From this month's Multi-Racial Conference to 1958 — and new offensives against the Nationalists

J^ess than a year ago, the Strijdom Government December 10 — World Wide Protest delivered what it hoped would be the coup-de- Jt is perhaps accidental but yet appropriate that grace to the cankerous “ subversive” thorn in its within a week of the multi-racial Conference’s side, the Congress movement. In December 1956, open assault on the ideology of Nationalism should on a single day, 156 national leaders were arrested come an international assault — the December 10th and held on a charge of high treason, for conspiring international commemoration of the UNO Declara­ together to bring about a democratic, multi-racial tion of Universal Human Rights, to be observed this state of their own pattern. But the hydra proves to year by forthright condemnation of the policies of have more heads than the limited, narrow minds of the Nationalist Government and public international Nationalism can encompass. vindication of its opponents. Nor can the impact The Swing of the Pendulum

It is again December, slightly less than a year of such a day be dismissed even by the most paro­ later. The Treason Trial has run less than half its chial and heavily-blinkered Nationalist politician. weary passage through the courts. And yet already, Foreign observers have often commented wonder- before this article appears in print, a Conference is ingly on the apparent paradox that here in South gathering in Johannesburg to sketch in the outlines Africa, where repression is at its fiercest, punitive of a future multi-racial society for South Africa. measures by the government against its opponents And at that conference will be men and women of most severe — that it is here in South Africa that all races, drawn from fields of opinion far wider and the current of opposition and democratic advance far more diverse than that, almost exclusively Con­ runs more strongly than anywhere else in Africa gress, group of Treason trialists. south of the Sahara. Partly, at least, that paradox It must be a sobering thought for Nationalist can be explained by the moral courage and the Party strategists who know, from their own office- strength of certainty which the South African oppo­ seeking pasts, that there is only one thing certain sition draws from such days as this, from the bol­ in the ebb and flow of politics, and that is that the stering reminder that no matter how heavily they pendulum of public opinion swings. The Multi- may be outweighed in their own country, they speak Racial Conference, opening not at the beginning but with the voice and conscience of mankind, on whose at the end of a ten-year period of fierce and un­ stature the Nationalist Government is a minor, irri­ bridled Nationalist repression, is a measure of the tating excrescence. force with which it begins to swing already, four or But it is not accidental at all that both the Multi- five months before the election. Racial Conference and the International Declaration The meaning and significance of the Multi-Racial on South Africa come almost a year after the Trea­ Conference lies as much in the fact that it is being son arrests, at a time when all save a few formalities of the Strijdom government case against the Con­ held at all as in the decisions it takes. Its very con­ gress movement has been laid bare before a court vening is a flaunting act of defiance for the whole of preparatory examination. This is not accident ideology of Nationalism. but logic of history. The proposal that African, European, Indian and The 156 in the Treason Trial dock have blazed the trail of Coloured should gather together as equals for dis­ democratic change in South Africa. They have fought cussion of the future is a bold challenge to the whole tenaciously for a long time, to break the crippling concept of apartheid. The tacit assumption that stranglehold of white-supremacist ideas on the the future lies only in a multi-racial state is a fron­ minds of South Africans both back and white. They tal attack on the Nationalist ideology of separate have fashioned and moulded the ideas of manhood racial territories under eternal White leadership. and of nationhood which have brought the African The clearly stated creed that there can be no resolv­ masses out of the dark backward swamps of an ima­ ing of South Africa’s conflict without the agreement gined and historically fostered superstition of their and participation of all racial groups is a direct ne­ own inferiority. They have steered a young gener­ gation of the policy of white baasskap. And when ation of embittered men and women away from the that act of defiance is made by such a group as this, morasses of African chauvinism, and blind revenge­ by the country’s leading academicians, religious ful terrorism, towards democratic consciousness and leaders, scientists and non-party politicians, its im­ inter-rape fraternity. They have roused the courage pact cannot fail to move the whole country, no mat­ of a people first to shake off the fear of Nationalist ter what disagreements as to details may reveal - reprisals, and then to move into offensive action themselves, no matter what precise formulations against the Government, carrying every opponent eventuate from it. of reaction with them. And, in doing this, gradually

Fighting Talk - Dec., 1957/Jan., 1958. Page Three THE SWING OF THE PENDULUM The Multi and painfully, they have broken through the generations-deep crust of TfThen the history of South Africa’s European racial bigotry, and allowed the new South African currents struggle for sanity comes to be of democracy and racial brotherhood to grow up slowly, hesitantly but written, I have no doubt that the Multi- inexorably towards the light. Racial Conference to be held in Johan­ nesburg this month will merit import­ T'he Government that tries today to stifle a movement fails to under­ ant mention. For whatever its decisions, stand its character. The Drill Hall 156 are not the movement; nor it must shape the political features of are the Congress organisations the movement which challenges Strij- this country for many years to come. dom for the future of South Africa. The 156 and the Congresses have There is so much faith invested in its awakened a whole people, and brought them into motion. When the success that even its failure cannot have Government struck against the 156, they were already too late. The 156 merely surface repercussions. Perhaps were valuable, but no longer essential. The ferment which had started indeed, there is altogether too much ex­ and spread among the people has a logic and a life of its own; it has pected of it. But to call the faith a grown fully fledged with its own two heads to replace every one cut mistake is not to shrink it down to a off. Thus it was that in the midst of the Treason Trial, 50,000 peo­ safer size. The Conference must suc­ ple could plan, manage and carry through the Alexandra bus boy­ ceed in forging a united front against cott to victory, carrying \. ith them the support of thousands of recently apartheid, in creating a design that can awakened European men and women. Thus it was that on June 26th, contain men of every class and every hundreds of thousands of people in all the main cities struck work for colour to whom the policies and practices one day in a counter-offensive against Nationalism. of racial tyranny are repugnant. If it fails in this, at a moment of swelling And thus it is too, that at the height of the Nationalist repression, at, racial hatred and distrust, it may sig­ the high-water mark of the bannings and proscriptions and deportations nal the final deforming diaspora of de­ of its opponents, at the tail-end of its revelations of what constitutes mocracy. And though South Africa pro­ treason to Nationalism, the multi-racial Conference gathers in Johan­ vides ample opportunities for ruin, it nesburg. And thus it is that University professors, Black Sashers, Bish­ provides very few for repair. It is a ops, Liberals, Federalists, Labour politicians and business-men sit down heavy responsibility that the Conference to plan tomorrow, shoulder to shoulder with Congressmen, trade- union­ bears. And it is essential that it should ists, radicals and rebels. The pendulum has swung far, far beyond its recognise and acknowledge this from first feeble vibrations. And each new event moves it on. the start. The Bloemfontein Conference held in f t is the end of one year and the beginning of another. Already in the October last year prepared the way for dying days of 1957, the outlines of 1958 begin to take shape. Already it by examining the mutilations of in the unexpectedly wide response to the Garment Workers’ Union strike apartheid and issuing a call to all South call against “job reservation”, where thousands of workers not person­ Africans to take a positive step to break ally affected by the reserved categories stayed away, against the advice down the colour bar in group relations. of their Union, as an act of political solidarity and as a protest against "In the interests of aU the people and Nationalism; already the country is astir with preparations for a Na­ the future of the country, this confer­ tional Workers’ Conference in February to take decisions, which the ence calls upon all national organisa­ Multi-Racial Conference by its very nature cannot, to press home the tions to mobilise all people, irrespective attack against Strijdom’s Achilles heels of wages and pass laws to vic­ of race, colour or creed, to form a unit­ tory ; already the first great events of the new year cast their shadows ed front against apartheid”. The cry before. Election year. was unambiguously for action, and the Johannesburg Conference has come in But a truly new year. Into the thick of the election fight, all the mul­ answer to it. The paramount purpose of tiple efforts of 1957 enter — the strikes and boycotts, the Confer­ the Johannesburg Conference therefore, ences and the declarations of belief, the pass-burnings and the demon­ is to create, not criticise. Lenses for strations. All the cast-iron prejudices and preconceptions of the voters scrutiny of the South African scene have been cast into a furnace of doubt, of fear for the future if the mad exist in sufficiency, some of them much self-destruction of Nationalism be left free to ravage South Africa better ground for analysis than a Con­ longer. The pendulum which through ten dark years has swung to­ ference of this sort. The Bloemfontein wards Nationalist victory at the ballot box has begun to swing the Conference analysed and discarded. other way. To that end, every smallest act of democratic protest, What is required of its successor is every smallest declaration of conscience, every demonstration of inter­ synthesis, a uniting of disparate ele­ race fraternity, every courageous counter-offensive against repression ments into the precipitate of a real de­ has helped to weigh the scale. mocratic front against apartheid. And the front must not only exist, it must The process has been begun, but not ended. It is the end of 1957, and the work to change and re-create. beginning of 1958. It is time to tip the scales, to mount a new wide offensive on The initiative of political action must every front against the tyranny of Nationalism, to strike out with new vigour and be wrested from the grasp of the gov­ strength from the advanced base of racial co-operation which the Multi-Racial ernment, where it has been, except for Conference has provided, to secure the final and permanent defeat of Nationalism the opening days of the Defiance Cam­ paign and those few thunderous months in 1958. of the Bus Boycott, ever since the filch­ The air is fresh with the scent of victory, and of a memorable, a glorious and a ing of the African franchise in 1936. happy new year. Survival Is no excuse for atrophy. A

