The African patriots, the story of the African National Congress of South Africa

233 Pages·2008·1.29 MB·English

The African patriots, the story of the African
National Congress of South Africa
http://www.aluka.org/action/showMetadata?doi=10.5555/AL.SFF.DOCUMENT.crp3b10002
UseoftheAlukadigitallibraryissubjecttoAluka’sTermsandConditions,availableat
http://www.aluka.org/page/about/termsConditions.jsp.ByusingAluka,youagreethatyouhavereadand
willabidebytheTermsandConditions.Amongotherthings,theTermsandConditionsprovidethatthe
contentintheAlukadigitallibraryisonlyforpersonal,non-commercialusebyauthorizedusersofAlukain
connectionwithresearch,scholarship,andeducation.
ThecontentintheAlukadigitallibraryissubjecttocopyright,withtheexceptionofcertaingovernmental
worksandveryoldmaterialsthatmaybeinthepublicdomainunderapplicablelaw.Permissionmustbe
soughtfromAlukaand/ortheapplicablecopyrightholderinconnectionwithanyduplicationordistribution
ofthesematerialswhererequiredbyapplicablelaw.
Alukaisanot-for-profitinitiativededicatedtocreatingandpreservingadigitalarchiveofmaterialsabout
andfromthedevelopingworld.FormoreinformationaboutAluka,pleaseseehttp://www.aluka.org
The African patriots, the story of the African National Congress of
South Africa
Author/Creator Benson, Mary
Publisher Faber and Faber (London)
Date 1963
Resource type Books
Language English
Subject
Coverage (spatial) South Africa
Source Northwestern University Libraries, Melville J. Herskovits
Library of African Studies, 968 B474a
Description This book is a history of the African National Congress and
many of the battles it experienced. The author, Mary
Benson, is a South African who was herself committed to
the work of the ANC and thus aiding in the collection of
many important documents used in the study.
Format extent 318 pages
(length/size)
http://www.aluka.org/action/showMetadata?doi=10.5555/AL.SFF.DOCUMENT.crp3b10002
http://www.aluka.org
1~I&~
1~I&~
L~
i2
'2 ~
i
~
2
'4
'4
''4
4flo
~
<<VK,''0 0<' 12
i
02 4
~'00v
TheAfricanPatriots
bythesameauthor
.
TSHEKEDIKHAMA
inpreparation
ALBERT LUTULI
(OxfordUniversityPress)
The,.African Patriots
THESTORYOFTHE
AFRICANNATIONALCONGRESS
OFSOUTHAFRICA
MARYBENSON
FABER AND FABER
24RussellSquare
London
FirstpublishedinmcmlxiiibyFaberand FaberLimited
24RussellSquare,London W.C.i
PrintedinGreatBritain
byEbenezerBaylis and Son Limited
TheTrinityPress, Worcester,and London
Allrightsreserved
@MaryBenson
1963
In MemoryofChristopherGell
NKOSISIKELEL' I-AFRIKA
ComposedbytheXhosacomposerEnoch Sontongaanda missionaryat Lovedale
CollegefortheAfrican National
Congressin I912
TranslatedbyTodd Matshikiza
NKOSISIKELEL' I-AFRIKA MALUPHAKANYISW'UPHONDOLWAYO
YIVANEMITHANDAZOYETHU
NKOSISIKELELA NKOSISIKELELAYIZA MOYAYIZA MOYA
OYINGCWELE NKOSISIKELELATHINALUSAPHOLWAKHO
LORDBLESSAFRICALETITSHORN(ofhope)BERAISED LISTEN ALSO
TOOUR PLEAS
LORDBLESSLORDBLESSCOMESPIRITCOMESPIRITHOLYSPIRIT
LORDBLESSUsTHY CHARGE
Thepassiveresistancein SouthAfrica'isthe mostimportantactivitytheworld
canatpresenttakepartin,andinwhichnotChristendomalonebutallthepeoples
oftheearthwillparticipate.'
TOLSTOY-lettertoGandhi,191o
Acknowledgments
THISisacommittedbook.Duringthe yearspentinhistoricalandpersonal
researchinSouthAfricaIfounditimpossiblenottobecomeengagedbythe spirit
oftheAfricanNationalCongress.Iamproudthatsomeofitsformerleaders and
members aremyfriends. Therearemanypeoplein SouthAfrica-politicians,
academics,clergymen, journalists,lawyers,doctors,housewives,secretariesand
clerks-whohavebeen mostgenerousinhelpingwiththebook.Becauseofthe
lawsunderwhichtheycouldbevictimized Iamnotthankingthemindividually.
