour. Are you feeling defeatist ? I attended a bazaar in the Greenwood Park area, where the Indian communitys political and non-political aliie, raised £200, for the Treason Trials Defence Fund in a couple of hours. Yet these are the very people whose houses and •properties are under threat at the moment. The attitude of the Indian community towards the Defence Fund has been an inspiration to us. They have seen clearly the great democratic principles Involved, and they have not hestitated to support them.

Why did'nt the Government drop these Trials when they had the opportunity ? Was it because Dr, Verwoerd wanted to make a gesture to the defected Mr.Swart? There is a strong rumour that Dr. Verwoerd has always had a poor opinion of the Trials, and reckons he could have done a much better Job with his own weapons. But you see he has denied that.You cannot open

the. . . , / 5

the newspaper without seeing that he has denied something or other. Ke has even denied the rumour that Is going about that apartheid Is unjust.

I also attended a meeting of the African National Congress at which Chief Lutuli presided; there was no defeatism there. Mr, Mabida gave some special messages to the special branch to take back to their masters. The language was strong, but not unduly so. Your language has to be strong when your people up in Northern Natal are being moved away from the land they have owned for half-a- century; ’wnen title deeds given by one white government are taken away by another, your language has to be strong. It cannot be parliamentary, because Mr, Mabida is not permitted to use parliamentary language.

At the same meeting Advocate Mall's language was strong too. It has to be strong when your people in Johannesburg and Pretoria and many other towns are threatened with removs.1 from the places where they earn their livelihoods. Advocate Mall’ s language cannot be parliamentary either, because he too is not permitted to use parliamentary language.

How our parliament would be enriched if men like Mr. Mabida and Advocate Mall were members of it I And a young man like Peter Brown, the very cream of white young South African manhood, who is given only 60U votes by the people of Pietermaritzburg City.

It is dear then Mr. Chairman that much of our activity must be extra-parliamentary, not because we are a bad lot, but because we are not permitted to do anything else. But like you we stand committed to a policy of non­violent resistance to what we consider to be unjust laws.

There are some who think however that far too little thought is being given to the nature and practicability of such resistance, and that all of us who reject aparthied should be giving far more attention to ways and means of obstructing it.

But this I should like to say - th£it I am convinced that there will never be any real opposition to the Government on the part of any person or party who does not reject com­pulsory apartheid absolutely. It stands to reason that there can only be one kind of opposition to this Government; that is a multi-racial opposition espousing non-racial policies. The great weakness of the United Party is that it opposes militant apartheid with gentlemanly apartheid, and you cant do that, Ladies and Gentlemen, because gentlemanly apartheid does’nt exist. There is no gentlemanly Group Areas Act, and no gentlemanly Reservation of occupations, and no gentlemanly racial classification. They are contradictions in terms, closely related to that non-existent father of theirs, discrimination with justice.

OUTSIDE FORCES - COLOUR BAR IN SPOBT.

The question of extra-parliamentary action is a vast one, and in any event it is not a suitable subject for Congress speeches. But I should like to deal briefly with certain extra-parliamentary action which goes on independently of ourselves and which may prove significant. I refer to certain outside pressures of a non-political kind. I think

for . . . /6

for example , that we can expect important developments in the field of sport. As you know the Empire Games were held in Cardiff this year, and though there is no colour bar at the gamfcjS, South Africa was permitted to enter a colour bar team, I? see that the Manager has said that our team made a wonderfi 1 impression, that its members fraternised freely and were very popular, I have no doubt that this was so; we all hope that our sportsmen, of whatever colour, will always behave like sportsmen. But the fact remains that no non-white South African has a chance of going to the Empire Games, If we produce the finest mller in the world, and he could do the mile in 2% minutes, and his skin was'nt the right colour, he could not get to the Empire Games, Or could he ?

Here is a case, Mr, Chairman, when a matter of domestic concern becomes a matter of international concern. In i960 the Olympic Games will be held in Rome, Great pressure will be brought to bear on the authorities to refuse to accept any colour-bar team; and I have no doubt that South Africa's exclusion would bring home to many white South Africans the detestation with which apartheid in sport is regarded.

You all know that there has been a strong move in New Zealand, originated by the churches, to prevent the exclus­ion of any Maori from any All Black Team to tour South Africa, This may mean that the long struggle between the Springboks and the All Blacks is approaching its end. Is that good or bad? I als@ know that strong pressure was exerted in the West Indies to prevent the West Indies from sending a non-white cricket team to play non-white teams In South Africa, and I believe the project has fallen through. This is a trickier matter, but I think I know where your Congress stands. Any country that sends non-white teams to South Africa to play non-white teams is simply condoning the colour bar and lengthening its disreputable life. People throughout the world are expressing more and more emphatically their protest against any international event that is not also inter-racial, and rightly so too.