Page Four Fighting Talk - Dec., 1957/Jan., 1958. ZEERUST: THE FULL STORY By A SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT

J Jnokana — ‘land of many streams’ — is a reserve (both under shadow of removal schemes), Gopane, which lies about 18 miles from Zeerust. It is Motswedi, Witkleigat and so on. There has never unlike most other reserves because in many ways it been a Paramount Chief of the Baphurutse. Each is almost idyllic. It is a land of many streams. The section has its own chief, but the ex-chief, Abraham children are fat and well cared for, crops flourish, Moiloa, at Linokana, was recognised as the senior the oranges in season are golden and the whole area chief of the tribe and anything done to him was is lush with growth. Undoubtedly there is tremen­ felt by the tribe as a whole. dous room for improvement and development — it is During the past troubled year in the Groot Ma­ whispered, perhaps unfairly, that the people do not rico District the Baphurutse as a whole (naturally want too much improvement, they fear the covet­ with some exceptions) have come to look on the Na­ ous eyes of the local Europeans. We all know how tive Commissioner at Zeerust, one Mr. Richter, as easy it is these days for grounds to be found for the villain of the piece. But whatever the faults removing Africans from their land, and Linokana of Mr. Richter may be these must not be allowed to is a lovely place. cloud the issue. No matter who had been the Na­ For many years there has been, by and large, tive Commissioner at Zeerust it is doubtful whether peace in Linokana. It is true that there have been the trouble there could have been avoided. local disputes ; there have been complaints against the senior chief (now deposed) Abraham Moiloa, For the case of the Baphurutse in the Zeerust area is a but they were very much the sort of disputes and historic one. Here the apartheid policies and oppressive complaints that always arise in any governed com­ legislation of the Nationalist Government have reached their munity. The chief was not perfect by any means natural conclusion: the whole Nationalist fraud of encourag­ but he was the chief and even the people who com­ ing the African people to develop along their own (tribal) plained about him never dreamt or desired that he lines has been exposed, and the picture of fear-ridden Zee­ should be deposed. rust and its environs is the picture of South Africa in the very near future — unless the -Government changes its poli­ But Linokana is not the only area where the Ba- cies or unless we change the Government. pharutse tribe live. They are spread over a vast area comprising many other villages in the Groot Let us look at the history of the disturbances and Marico— Zeerust District. The names that come to the recent events in the area. It all started, really, mind immediately are Leeufontein and Braklaagte with the issue of passes to women in April 1957.— Women’s Passes Are Issued rphe idea of the Government has been to slip in passes direct disobedience. He had made his position clear, how­ through the back door. It was realised that there ever, and his fate was sealed. would be tremendous opposition in the bigger cities and, it Meanwhile the pass-issuing unit had set up business in was hoped, more chance of acceptance amongst the '“ignor­ front of the shop of the local shopkeeper -—• a European ant” Africans in the rural areas. But the Government mis­ named Gallichan — who lent his premises for the purpose. calculated. There is no rural area where the people, A handful of women did come to take out books but the through family and friends, have no contacts with the big majority refused. cities. They are well aware of the consequences of having The people were angered and so strong was their feeling to carry passes. Zeerust was no exception. against passes that they even went so far as to boycott During March 1957 it was announced in the Government Gallichan’s shop and according to his own evidence his tak­ Gazette that the pass-issuing unit of the government would ings for April dropped to practicaUy nothing. be in Linokana and neighbouring areas for the issue of passes to women. It should be remembered here and for The Deposal O f The Chief future reference that the law does not yet make it compul­ sory for women to have reference books, as the fixed date Chief Abraham was informed that he had immediately after which it would be an offence not to have a book has to convene a meeting on April 4, 1957 at which the Chief Na­ not yet been named. tive Commissioner for the area would address the tribe at The Native Commissioner, Mr. Richter, called on Chief Linokana. This he did. At the kgotla the Chief sat in his Abraham Moiloa to order, and if necessary compel, the wo­ rightful seat, a chair specially set aside for him. Wasting men to take out reference books. The chief was not pre­ no time the Chief Native Commissioner asked if he was sit­ pared to do this and on April 1 he was more or less told ting in the chair of the Chief and on being told that he was, by the Commissioner that unless he did so there might be Chief Abraham was told to get off the chair as he was no serious consequences for him. This was the day on which longer Chief. He was also told that he was to leave the the reference books were to be issued. Despite this threat area within 14 days to go to Venterspost and that he was the Chief remained firm and when asked to address the not to return without the permission of the Commissioner. people called on the Commissioner to do so, and so evaded Mention has been made of certain complaints against the