ButiftheyshouldreadthebookIhopetheywillknowhowdeeplygrateful Iam.
Evenatthetimeofinterviewingthemsomeofthesubjects werebeingpersecuted.
Imustaddparticularthanks tothosewhosoquicklyand excellentlyrepliedto
letters.OnedayIhopeto thankthemallpublicly.
ToColinLegum Iowealargedebtforinvaluableadviceonthemanuscript.
MargeryPerham,Phyllis RandoneandAnthonySampsonencouraged me with
theirsuggestions.Iamgratefulto'Rusty'Bernsteinfortheuseofrecordsonthe
MineStrikeandto Mrs. E.BinyonandCyrilDunnfornotesoncertainincidents.
ParticularlyIthankEli Weinbergforhispictures.
Iwas persuadedintowritingthisbook. Icouldthinkofseveralwritersbetter
equippedtodoit,butitwas clearlyurgentbothto getpeople'sreminiscences
aboutwhathappenedfiftyyearsago andtodothenecessaryresearchbeforethe
SouthAfricanGovernment'sextendingtyrannypreventedthis-the'SabotageAct',
whichwaspassedjustaftertheresearchwascompleted,wouldcertainlyhave
madethings moredifficultthantheexistingrestrictions.Policeraidsover many
years haveofcourseremovedmuchofthewrittenmaterialthatmusthave
existed-indeedas Iwadedthroughsomeofwhatstillremains,Isometimes felt
gratefultotheSpecialBranchthattherewasnot more!
Acknowledgments
Ionlywishthestorycouldhavementionedfar moreofthethousandsofpeopleof
allraces whostruggleso indomitablyforfreedomandjusticeinSouthAfrica.
Contents
MapofSouthernAfricashowingplaces mentioned
inthebook page13
NamesofLeadingOfficersoftheCongress 15
Prologue188o-191o:Trends andAttitudes 17
I I910-I912:TheFoundation 25
II 1912-1918: Land and Loyalty 32
VIII 1918-1924: PassiveResistanceand Missed Opportunities
42
IV 1924-1929:Philosophies onTrial 54
V 1930-1935:TheDepressionandDivisions 68
VI1936:Honourable Trusteeship 78
VII 1936-1940: SilverJubileeandBeginningsof
Revival 85
VIII1940-1943:ReorganizationataTimeof Ferment 95IX 1943-1944:The
Youth League 102
X 1944-1946:African Claims 113
XI1946:The Indians LeadtheStruggle 119
XII1946:TheGreat MineStrike 124
XIII1946-1948:African Internationalismvs.AfrikanerIsolationism
138
XIV 1948:NationalismBreedsNationalism 149
/XV 1949-1951:TheProgrammeofAction 16o
vXVI1952:TheDefianceCampaign 175
XVII 1953:Aftermath 193
XVIII1954:Talkof Freedom 204
XIX 1955-1956: WomenUnder Way 217
9
XX
XXIXXlIXXlII
Contents
1956-1957:Treason?-andDecline page232
1958:Isms and Fragmentation 240
1959:ResurgenceUnder Lutuli 254
I96O:AfricaYearinSouthAfrica 267
EpilogueI1961:Verdict ontheA.N.C. 273
II1961-1963:An IndestructibleSpirit 285SourceBooks 296
Index 297
Illustrations
iaThe Founder-PixleykaIzakaSeme facingpage64
ibThefirstPresident-TheRev.John L.Dube.Eli
Weinberg 64
icTwiceaPresident-the Rev.Z.Mahabane(in196o) 64id'Founder'ofthe
ModernA.N.C.-Dr.A.B.Xuma 64
2a1919DeputationtoVersaillesand London- 65
Back:J. L. Gumede,L.T.Mvabaza,R.V. Selope
Thema
Front:SolomonPlaatje, Rev.H.Ngcayiya
2b1942DeputationtoDeputyPrimeMinister 65
Back:Z.K. Matthews,R.G.Baloyi,A.J. Sililo,
R.H.Godlo
Front:T. M.Mapikela,J.A.Calata,A.B.Xuma,
E.Qamata
Apicturefor whichCanonCalatawas sentencedseep.286
FOUNDERSOFTHEYOUTHLEAGUE
3a WalterSisulu.Eli Weinberg 8o
3bAnton Lembede 8o
3cOliverTambo.Eli Weinberg 80
3dNelsonMandela.Eli Weinberg 80
4aGertSibandeandhisfamilyfromBethal 81
4bJ.B.Marks, PresidentofMine Workers.Eli Weinberg 814cMoses Kotane
backfromBandung1955.Eli Weinberg 81
THEDEFIANCECAMPAIGN