Of course there have been strong protests against the action of the churches in New Zealand, Why, ask some footballers, should the Church interfere with rugby when rugby has never Interfered with the church? The answer is quite simple. The Church has a duty to God to concern itself with all life, and rugby is a part of that life , Rugby has a much more limited concern, and that is to^«iipw^J.tself with rugby,

I shall also be accused of bringing politics into sports. I don't deny it. But politics was brought into sport long before my day. For the colour bar itself is politics, just as much as opposition to the colour bar is politics. The difference is that opposition to the colour bar is decent politics.

COLOUR BAR IN ART:

The colour bar in art is also under assault. Members of British Equity are not allowed to accept work im any theatre where a colour bar operates, A compromise agreement has been reached whereby they are allowed to work in South African theatres, provided that a definite proportion of the performances shall be open to non-white people, American Equity supported British Equity In this decision.

\In America,, . . / ?

In America it is in the world of art and music that the colour bar has taken its greatest beating. Now we need not expect that to happen here in a hurry. But we can expect that in the international field, one must observe International customs. That is why, Ladies and Gentlemen, there is hardly an international body that will hold a conference in South Africa today.

One may expect that with the development of the African continent, there will be established more and more continental organisations. If our Government persists in its desire to participate in continental activity, and this appears to be genuine even if fantastic, then the whole question of continental hospitality arises.

In t^e fi^ld of religion, the World Council of Churches at in 195^ declared Itself against any formof apartheid. This declaration was confirmed at Ibadan by the First All African Church Conference in 1958. I believe that the Dutch Reformed Churches are genuinely desirous of belonging to the world family of Christian churches, but the world family of churches views with horror the suggestion that a Government should for example prohibit Africans from attending any church on the grounds that they might constitute a "nuisance". I may say that the same world family views with horror the fact that in all central Johannesburg, for example, there is not one public place where a white person and a non-white person may eat together. And the world will also be taking note this morning of the fact that two consular representatives of India were refused entrance to two Johannesburg H0tels and.were admitted to a third only if they kept to their rooms.

Nevertheless these internal pressures are growing stronger and what makes them Important is that they are felt by the ordinary white man in the street.

Let us note one point here. It is often said that internal pressures merely harden the Afrikaner Nationalist in his attitudes, and that apartheid merely becomes fiercer and more cruel, and that therefore one should not exert such pressures. That is to me very like saying that you must’nt fight Nationalism and Apartheid because they only fight back more strongly. This is a fight, Is it not ? And it is a fight for justice, is it not? .Then it must be fought, however hard our opponent fights back,

THE UNITED NATIONS -

Another source of pressure is the United Nations. It is often written off in this country as a gigantic failure. Let us not encourage this attitude in any way. When it falls, it is because it is dealing with an obstreperous family of nations. When it fails, it usually fails politically, but Its achievements in the fields of health, food, agriculture, have been very great. Let us give our unstinted support to the United Nations, and to the Universal Declaration of Buman Rights. Disillusioned people sneer at them both, we dare not do so. We dare not be dis­illusioned, Ladies and Gentlemen, the whole future of our country is at stake.

At the last United Nations debate 68 nations con­demned apartheid. Only 5 voted for South Africa. They were Australia, Britain, Prance, Belgium, and P0rtugal. Next time there may only be four. If Prance could only solve her

Algerian........ /8

Algerian problem, there would be only four. Why these particular nations? Is it because they see clearly that apartheid is a domestic problem? And why do they see it, while others do not?

It is often said that the Indian community of South Africa has forfeited any right to sympathy from white South Africans because they have on occasions appealed to outside sources. Let us never forget that any people when they feel helpless and hopeless will do that. They do it because they see no help at home. The defeated Boer republics did it, the English speaking South Africans would like to be able to do it, the Basuto people cling to their relationship with Britain even though they seek greater Independence. Dr, Malan came very near to doing it in 1940.Now do I think that Dr, Verwoerd would see anything wrong in It If the Afrikaaner farmers of Kenya appealed to the South African Government if they were being threatened with injustice. I know why you have sometimes appealed to outside sources, it is because you have not known what else to do. And I also know that you do it reluctantly, and you wish that you had no need to di it at all. If you are in any sense alien to South.Africa, it is because my people have made you to feel so.

CONCLUSION:

It is time for me to come to an end, Mr.Chairman, and to allow your Congress to address itself to its business.But I should add one personal note of my own. As you all know I was a teacher, and I have a special admiration for Indian education, an admiration for your teachers, for the community that put its money into education, for the authorities that supported you. I regard it as a great investment, for I believe that circumstances have made you the repository and guardians of those great democratic values that are so threatened today, freedom, Justice and truth. It may be - no one cay say - that one day you will be called upon to play a healing and reconciling part in our tormented country. It may be that you are being prepared for that now. It would be a Just reward to you, and no more than you deserve.

Mr. Qhairman, Ladies and Gentlemen, I declare your Congress open, and hope that your deliberations and plans will bear good fruit for us all.

Collection Number: AD1137

FEDERATION OF SOUTH AFRICAN WOMEN 1954-1963

PUBLISHER: Publisher:- Historical Papers Research Archive

Location:- Johannesburg

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