Fighting Talk - February, 1958. P age Three Chief, laid originally in 1952 but enquired into officially only Night Raids and Assaults in November 1956. Amongst the charges (many of them of an administrative nature) was the ominous one that Chief With it began a period of terror for the people in the Abraham Moiloa had said on one occasion „W ie die hel is Zeerust district. There are many stories of how the policc Verwoerd ?” behaved. They started with an old tactic — dramatic The enquiry was held but nothing further had been heard raids in the middle of the night — a well known feature of and it was generally believed that the matter was now city life but quite unknown in the peaceful reserve of Lino­ settled. It appears, however, that already in January, 1957, kana. This is what some of the people said. The raids in the order for Abraham’s deposition had been signed. Noth­ Linokana were on May 16. ing was done about it, however, until April 4 after the pass Christina Mokate: "On May the 16th at about midnight I issuing fiasco and it was generally felt that had he sup­ heard a knock at my door. I asked who was knocking ported the issue of passes there would have been no depo­ my door with a stick. Someone replied ‘Open, I am a sition. policeman’. When I was going to open the door it was The people were horrified. Their chief had been deposed forced open and a piece of the door was broken off. and deported. (It transpired later that he had never been A European and 2 African constables rushed into the lawfully deported but the impression was purposely given house and demanded my pass. I told them I have not that he had been). The Government did not even bother taken a pass. They asked me why not. I replied that to do it in writing. I had a new born baby who was born at the time the passes were being issued and I also didn’t want to carry Naturally the news spread to Johannesburg and the Rand a pass. The European constable said I must open the where many Baphurutse work. They had and still have a blanket so that they could make sure I had a baby. I local committee looking after their interests in the big city. did so. They then searched the house and left.” A special meeting was held and two buses were chartered to take as many as possible home on April 12 to see exactly Rjampi Mokolj: “On May 16, 1957, I heard a noise next to what had happened. my hut. I woke up to see what was happening. I saw one girl come running to my house crying and chased They found that life in Linokana had come practically to by the police. When she got into my house the police a standstill. When teachers’ wives took out passes and the rushed into my hut. There were 3 Europeans and 1 principal supported the Bantu Authorities Act, the school African. Two Europeans hit me with a sjambok on the was boycotted and subsequently ordered to be closed by the head. An African police asked me for my pass. I authorities. And to this day the children of Linokana have was pulling out my suitcase from under the bed as my no school nor any prospect of school. pass was in it. While doing this a European constable But to return to the Baphurutse from Johannesburg — kicked me in my left kidney. I showed my pass. I they called a meeting in the kgotla on April 14; a meeting then asked why they were kicking me about but no­ which was later alleged to have taken the form of a Court body answered. I did not go to the doctor because 1 at which certain people who were believed to have betrayed had no money.” the Chief were allegedly ‘tried’ and sentenced to death. Police intervened before any steps could be taken to carry Then there are the complaints from Leeufontein — a the sentence out. That evening, whilst on their way home, neighbouring village where the chief, Israel Moiloa sup­ to Johannesburg, about 100 persons were arrested. Twenty ported the government. five were detained and charged with incitement to murder, “My name is Lethloo Moiloa. I live in Leeufontein in the attempted murder and — a most rare charge — crimen Zeerust district. On Sunday the 2nd June, 1957, I was laesio majestatis, usurping the functions of the state. After on my way to Zeerust. I wanted to go to court on a lengthy Supreme Court hearing five were convicted of Monday. I was spending the night in Braklaagte be­ attempted murder and sentenced to imprisonment ranging cause the journey is long and I am old. I was at the from 3— 5 years. Some others were given a nominal fine chief’s house in the later afternoon (The chief of Brak­ for holding unlawful gatherings and the rest were dis­ laagte opposed the issue of passes.) The police came charged. from the direction of Leeufontein in vehicles. I saw the chief of Leeufontein was with them and one of his Now the Government stepped in with heavy hand. Numer­ headmen called Puturu. (This Puturu is a man con­ ous arrests were made — mostly for the holding of unlaw­ victed of rape and other serious crimes, but he is Van ful meetings but also for burning of passes. Most of the Rooyen's henchman in Leeufontein.) There were less people charged were, in fact, acquitted in court, to the dis­ than 10 of us at the chief’s house. The police did not say gust of the police as will be seen later on when I come to cnyih'ng to the people. They assaulted the chief and his wife and a man who was there. The police put pri­ deal with their evidence before the commission of enquiry soners on the vehicles and then went into the village. that was later held. From where I was on the police vehicle I could see the In addition the Post Office at Linokana was closed, and police chasing people. They hit the people with sjam­ remains closed until today; the railway bus was discon­ boks and batons and canes. They did not arrest more tinued though this has now been restored; the telephone of people. There was a very big man who seemed to be in the remaining trader, an Indian, and the only other phone charge of the police. (Van Rooyen). He told the police in Linokana (apart from Gallichan’s), always used by the to hit the people and he hit the people also. The police people in emergencies, was suspended — on grounds of also kicked people and hit them with their fists. I was ‘security’. hit with a sjambok and sticks by Puturu and the chief of Leeufontein.” In the meanwhile, passes were still being issued in the area though not only in Linokana. But now the pass issu­ And so the grim tale goes on. Complaints were lodged ing unit was reinforced by a special squad of police from with the police: the standard reply was given “The Attorney Pretoria, under the command of the notorious Sergeant General declines to prosecute.” Van Rooyen. This squad did not fall under the local com­ Then for a time things were relatively quiet. There were mand, but remained a law unto itself. constant complaints about victimisation by pro-government

Page Four Fighting Talk - February, 1958. chiefs of people who are, or were suspected of being here.” (i.e. in the Zeerust district). Cross examination against passes for women. But nothing spectacular hap­ would have revealed, however, that all the people who visit­ pened. ed the area on the day in question were in fact people who The big trial arising out of the events of April 13 ended had their homes in the area although they may have been in September 1957. working in Johannesburg. This was clearly shown at the trial arising out of the disturbances on that and the follow­ The Government Commission ing day. All of them had family in the area and regarded it as their home. In this way it was insinuated, as has time and again been tried, that ‘agitators’ incited the people Shortly after the conclusion of the trial and very suddenly — a completely false suggestion. it was announced that the Government intended holding a Commission of Enquiry into the causes of the unrest in the Another interesting and noteworthy aspect of the 'gov­ Groot Marico district. The announcement was made in the ernment supporting’ evidence was the attacks made on the Government Gazette on the Friday and was scheduled to legal advisors of the Baphurutse. It was implied by the start on the following Wednesday, with what appeared to be Native Commissioner, for example, that there was some­ almost indecent haste. No steps were taken to notify the thing sinister about the fact that the same legal represen­ people about the commission but all the Government-sup­ tatives were constantly appearing for the people. Lieut. porting chiefs were lined up and ready to proceed with Coetzee, one of the main police witnesses carried this line their evidence on the day in question. somewhat further, and showed great distress at the fact that despite the police arrests, most of the people accused of The mass of the Baphurutse, although taken by surprise, various offences were defended in such a manner that they hurriedly organised a petition amongst the people calling were acquitted. He found this very disheartening! It did on the commission to recommend, amongst other things, the not seem to occur to Lieut. Coetzee that it was, after all, the return of the deposed chief, the reopening of the school and function of the Court to decide who is guilty or not and that post office at Linokana, and to recommend the suspension of every man is, supposedly, entitled to the best defence he can the issue of reference books to women. Thousands of sig­ muster. The chairman of the commission, Mr. Balk, also natures to the Petition were obtained in the space of a few found this witness’s submission rather astonishing. days. Despite the short notice given, the lack of publicity, and the lack of transport, large crowds of Baphurutse at­ I mention this aspect at some length, because I think that tended the opening session of the commission. So many, in it is a very important aspect of the situation in Zeerust. fact, that there was no room in the Native Commissioner’s Lieut. Coetzee was talking with the voice of authority and court for them all to be accommodated and special arrange­ subsequent events seem to show that the police intention Is, ments were made for an outside arena. Everything was where possible, to prevent the people from having a proper very peaceful and the people listened with great inter­ defence and, by encouraging terrorism by the government est to the proceedings, but the authorities were, apparently, supporting chiefs, protected by the police, to suppress the very upset at the great interest shown in the commission, people and prevent issues being brought before the courts. and the following week (the hearings were adjourned for a I will deal with this aspect shortly. week on the second day) the police were out in force to pre­ The Baphurutse, as a whole, led evidence to show that the vent people coming to the so-called public enquiry! Harvard trouble had been caused by the issue of reference books to aeroplanes swooped down on the area in intimidatory fa­ women, the threatened removal of certain villages and the shion and roadblocks of police prevented the people from deposition of the Chief — all of which, coming together, entering Zeerust. As a result of this, for example, women and tactlessly handled by those in authority, had sparked off coming from Gopane were baton-charged and beaten up by the troubles. the police. Unable to get to Zeerust for medical treatment The Commission finished its hearings at the end of No­ a large number of them crossed the border into Bechuana- vember, but to date it has failed to produce a report. In land where they were treated at the Lobatsi hospital. A view of the subsequent events though it would seem any re­ check was made at the hospital and it was confirmed that port issued today could not possibly take account of the well over 20 people were treated there for injuries as a result new developments and would thus be useless. A sinister of this little effort by the police! Needless to say, no steps aspect of the suggestions made before the Commission was were taken in the matter. the suggestion that the Natal Native Code be brought into operation — the intention being apparently to impose com­ The Commission of Enquiry was, in itself, a very interest­ munal fines on the people. ing affair. It is difficult to decide what motivated the Gov­ ernment in appointing it. Perhaps it too saw the import­ ance of what was happening in this area in relation to its Rushed Court Prosecutions policies as a whole. The commission was a one-man com­ mission consisting of a Mr. H. BALK, a Native Appeal Since the commission has ended the sinister aspect of Court Judge and as such an employee of the Native Affairs Lieut. Coetzee’s complaints about the courts acquitting peo-* Department, the Department most concerned with the pie because they were well defended has become clear. In troubles. Then, the commission was conducted in a most un­ several of the other villages, particularly Witkleigat, Mots- usual way. There was no agenda and there was no one to wedi and Gopane, some of the women had, in fact, taken out lead evidence. In addition — and this is most important — reference books. Some had never realised exactly what it no cross-examination of witnesses was allowed. A s a re­ was all about, others were intimidated by their Chiefs. But sult of this much of the evidence given was practically use­ by September it was becoming increasingly clear that no less. Anyone could say anything . The Government sup­ benefits were to derive from these books; they were either porting chiefs and their protagonists unanimously blamed quite useless or would be used as instruments of oppres­ the African National Congress for all their troubles. Apart sion as for the men. The women who had had their books from the fact that people were giving the "Afrika” salute for nearly a year and now thoroughly disillusioned with them there were no grounds given for these allegations. decided to burn them. The Native Commissioner, in his evidence, said that the The first incident took place in Gopane, in September. people "present on April 13, 1957 (at Linokana where the There was a pass burning episode and the police came to disturbances then took place) were mostly not resident arrest a handful of women who had been pointed out by the