5aVolunteers are called for-Walter Sisulaspeaking.Eli
Weinberg 176
5bThePledge-r.to1.Dr.J.S.Moroka,Dr.Y.Dadoo,
W. Sisulu,Y.Cachalia-seep.177.Eli Weinberg 176
Illustrations
6a WomenDefiers arearrested facingpage177
6bNatalleader-M.B.Yengwa '77
6cPort Elizabethleader-Dr.J.N.Njongwe '77
SOPHIATOWN PROTESTS
7aChiefLutuli LeadsA.N.C.Procession.NewAge 192
7b Fr.HuddlestonwithRobertResha(darkcoat)andIda Mntwana(beret).Eli
Weinberg 192
CONGRESSOFTHEPEOPLE
8aTheCrowd Listens.EliWeinberg 193
8bTheirDesires.Eli Weinberg 193
9aThe Women HoldaMeetinginOrlando.NewAge 240
9bTheTreasonTrialOpensinJohannesburg-BishopReevesintheCrowds
240
IoaLilianNgoyi.Eli Weinberg 241
iob FlorenceMatomela. Eli Weinberg 241
iocACommonOccurrence.Argument withthePoliceJoe MatlouofYouth
League.Eli Weinberg 241
iiaAccusedofTreason-Prof.Z. K.Matthews and Chief
Lutuli 256
iibPotatoBoycottBegins.NewAge 256
12aTheAuthorwithNelsonMandela 257
I2bChief LutulireceivingtheNobelPrize.NorskT.B. 257
J
W-..; ýj.
**~***6- %L El
...........................* /
<tlf)*1 *.
I
NAMESOFLEADINGOFFICERSOFTHECONGRESS
SINCE I912
PRESIDENT-GENERALTheRev.JohnL.DubeS.M.MakgathoTheRev.Z.R.
MahabaneJ. T.GumedeDr.P.kaI.SemeTheRev.Z.R.MahabaneDr.A. B.
XumaDr.J.S. MorokaChiefA.J.Lutuli
SECRETARY-GENERAL
SolT.PlaatjeR.V.SelopeThemaE. MochochokoT.D.MweliSkotaHalley
PlaatjeTheRev.Elijah MdolombaTheRev.James A.Calata WalterM.Sisulu
OliverTamboDumaNokwe
Prologue
1880-1910:Trendsand Attitudes
A ferahundred years ofwarandskirmishesthetribesin
SouthAfricahad finallygivenintotheEuropean invaders;succumbingnotonly
totheirsuperiorweapons buttotheirbeguilingideas.FromI88o,therefore,
Africansbegantoworkwithinthemodern frameandtothinkintermsofpolitical
ratherthan militaryaction.ThefirstAfricanpoliticalassociation-theImbumba
YanaAfrika(UnionofAfricans)-was formedintheEasternCapeintheearly
I88o's;atthesametime,incidentally, as Afrikaners formedtheirfirstpolitical
party,theAfrikanerBond. Lookingback,itispossibletoseetheemergenceof
twocontrarytrends-Africans,deeplyinfluencedbytheteachingsofVictorian
humanitariansandChristianmissionaries,begantodiscoverthemselves as partof
mankind,whileAfrikaners,anxioustopreservetheirsmallnationinisolation,
turnedtheirbackontherestofmankind.
Ofcoursethenascentpoliticalconsciousnesswas apparentintheactivities of
onlyafewAfricansandinthemainthetribesmen andthoseworkingas labourers
forthewhitesettlers,wereignorantandinsular.Butthosefewweresignificant.
Manyofthemwerevoters,onthecommonrolloftheCapeColonysince1854.
FromtheI88o's somehelpedtoformAfricanorganizationsinvariousparts ofthe
countryalthoughpoliticalexpressionwasscatteredandhesitant.Thefirst African
Christianchurchwas establishedandthefirstAfricannewspaperpublished.By
188oAfricansintheCapehadtwo generationsofmissionaryeducationbehind
them,provided eitherbytheChurchof Scotland's College, Lovedale,foundedin
1841before comparableschools wereprovidedforwhites,orbyMethodistsand
Anglicans whoestablishedschoolssoonafter.Mr. Gungulisa,anelderlyXhosa
butcherinPortElizabeth, whowasaboyinthe'nineties,recallsthosedays:
'Thingswere allrightthereaccordingtothelawofthelateQueen17
B
TrendsandAttitudes
Victoria,'hesays.'Theaboriginals werejuststartingto gettakenwith Western
ideas. Wewereregisteredvoters,allowedto buyproperty,afarmsay, wecould
holdland,andifavoter wecouldevenpossessfirearms. We enjoyedit.'