Fighting Talk - February, 1958. P age Five local chief. They were met, however, by nearly all the wo­ spent over a month at Baragwanath Hospital. A charge men in the area who said as one man “ If they are guilty, we was laid in November against the Chief. Until now no are also. You must arrest us all.” All piled into the police steps have been taken to prosecute him. van and well over 200 of them were taken to Zeerust. These women were also detained for a night by the Chaos prevailed at the charge office. Women and child­ Chief and with the full concurrence of Sgt. Van Rooyen and his band. In fact the following morning the police ren overflowed into the yard at the police station and the police were practically begging the women to leave. The are alleged to have joined with the Chief in intimidat­ following day their cases were brought before the court and ing the women by shooting into the ground in their presence. a postponement was asked for to enable the women to pre­ pare their defence. They were all allowed out on their own But this was not all. Workers from Johannesburg re­ recognisances and told to report back at a later date. As turning home to visit their families have been met at the there was no transport available for them except for a bus buses and thrashed by Chief’s men as they have climbed out. which could hold about 20 people the defence asked that This was at Witkleigat and Motswedi in particular. We transport be arranged for them on the day of the case. This have seen the marks on many backs. These Chiefs have was laid on by the government but the women were told threatened to teach “everyone from Johannesburg a les­ that they had to pay about 5/- per head for the privilege. son.” They refused point blank to pay this, they were not trans­ Meanwhile the Chiefs have been recruiting for their regi­ ported and that was the last ever heard of their case. ments. Many people have refused to join and been duly This was before Lieut. Coetzee gave evidence at the punished. Whereas previously it was an honour to be a Commission — in fact, before the commission had sat. member of the regiments it has now for many become a On November 4 and 5, there were pass burning incidents matter of being ready to beat up their own people. And at Witkleigat (a place which now features most promin­ gradually the number of people opposing these chiefs has grown as the chiefs have become more and more oppressive. ently in recent incidents) and at Motswedi. About 40 wo­ men and 9 men were arrested at Witkleigat and 13 women Where there is no chief as in Linokana or where the at Motswedi. They were rushed to court and their cases Chief has taken a neutral attitude to the government as at were speeded through by the prosecution, the women being Brakalalo or at Braklaagte and not tried to impose on the fined £50 or 6 months and the men £100 or 6 months im­ will of the people there has been no trouble. The trouble prisonment. Efforts were made to defend them but when has arisen in those areas where the police have incited the the telephone calls asking for postponements were put Chiefs to intimidate their people. through to Zeerust it was always “too late”. It had been Attacks on the people returning home from Johannesburg indicated that all cases arising from pass burning inci­ became so bad that people were becoming desperate. They dents were to be defended. The merits of the cases can­ were too worried about their families at home not to go not be entered into; there is no doubt that the women did home and yet too afraid to go. To report the assaults to the burn their passes as they admitted in Court, though an police has been a waste of time because without the support appeal against their sentences is pending to the Appellate of the police these actions by the chiefs woul dnot have been Division. possible. Despite the long-standing trouble in the area the Nearly fifty women are now scattered throughout the press has turned its back on events there, except for very country’s jails. One cannot describe all the consequences occasional and brief reports. Trouble seemed imminent just in human terms. One mother of a young infant went out before Christmas but it was not until some while later that of her mind in jail; her baby then died, officially of enteritis, reporters in Zeerust to see what was happening were them­ but the jail inmates say it may have been enteritis but that selves assaulted by members of a Chief’s regiments, egged the child, a few week’s old, was only fed three times a day on by Sergeant Van Rooyen. But by then there had been and must have been half starved. the Christmas day disturbances which led to the burning down of the houses of the pro-government chiefs, Edward Terror in the Villages Lentshe and others, and to the arrests of nearly 150 people who are presently all cooped up in the Zeerust gaol (built to hold about 75.) But even worse than this spate of arrests was the terror­ ism in the villages. Since about September th esquad under These cases are sub judice; we can only say with the Sergeant van Rooyen has been roaming the area “preserv­ background to these disturbances anyone with some under­ ing law and order.” It has “taken under its wing” the pro­ standing could see that something of the kind had to happen. government chiefs such as Lucas Manyope of Motswedi and Today, the Groot Marico district is a fear-ridden plac* Edward Lencoe of Witkleigat. It may be coincidental but Under cover of searching for the culprits for the arson, there since this police squad have come into the area there has is wide-spread terror. Many of the people have fled from been a most terrible and frightening campaign against the their homes. Women and children are sleeping in the hills people. around their villages. One can tell the “horror” stories ad infinitum. Perhaps be­ Chiefs who oppose the government and represent the will cause I saw the victim so soon after the incident the one of their people are summarily deposed. Pro-government that affected me most was the case of Mrs. Maletsoe. chiefs must rule by terror, with armed police ever at their She was one of a group of women at Witkleigat who elbows. The government’s intervention in tribal affairs, went to the Chief’s kgotla to take a child of an arrested usurping the powers of the chiefs, inciting chiefs to rule by woman there. On their arrival they were, according to the whip and the lash, has stripped bare its system of tribal the story of her witness, surrounded by the Chief’s regi­ administration and has built up a hatred of puppet chiefs ment and attacked by the Chief. Several of them were and their trappings which must remain indelible. Where injured, among them the three month old baby of Mrs. will it all end? It is hard to say. What began as demon­ Matlala, who was on her mother’s back. But most strations against passes for women and the deposal of a Chief injured was Makgora Maletsoa who came to Johan­ has turned into something far more critical and in Zee­ nesburg half crazed with pain with an arm so badly rust the Government faces the collapse of its empire of broken that even in these days of bed shortages she Bantu Authorities and “yes-Chiefs” .

Page Six Fighting Talk - February, 1958. FRANCE IN CRISIS by L. BERNSTEIN

rphe crisis of France has reached its climax; the French action to hold its last outposts in Kenya and Malaya, in Assembly, has voted itself into retirement, abdicated Taiwan and Pakistan, in Guatemala and Portugal. There its power and transferred the authority of state to an age­ are no parallels, only differences; the world is not the world ing General, himself not even an elected representative of of the 1930’s, of the rising tide of fascism and war; it is a any section of the people, and the leader of a party dis­ period of a rising tide of national liberation and independ­ credited and utterly routed by popular vote some ten years ence. In such a world there is no easy way to power for ago. I write ‘climax’ deliberately, and not as some would fascism . have it ‘conclusion.’ These death-rites over the corpse of the Fourth Republic, are far from the end of the crisis. Crisis of Empire The First Republic was born in revolution and civil war The depth of the crisis which has shaken France to her out of the ashes of feudal monarchy; the Second and Third foundations and eroded the Fourth Republic is more deep- Republics rose in blood from the wreckage of the empires rooted than the daily press allows. It is, in the first place, of two Napoleons; the Fourth Republic grew out of the civil a crisis of empire; since 1944, French imperialism has been and international war of free Frenchmen against the twin forced, step by step, to abandon its hold over Lebanon and dictatorship of Nazi Germany and puppet Petain. Who Syria, Indo-China, Tunis and Morocco. Algeria it holds only can doubt that the revolutionary democratic spirit of France by the most strenuous military efforts. In the second place, will rise again, in a new Republic ? But who can doubt either it is a military crisis, which has grown out of the crisis of that the destruction of the Fourth Republic by the unholy empire, out o f the w ar against Indo-China (92,000 French conspiracy between French reaction and militarism destines dead, 114,000 wounded and $5 billion expended), against the new Republic to rebirth out of new and bloody civil Egypt at the time of Suez, and against Algeria. In the third struggle ? place it is an economic crisis, born out of the terrible drain of resources and manpower which military adventurism has Surface Parallels exacted, heightened by the American-sponsored revival of Facile parallels have been drawn between De Gaulle’s Germany as a trade competitor, and strained to the break­ seizure of power and Hitler’s; between De Gaulle and Fran­ ing point by the first impact of a developing world trade co. President Coty summoned De Gaulle to office as Hin- and industrial depression. denburg summoned Hitler; rebellious generals in the colo­ In the fourth place, it is a political crisis. That crisis nies paved the way for De Gaulle’s coup, as they did for does not arise from the multiplicity of parties, from the Franco’s; right-wing Socialist leaders paralysed the work­ inability of any single party to gain a clear majority of ing class, sabotaged the possibility of an anti-fascist united seats in Parliament, or from the consequent unstable alli­ front and finally surrendered power to dictatorship in ances of several small parties which come into being to France, as they did in Germany; De Gaulle speaks in the form a government, and crack and fall at the first stress of same megalomaniac fashion — “ I liberated France; I re­ disagreement. The political crisis arises from the deter­ stored power to the French Assembly; I will lead the nation; mination of all French reaction — from the extreme right I demand unrestricted power” — as did Hitler. But the to the Socialist Party leaderhip on the left -— that the larg­ parallels are all on the surface; the reality is different. est political party, the Communist Party of France shall be Hitler rose to power on the knuckle-dusters and black­ barred from participating in the Government. That united jacks of a mass, armed following and a party polling mil­ anti-Communist determination has revealed itself in differ­ lions of votes; Franco conquered power with the bayonets ent ways; in the amending of the constitution to reduce the and bombs of Italian and German troops and Moorish mer­ number of seats held by the Communists, despite the steady cenaries. increase in the votes cast for them at the polls; in the re­ Not so De Gaulle. French fascism commands no legions peated hasty scrambling together of temporary alliances of storm-troops or bully-boys. The calls for street demon­ to form short-lived Governments whenever critical condi­ strations in France in support of De Gaulle during the tions demanded the dread remedy of a coalition Government weeks of the crisis ended in fiasco; miserable handfuls of including the Communists; in the final resignation of Pflim- fascists revealed their weakness beside the hundreds of lin after his refusal to recognise the 144 Communist votes thousands who demonstrated against De Gaulle and for the cast for his Government, thus opening the road to De Republic. Nor, despite the bellicose threats from Generals Gaulle’s accession; in the revolt of the Algerian generals of the Algerian army of an imminent paratroop drop on aided by the French naval officers, when it became appar­ France, can French reaction call out its armies against the ent that only a coalition including the Communists could people of metropolitan France; those armies, riddled as they preserve the Republic after Pflimlin; and in the action of are by dissatisfaction and opposition to French imperial President Coty in calling on De Gaulle — not even a mem­ policy, are already committed to their limit in the war ber of the assembly — to form a Government, while ignor­ against Algeria; if the army is to hold France against the ing the leader of the largest Parliamentary party in the French people, it will not be able any longer to hold Algeria land; and finally in the unprecedented scene of an elected against the Algerians. Nor can French reaction recruit majority voting itself into what is politely called a "six colonial mercenaries, for revolt and insurrection against months recess”, and transferring personal powers to De French domination boils up everywhere in the French colo­ Gaulle. nies, from Madagascar to Martinique. Nor can it call in To their honour some of the members of the Socialist the military support of reaction of other countries, for world Party defied their leader Mollet, and refused to surrender reaction is already fighting a desperate rear-guard military France to De Gaulle. Some of the members of the Radical

Fighting Talk - June/July, 1958 Page Five Party, led by ex-premier Mendes-France stood out against flow to the Algerian national movement. Economic depres­ the surrender. The people of Paris, Marseilles and other sion was beginning to close in over the whole capitalist towns demonstrated in the streets against the great betrayal world. For the generals in Algeria, time was running out. committed by the Assembly of the Fourth Republic. This was the hour for them, whether their plot was com­ Throughout the crisis, the Communist Party of France has plete or incomplete. Later could only have been too late. stood for the honour of France, for the democratic heritage and tradition of the French people, for the Fourth Republic Battles Ahead against the grasping hand of fascism. This will not easily French reaction struck from a position of weakness, not be forgotten by the French people, nor will it be forgiven by of strength. A strong dictator needs dynamic personality, De Gaulle and his fellows who have plotted the downfall of a mastery of rabble-rousing demagogy, a reckless and ruth­ the Republic. Anti-Communism has been the great cor­ less killer instinct. No such candidate presented himself to rupter. Beneath its banners have gathered all those who French reaction. Instead, as the only possible makeshift, have sown the crisis — the militarists whose adventures in they have selected the ageing General, remote, aloof from the East and in North Africa have been fought by the Com­ the people, but living still in a faint aura of heroism be­ munist Party of France; the colonialists, whose tenuous stowed by his war-time military leadership of anti-Nazi hold of the remnants of an empire in Algeria have been as­ France. A strong dictatorship needs an indoctrinated blind­ sailed by the Communists call for peace in Algeria and re­ ly unthinking strong-arm force. No such force presented it­ cognition of Algerian independence; by financiers and in­ self, save the motley collection of hard-bitten mercenaries— dustrialists whose attempts to pass the burdens of colonial mainly German — of the French Foreign Legion, and the war and economic depression to the working people has unreliable, dissatisfied and unwilling army of conscripts. been fought and resisted by those trade unions led by the On this weak reed the Generals lean heavily. A militant Communists. In his programme De Gaulle proposes once fascist dictatorship needs slogans that will sway the masses again amending the French constitution to prevent "future and blind their reason. No such slogans presented them­ government instability.” Here no doubt it is intended to selves; open anti-Communism had been repeatedly rejected close off the last act of the drama of French anti-Commun- by the people of France in successive elections. French ism, by the suppression of the majority opinion and political reaction has been forced to fall back on De Gaulle’s feeble party of the people of France. "order and unity.” These are the Achille’s heels of French reaction. It Well-laid Plot? reaches out for a full fledged Nazi-style military dictator­ ship; but it is a putsch without a Hitler, without a Brown- Is this the end result of a well-laid plot ? Was De Gaulle’s shirt army, without a ‘blood-and-soil’ ideology. De Gaulle, seeming retirement to a country villa part of a conspiracy raised to power by the Algerian generals and colonial settl­ hatched with General Salan? Was Pflimlin in league with ers, takes pawer as the puppet, not the fuehrer of the cause, the right-wing Gaullist Soustelle, who now heads the Al­ not yet capable of open dictatorial rule, but restrained in a gerian Committee for Public Safety? There is evidence to twilight land of compromise — allied with a semi-parliamen- suggest that the final two weeks of the Fourth Republic tary cabinet of right-wing unity while attempting to rise were plotted and planned in advance. There is evidence above them, conforming to the distorted form of semi- (see Newsweek — June 2nd) that during Pflimlin’s term parliamentary democracy while attempting to abolish it, of office, Radio France repeatedly interrupted programmes deepening all the consequences of the military-economic- to broadcast announcements in code — ‘The tree is in the imperial crisis while attempting to cure them. A climax, oasis’ and ‘The chapel will be illuminated tonight’ — re­ but not a conclusion. The final battles lie ahead. For De miniscent of the code signals used by the Resistance move­ Gaulle and his makers, the final goal of an unrestrained ment in time of war. There is evidence that the mysteri­ dictatorship based on force and terror. But for the people ous escape of henchman Soustelle from ‘house arrest’ in of France — as for the people of Algeria — the restoration France to Algiers was connived at by Pflimlin. The truth and rejuvenation of the Republic through democratic re­ will probably never be known. It is not very material. The form and the liberation of the colonial empire. That united generals in Algiers knew — plot or no plot — that anti­ voice of the people of Algeria and of France has still to be communism had given them a fifth column inside France, a heard and reckoned with before the crisis will have passed. hidden band of supporters who proclaim their devotion to Who can doubt that the voice of revolutionary and demo­ democratic government and the Republic, but who were cratic France will again ring out victorious with the battle ready and willing to destroy both in a moment o' crisis cries of their proud tradition — which threatened to bring Communists to the Government. Vive la Republique! Perhaps even the timing of the assault on the Republic Liberte! Egalite! Fraternite! was not of their choosing. They were desperate men, driven by events to move when they did. The war in Algeria had bogged down to stalemate, capable of resolution only by U.S. Snapshots French acknowledgement of defeat and withdrawal or by a reckless military war of extermination against the whole French film star Brigitte Bardot, known as the ‘‘sex kit­ people — a choice which no French Government was pre­ ten” , became a national sensation when her film, "And God pared to make. The results coming in from by-elections in Created Woman”, toured American theatres. It played at Marseilles and elsewhere, followed by local council election the Esquire Theatre for Whites in Dallas, Texas, to huge results in France, showed a steady and significant growth in audiences. But when it moved cross-town to the Forest Communist strength. Non-Communist leaders of the French Theatre for Negroes, police stepped in and closed the show. intelligentsia such as Jean Paul Sartre (See Fighting Talk. They said: “It’s too exciting for Coloured people” . May ’48) were beginning to call openly for a revision of From a N.Y. Times Magazine article on Allen Dulles and military-colonial policy in Algeria, and negotiation with the the Central Intelligence Agency: "(The C.I.A.) is universal­ Algerian people. From the newly formed Arab Federation ly suspected of being a global mischief-maker. It has been increased military aid, and from the Afro-Asian Confer­ established that the agency wa sbehind Guatemala’s 1954 ence countries increasing political aid was beginning to. revolution”.