However,althoughtheAfricanproportionofthevotesintheColonywas
negligible,inafewconstituenciesoftheEastern Capetheywerebeginningto
makethemselvesfelt.TheGovernmenttwiceraisedthefranchisequalifications
andanAfricanpetitiontoQueenVictoriaappealingagainstthisproved
ineffectual,sothatattheturnofthecenturyAfricans formedonly4"7%ofthe
votersintheCapeColony. Yettheywereseenas athreat.AllthesameCape
policieswerebroadlyliberal,whereasinBritishNatal,contrarytoQueen
Victoria'sdeclarationthatallraceswouldbeequal,theZuluswerebeingconfined
todiminishingreserves as Europeanimmigrantstooktheirland forsugarestates.
Fromallaccountstherewasnotmuchtochoosebetweenthe attitudeofNatal
farmers andoftheBoerGovernmentsofthetwo RepublicsoftheTransvaaland
theOrange FreeState,wheretherewas 'noequalityinchurchorstate'.The
representativeofNatalfarmersexpressedtheviewtoaNativeAffairs
Commission:'Thenativeisthemosttractableman going,aslongas he knows
youhave yourfootonhisneck...Ithinkthethingthatshouldbeusedveryfreely
is thelash,foritis bodilypainthatthenativefears.'
WhentheBoer WarbrokeoutmanyAfricans supportedtheBritishforces-some
forwagesbutsome actinguponprincipleandini9oitheBritishGovernment
assuredthemthattherewouldbenopeacethatdid notgivethemthesame
privileges aswhites.ButwhenthePeaceTreatywassigned atVereeniging
Africans foundittobea'shamelessbetrayal'.'TheBritishGovernment-aLiberal
Government-farfromfulfillingtheassurance,had becomesointenton
reconcilingthedefeated Boerstotheirnewstatus ofbecomingBritishsubjects,
that,ironicallythevictorybecamethebasisfortheultimateascendancyof
AfrikanernationalismwithitsrenunciationoftheBritishconnection.Anditwas
theBritishwhoinitiatedacolourbarinthenewminingindustryoftheTransvaal.
FurthermoresomeofthoseAfricans whohadhelpedtheBritishduringthewar
foundthemselves sufferingforthatservice.Dr.James Moroka,adistinguished
physician whosefamilyintheOrange FreeStatehad givensuch
1ConiaciarticlebySelbyMsimang,April2,196o.
18
TrendsandAttitudes
assistance,explains,'Our positionwasworsethan ithadbeenbecausetheBoers
said,you chapsareskellums,andfromthattimewegotitintheneck.'
Theseevents gaveadecidedimpetustoAfricanpoliticalactivitythoughthe
groupsthatsprangupall overthecountrywereas yetsmallandlocalintheir
membership.AmongthemwastheNatalNativeCongress,of 'Christianand
civilized'Africans,ledbyMartin LutuliofTugela.Meanwhile a youngIndian
lawyer,M. K.Gandhi,sincehisarrivalinSouth Africa,hadalreadyformedthe
Natal IndianCongress in 1894,andtheColouredpeopleintheCapesetupthe
African People's Organization.Again,apetitionwassenttothe Imperial
Government,thistimein 19o6fromtheTransvaal Natives'Congress.The
petitioners'respectfully' remindedtheHouseofCommonsoftheirloyaltyand
claimed,asBritishsubjects,theirrighttoliberty,freedom andequality.Theysaid
thatthepasslaws intheTransvaal-conceivedinSouthernAfricabythe
Netherlands EastIndies Company250 yearsbeforewere'repugnant,unnecessary,
undesirableandunBritish'.Theypointedoutthattherehadbeennotroubleinthe
Capesincetheselawshadfallenintodisuse.Theirpetitionwasignored.
Perhapsitwassymbolicthatinthatsame year,19o6,aswellas thepetition there
weretwootherforms of protestmadeagainsttheincreasingabuses offreedom
andjustice.InNatal,Bambata,aZuluchieftain,ledarebellionagainstEuropean
seizureofZululandand thesuddenimpositionofatax atatimeof extreme
poverty. Morethan3,ooo Africans and30Europeans werekilledinthefighting.
IntheTransvaalGandhi originatedthemethodof passiveresistancewhen he
organized Indiansagainstanattempttoforcethem,likeAfricans,tocarrypasses.