Page Six Fighting Talk - June/July, 1958 ISTIQLAL NOTHING NEW FROM SABRA (Continued) (Continued from page 6) Trying To Win Africans Over Moroccan chiefs, he said, had become measures against Africans, Indians and This accounts for the mild, humani­ convinced that the Sultan was himself Coloureds, except to the University tarian note that was a feature of the "the real head of the Istiqlal”. Apartheid Bill, and this it approved in April conference. To win elections, Disturbances broke out once more all principle. Repression, the abolition of and to carry out the “short-term” over the country. Istiqlal leaders traditional rights such as the Coloured programme, it was necessary to abroad prepared to organise the mili­ franchise and the property rights in frighten the voters with the “ Black tary liberation of their homeland. In a prohibited group areas, the growth of Peril” scare. Now a new approach statement made in Egypt, Si Allal El the police state — all are justified as is called for; the Europeans must Fassi referred to “Moroccan comman­ painful but unayoidable steps towards learn to treat African claims to separ­ dos” who were “doing their duty” and the final objective: total separation. ate development with sympathy and appealed to the Arab States to supply The Tomlinson Commission was to goodwill. arms and money “so that the battle can have drawn up the blue print for the Moreover, Africans themselves must continue”. Later he told a French long-term programme. Leading mem­ be won over. They have to be shown journalist that as “all the peaceful bers of SABRA were the Commission’s that apartheid is as much in their inter­ means by which we have sought to re­ guiding spirits and wrote the vital sec­ ests as in the White man’s. Leadership cover our independence have failed” the tions of its report. This “vision” in­ must be wrested from the radical, nationalist movement needed arms in cludes the creation of six or seven “Communistic” section in the African order to "answer force with force” . separate African "States”, based on tri­ National Congress and transferred to Two years later Allal El Fassi an­ bal and linguistic differences, forming chiefs and “ moderates” who will co­ nounced from Cairo that the Algerian semi-autonomous regions with internal operate with the administration. This and Moroccan resistance movements had seli’-government, and providing outlets change will be facilitated by Bantu edu­ combined under a unified command to for an African middle-class. Only in cation, the spread of Dutch Reformed form a liberation army of North Africa this way, says SABRA, will the White Church missions, ethnic grouping— and (Arm6e de liberation du Maghreb race (which has a “right” to “natural talks with SABRA. Arabe) which would conduct a joint self-determination” ) be able to save it­ struggle for the liberation of all North self while, at the same time, it satis­ All this assumes that the “positive” Africa. The army was also fighting, he fies legitimate African aspirations. side of apartheid will be made a reality. said, for the return of the Sultan Sidi SABRA is critical of Government I cannot examine the prospects here, Mohammed Ben Youssef. apathy towards this “positive” side of but a few general observations will be With the whole of North Africa apartheid, but does not voice its criti­ ir. place. aflame the French decided to bring back cism in public. The Nationalist “front” £ Any region, however poor, can be the Sultan, and try to win his support must be preserved intact. Also, the developed at a price. for measures granting Morocco internal White people are not yet ready to make 0 We do not know what price will autonomy but withholding full indepen­ the "sacrifices” that total apartheid will have to be paid to abolish poverty dence. exact. It is for SABRA to educate and ignorance in the reserves; The Istiqlal agreed to join the first them for this final stage. 9 The price, whatever it is will be Cabinet formed in December, 1955 under paid only when South Africans of the new agreement with the French, all races have freed themselves taking 9 of the 21 Cabinet seats, with the were unveiled, some wearing European from semi-feudal and colour-caste ‘moderate’ Democratic Independence dress. The Conference supported the restrictions. Party (PDI) and the Independents tak­ demands for the unity and independence 9 Liberation cannot be effected under ing 6 each. Over half of the Ministers of all Morocco. In support of this de­ the leadership of SABRA or any in this first Moroccan Cabinet had serv­ mand Si Allal El Fassi declared that party that is pledged to maintain ed periods of imprisonment, detention or South-Western Algeria and the Spanish white domination and race discri­ residence under surveillance for their Sahara should be incorporated in Mo­ mination. former political activities. rocco. The struggle would be continued, In my opinion total apartheid is an This was by no means the end of the he said, until Tangier, the Spanish Sa­ ideological myth. SABRA may believe road for the Istiqlal. From Madrid its hara, French Sahara and Mauretania in it sincerely — who can tell? — but executive committee issued a statement were liberated. objectively considered its function is to at the conclusion of a conference call­ Last August the National Council of ing for full independence. The state­ the Istiqlal Party adopted a 37-point provide a false justification for a social system which, judged on its own merits, ment said that the party took the side programme which included demands for of "the exploited and oppressed classes, the evacuation of French troops from is admitted by all parties to be unjust. that is, the workers, peasants and small Morocco; active support for the Algerian THE EFFECTS OF CONTINUED traders” and rejected “any economic fighters for freedom; direct negotiations ECONOMIC GROWTH WILL HELP TO conception based on profit alone.” with the U.S. Government on the Ameri­ EXPOSE THE DECEPTION, BUT Among those signing the statement were can bases in Morocco; the strengthening ONLY IF THOSE WHO OPPOSE SE­ Si Allal El Fassi and Hadj Ahmed Bala- of links with other Arab countries; dis­ GREGATION USE EVERY OPPOR­ frej. tribution of State lands to workers; and TUNITY TO DEMONSTRATE ITS At the Istiqlal congress in December, Government control of public resources. REAL NATURE, WHICH SABRA 1955 resolutions were adopted demanding In order to make this programme a CAREFULLY CONCEALS, AND IF full independence, including the right to reality the Istiqlal Government will have THE AFRICAN, COLOURED AND diplomatic representation and a national to eradicate all vestiges of imperialist INDIAN PEOPLE ADHERE STEAD­ army. This congress also advocated legislation and thereby enable all patrio­ FASTLY AND IN UNITY TO THEIR equal rights for women; a notable fea­ tic Moroccans to contribute fully to the UNSHAKEABLE DETERMINATION ture of the congress was the active part peace, progress and happiness of their TO ACHIEVE A FREE, EQUAL AND played by women delegates, all of whom country. COMMON SOCIETY.