It maybesuperficialtodrawanyconclusionabouttheeffectivenessofthethree
methodsofprotestusedatthistime,butitistemptingtoobservethatthepetition
wasineffectual,thattherebellionwasstampedoutwith greatviolence, and that
onlythepassiveresistancesucceededinavertingtheimmediatethreat.
Between19o6and191othefateofthenon-whites ofSouthAfricawas inthe
balance.Touslookingbackitis clearthatthepoliciesofthetwoBoerRepublics
wouldprevailovertheliberalpolicyoftheCape; wecandiscernstrongtrends
workinginthisdirection.Theyweretypifiedinaremarkmadebyoneofthe
BritishGovernment's mostinfluentialadvisers, LordMilner,the19
TrendsandAttitudes
formerGovernoroftheCapeColony,whohadsaidin1899:'Theultimateendis
aself-governingwhitecommunity,supportedbywell-treatedandjustlygoverned
blacklabour.' Foralltheirliberalprinciples eminentEnglishmenweresointenton
theobjectofUnionbetweentheCape,NatalandthetwoformerRepublics that
theyseemedtoseenothingoftheimplicationsoftheiractions.TheBritish
GovernmentwasinfluencedconsiderablybyMilner's Kindergarten-amongthem
LionelCurtis,PatrickDuncanandRobertBrand-wholobbiedpassionatelyfor
UnionandvirtuallycalledonthewhiteSouthAfricanstouniteintheirown
interests.'Thiscallfound areadyresponse:intheTransvaalpeopletooktheline
thatonlybyUnioncould thewhitesdealwiththenativeproblemwithout
interferencefromDowningStreet.
WhatwastheattitudetotheroleofAfricansofthemostenlightened Afrikaners?
GeneralJanSmuts,who was provingtobethemosteffectiveproponentof Union,
expressedhisconfusioninaletterin19o6:'When Iconsiderthepoliticalfutureof
theNativesinSouthAfricaImustsaythat Ilookintoshadowsanddarkness;and
thenIfeelinclinedtoshifttheintolerableburden ofsolvingthatsphinx problem
totheamplershouldersandstrongerbrainsofthefuture."'
WhilerepresentativeoftheviewofGeneral LouisBotha,thegreatestof
Afrikanerleaders,was abeliefheexpressedthatthecivilizingofnatives could
bestbeaccomplishedbythebreakingupofZululand,BasutolandandSwaziland,
sothatnativeslivinginreservesshouldworkforwhites andcouldhavetheirland
exploited.3
Suchweretheattitudes ofthevastmajorityofthewhites whowereintenton
rapidlydevelopingthecountry'sresourceswiththeuseofAfricanlabour,andfew
ofwhomhadevermetanyoftheincreasingnumberofeducated Africans. Itis
relevantthatatthistimeinSouthAfrica,whereasjustover165,000whites were
atschools,thecomparablenumberofAfricans was overi86,oooalthoughthe
qualityofeducationforAfricans, apartfromthefewexcellentmissionary
schools,canbejudged fromthefactthattheeducation grantforthemillion
whiteswas 16times as greatasthatforthefourmillionAfricans.
1TheUnificationof SouthAfrica1902-T9io, L. M.Thompson.
2 LettertoMerriman,March13,19o6. Ibid.3Transvaal LabourCommission
Report.
20
TrendsandAttitudes
WhenitbecameknownthatBritainwas proposingtohandoverthenon-white
populationtotheruleoftheprivilegedwhio minority,widespreadopposition
brokeoutx-ypemonitionofwhat W-as-tohappen 46-yeiis-l-er whenF~deration
wasimposedon NyasalandandtheRhodesias-andAfricanpoliticalassociations
ralliedtoresistthethreat. LedbythreeeditorsofAfricannewspapers,theRev.
WalterRubusana,JohnTengoJabavu,andtheRev.JohnDube,theymetand
whiletheyapprovedtheprincipleofUnion,theyemphaticallyprotestedagainst
thecolourbarintheproposedconstitution.Thisrestrictedthevotetowhitesinall
provincesexceptintheCape,and eventheredeprivedAfricansoftherightto
electanAfricantoParliament.Theyrequested 'fullandequalrights'for all
persons.TheColouredpeoplealsoregisteredtheirprotest.
Whentheall-whiteNationalConvention,representingthefourparts tothe
proposedUnion,metinBloemfonteinin1909itdid Lnotevendiscussthese
protests.
Itwasnotasiftheproblemsofthemomentwereso absorbingthatpeople
concernedwithdrawinguptheUnionconstitutioncouldnotrealizethe