Fighting Talk - August, 1958 Page Eleven What’s Happening To Our Schools?

By H ILD A W ATTS rphe evils of Bantu education have Perhaps White parents think that school day, shorter school life, changed tended to overshadow the sad Bantu education is only for the Blacks curriculum), because it is recognised things that are happening in the field — a great pity, and all that, but at that our society needs workers suffi­ of White education in South Africa. least White children get a proper edu­ ciently educated (but no more!) to Perhaps Non-White parents think the cation. How wrong they are! White understand orders in both official lan­ most important thing is to achieve fiee, and Non-White education are two sides guages and carry out certain functions, compulsory education for all children; of the same coin. The undemocratic and also because they seek to control and having done that, our troubles are and retrogressive ideas that permeate for their own ends all African thought at an end. Of course, universal educa­ African education today seep through and understanding. tion is essential, but it is only one step the whole system. In England the educational system on the road to achieving true education bore signs — until only fourteen years for our children. School and State ago — of the complete cleavage of the Education is not something that takes class system from which it had grown place in a vacuum, an entity by itself. (not eliminated today, of course, but It reflects at every stage the society THE AFRICANISTS now modified to a considerable degree.) around it, social forces, economic condi­ (Continued from page 9) It was the division of two nations — tions. There is no such thing as pure, masters and servants; secondary edu­ since been joined by the S.A. Coloured academic education simply teaching cation for the few and elementary for Peoples’ Organisation, and the Congress knowledge and nothing else. Educa­ the many. of Trade Unions. The Congress of De­ tional ideas reflect the system of soci­ mocrats has campaigned among Euro­ ety in which they flourish and are dom­ But new concepts grow and spread peans on every major issue affecting the inated by the ideas of the dominating within the framework of old systems, African people — group areas, and group. Every group in society is in­ and so today attitudes towards education Western Areas removals, bus boycotts, tensely concerned with the question of have undergone great changes, assisted passes for women, higher wages and a education, and seeks to control it for by the tremendous advances in all fields. host of others, a hard, and often thank­ its own interests. Statesmen want the Forward-looking people now understand less task. Though a small organisation, child to grow up to be a good member that the stereotyped mass education me­ it has pulled its weight in every Con­ of the society they champion. Ecclesi­ thods of teaching in the past must bo gress campaign. At present many astics want him to be a loyal supporter m odified. leaders of the Congress of Democrats of their church and its doctrines. are sitting, side by side with their col­ Timetables leagues of the sister organisations, in A German professor once ex­ The old technique was to tackle edu­ the treason court. plained it this way: "The forces cation piecemeal, and to use set periods At no time has the Congress of De­ and times for each subject. With the mocrats, or any other partner in the that the nation requires are nour­ general expansion of knowledge, the alliance, sought to impose its will on ished in the schools . . . the school timetable has become hopelessly con­ the sister organisations. There is an is a ‘politicum’; it must educate gested with the result that some sub­ unwritten law in the alliance — that citizens of the State. Therefore it jects must be omitted entirely (as in none of the allies should intervene in must have compulsory education High School, where pupils must choose the internal affairs of the others. And . . . educational matters are part at no time has the Congress of Demo­ between history or geography) while crats, or any other partner, broken this of a social whole.” others have never really established themselves on the curriculum (as most law. We know that Hitler and Mussolini of the arts.) New methods seek to mo­ So much then, for the general alle­ used the schools and the youth move­ dify this traditional approach in three gations of the Africanists. They are ments to further their fascist aims. ways:— (1) by selection — useless ma­ baseless, malicious fabrications. Their methods were more open and terial is cluttering up courses, and must But what about the specific alle­ crude, but they were not the innovators be taken out; (2) by timing — it is gations? What about the statement of such ideas which, to a greater or wasteful to teach a child things for that the Congress of Democrats had lesser degree, are applied in all social which he is not ready; (3) by synthesis Madzunya and Leballo expelled? systems. What about their statements regard­ — with a curriculum designed so that ing New Age ? What about their cri­ Education has always had a specific subjects do not become rivals for the ticisms of the Freedom Charter ? purpose, and not necessarily in tune with child’s time, but related ones are syn­ What about their slogan of “Africa the ideas of the parents. Mass educa­ thesised. for the Africans” and their other ar­ tion became necessary with industriali­ And here are some of the important guments ? Why do they talk and sation, to educate workers sufficiently to things that progressives believe about behave like that, anyway? And what operate machines and carry out the ne­ education today:— must be done about them? cessary techniques. It did not then seek All these questions need replies. I to take them any further. For the * education is a science — not just have used up all my space now, but I same reasons, the Nationalists have the teaching of certain knowledge shall return to them in my next article. doubled school attendance under Bantu and skills to each child; but the (TO BE CONTINUED) education (together with a shorter necessity to develop and release

Page Twelve Fighting Talk - August, 1958 the personal creativeness of each South Africans. The material shortage child he is bom to be inferior and a child; and staff shortage are two separate slave. "European” education teaches problems, because poorly-equipped and * each child is unique, has his own the White child — it must follow — badly-built schools need not, by them­ pattern of potentialities and his that he is racially superior to African, selves, prove disastrous; children may own pace of development; forcing still get a sound education in such sur­ Indian and Coloured; that he is ‘master’ is as harmful when he appears roundings. But the staff shortage is — by birthright! But such teaching is slow as the frustration suffered acute, often reducing learning to mech­ scientifically unsound and in conflict when he is unnecessarily held anical repetition of the simplest kind. back; with modern knowledge. Therefore, to And with the best equipment in the assimilate it, the White child must also * interest is essential for learning world we cannot make a school good be taught NOT to think. Thinking is and remembering. Forced learn­ when classes are inflated. In some Jo­ ing, without stimulating interest, is hannesburg High Schools for months on dangerous! It leads to conflict with the unscientific. By forced learning a end there may be no teacher at all in ideas of the ruling South African group; child will memorise dates, names, essential subjects. it leads to liberal — even socialist — formulae, long enough to pass The SECOND disaster is that new concepts; it takes one along the paths exams, but they are meaningless ideas in education have not yet reached of international culture. and later discarded from the mind; the shores of remote South Africa. Our Therefore all individual initiative in * too much failure is bad. Each children are taught by methods that child must work at the level at were used when we were children, meth­ the child is discouraged and ultimately which he can achieve success in ods known to be wrong and outdated. destroyed. Instead of bringing forth proportion to his efforts. Striving Parents may say 'But is that so disas­ each child’s potential, the opposite is trous? After all, we survived it. and is good, but persistent discourage­ done — individual thought, enthusiasm, ment harmful; learned quite a lot.’ That, of course, is no answer. Our grandparents knew keenness, love of learning is squashed. * we observe and remember things nothing of nutrition and vitamins, yet The young mind is driven into a rigid not as isolated facts, but as wholes thousands of children grew up strong channel from which it must not deviate. — in patterns. Learning must be and healthy; but thousands more did You may take the points on progressive based on experience, and the dif­ not, died prematurely, or suffered ill- education that I have listed above one ferent parts of what children learn health in early or later years. Yes, must be related to their lives and some of us did learn some things. But by one, and see how they operate in re­ related to each other; how many more of the ‘educated’ people verse in our schools: the personal cre­ remained semi-literate? And which of ativeness of the child must NOT be re­ * mechanical discipline is discounted leased; there is no room for ‘unique’ today. Discipline that has the us is not aware of — and has not re­ gretted — great empty gaps in our edu­ children, the above-average child is a highest personal and social value is potential menace (a child who enquires, self-discipline, arising from under­ cation that have robbed us of under­ asks questions, seeks wider knowledge, standing, from satisfying work; standing and appreciation of so much of sharpens his mind, reads independently) from creative achievement, from culture and science in this modern and must be strait-jacketed into the good relationships. world ? ‘average’ pattern, geared to a pace that These are some of the important prin­ The TH IRD disaster is the influence can be easily maintained by all; forced ciples being applied to education in of fascist thought in our schools. It is learning, without understanding is the other countries today. What is the po­ being simple-minded to believe that ten order of the day . . . memorise rules of sition in South African schools? years of Nationalist rule has left no grammar, master a few arithmetical mark on our White educational system. problems, write an essay on a sewing Education in White schools is retrogres­ A TRIPLE TRAGEDY machine (its size, shape, colour, how sing all the time. Each year becomes Our White education is suffering from operated), memorise and repeat parrot- poorer, more reactionary, more mechan­ a three-fold disaster. wise senseless duplicated notes on his­ ical. tory and geography; read a certain The FIRST is the general shortage of number of books (according to the cen- schools, equipment and teachers, parti­ Thinking is Dangerous cularly for English-speaking White Bantu education teaches the Black (Continued on back page)

UNTO DUST (Continued from page 7) rjphat was the story Stoffel Oosthuizen told me after I had "Naturally, we burghers felt very bitter about this recovered from the fever. It was a story that, as I whole affair,” Stoffel Oosthuizen said, ‘‘and our resentment have said, had in it features as strange as the African veld. was something that we couldn’t explain, quite. Afterwards, But it brought me no peace in my broodings after that attack several other men who were there that day told me that of malaria. Especially when Christoffel Ooosthuizen spoke they had the same feelings of suppressed anger that I did. They wanted somebody — just once — to make a remark of how he had occasion, one clear night when the stars such as ‘in death they were not divided’. Then you would shone, to pass that quiet graveyard on the Welman farm. have seen an outburst, all right. Nobody did say anything Something leapt up from the mound beside the sandstone like that, however. We all knew better. Two days later slab. It gave him quite a turn, Stoffel Ooosthuizen said, for a funeral service was conducted in the little cemetery on the Welman farm, and shortly afterwards the sandstone me­ the third time — and in that way — to come across that morial was erected that you can still see there.” yellow kaffir dog.

Fighting Talk - August, 1958 Page Thirteen

) boo Ic s A WORLD OF STRANGERS

TVTadine Gordimer has turned her micro- tions and embarrassments receding ing beauty; the wan Modigliani in green * scopically observant eye upon the somewhat in the bonhomie of brandy. velvet; the husband with the face of an ecology of the human antheap of Johan­ From here his new-found acquaintance, embryo chicken; the only African wo­ nesburg and has recorded her findings Steven Sitole, leads him to the vivid man in the party, ignored, sitting smil­ on behaviour in that environment. She life of the townships, where he observes, ing into a tumber of wine; the man pro­ chronicles her observations through the unlike the jazz-craze of Europe, "jazz claiming, ‘If I could paint, I’d revive person of Toby Hood, newly come from in this room was not a frenzy. It was a literary painting” . Then there are those England to represent the family pub­ fulfilment, a passion of jazz. I was who have “discovered” African artists. lishing firm. struck by the strange innocence of their “It began to be fashionable in a very Toby, reactionary child of between- dancing”; and where he was to find, small avant-garde way . . . (on a par, wars progressives, declines to conform “the life of the townships seemed to perhaps, with the personal exploration to his family’s liberal commitments and free a side of my nature that had been of the effects of mescalin) to have at enthusiasms. “I had no intentions,” he starved; it did for me what Italy or least one African friend. A pet-African says, “of becoming what they, in their Greece had done for other Englishmen whose name you could drop casually: own particular brand of salaciousness, in other times. It did not change me; it ‘Tom Kwaza was telling me at our house envied me the opportunity to become — released me and made me more myself.” the other day . . There is the inti­ a voyeur of the world’s ills and social mate inter-racial intensity: “How do you perversions.” We follow his wavering Adjacent Worlds really feel? What do you really think?” path as, plunged into Johannesburg, The extremes are neatly balanced: the An African comments on race relations free and — almost despite himself — boring cosy familiarity of the bar-lounge as the sole topic, “You see, we always open-minded, he yields to the nudges of of the Stratford, the boring squalid think you want to talk about it” ; Steven chance and ricochets from group to strangeness, enlivened by an escape from digs at British Equity: “The Africans group. He moves from the stately a police-raid, of the shebeen; the White were an absolutely marvellous audience homes of big business, the swimming- luxury home with the pretentious “find” — quite the best audience we’ve ever baths, servants, whisky and expensively- of a dingy Courbet, the black middle- had. D’you know they actually picked preserved women, (“You’ll be Toby class intellectual home with piano and up points that White audiences missed?” Hood,” says his rich friend, “Come and high-fi maintained against the prying have a drink.” ) to the slums and she­ wonder of the neighbours; the White View from Afar beens of the townships, ("The brandy world of wealth, the Black world of There we all are, as a Martian might run out?" he said to me. It was the poverty, oblivious of and indifferent to see us, our foibles on record: cruel, it first word a Black man spoke to me each other. would be if it were not so cold. And, that wasn’t between master and serv­ But the extremes blurr slightly to­ because of the detachment, the world ant.’ ). wards the edges of the field of focus, remains a world of strangers. The cry while, between them, the multi-coloured Is not wrung from us (as it is by Anna Release frontier-land is etched, stiletto-sharp. Karenina from Miss Gordimer’s Afri­ He meets Anna Louw, attractive, cap­ Steven Sitole and Anna Louw meet, fa­ can), “A miracle. God! I think about able Afrikaner, dedicated to a life of miliar and at ease, “but the familiarity it all the time I’m not reading It.” provi-legal aid for Non-Whites, and she and the ease were those of a foreigner F. introduces him into the half-world intel­ . . . not sure whether the English woman lectuals and progressives and multi­ he has met is a fair sample of all the A WORLD OF STRANGERS by Na­ racial parties, where he first meets the English women he will never know . . dine Gordimer. Published by Gol- Non-Whites as social equals, reserva­ surrounded by types: the large stutter­ lancz. Price 16/6d.

few weeks is one thing, to do without THE DAILY DOSE them for several months is quite an­ other.) Despite this faith in the ‘free Tj’ach newspaper has its own personal- choice of news for presentation and em­ Press’, he sees the Guardian and the Mirror and, in fact, all newspapers, as ity, and in T. S. Matthews’ study phasis, and secondly its manner of pre­ sugar pills (hence the title of his book), of the Manchester Guardian and the senting it. Nevertheless, he affirms his slightly habit-forming but by no means Daily Mirror, the two separate person­ faith in the ‘free Press’ as opposed to a indispensable. He adds that he hap­ alities of these two pacers emerge. The Press which is government controlled. pens to prefer the flavour of the Guar­ Mirror and the Guardian have both at He claims that, while each single news­ different times taken a progressive paper can of necessity cover only part dian. stand over national issues: the Mirror is of the news which is daily available, This confusion la, however, incidental pro-Labour, against capital punishment somehow, in the resultant patchwork, to the book, the main body of which is a and once ran a headline saying, EDEN the truth is more likely to appear than thorough and often witty comparative IS A FLOP; the Guardian, also opposed it is in a controlled Press. He has very analysis of the Mirror and the Guardian, capital punishment, has a history of little faith, though, in the influence of of their aims, their functions, and the opposing the policy of the Government the Press, whether truthful or not, or in fields which they cover. Mr. Matthews in matters like those of Irish independ­ its value as an informant for the public; gives a history of each paper, describes ence and women’s suffrage. In other he quotes the findings of a readership the kind of person which each employs ways, these two newspapers are, of survey, saying that the average time on its staff, and gives an account — course, very different; in the news they spent by readers on each issue of the quoting often — of the kind of news handle, in their method of handling It, Mirror is seven minutes, and adds that chosen by each for presentation, and and the readers that they cater for. during the printers’ strike of 1955, very the manner in which it is presented. little loss was felt by newspaper readers. J.S. A Matter of Taste (He does not give enough importance to the fact that the loss may well have been Mr. Matthews accepts the fact that THE SUGAR PILL by T. S. Mat­ each newspaper has Its own slant on the far more severely felt over a longer thews. Published by Gollancz. Price news, a bias which influences firstly its period; to do without newspapers for a 18s.

Page Fourteen Fighting Talk - August, 1958 and significant message for South Afri­ KIKUYU COUNTRY cans, particularly those South Africans who are busy ‘waging war’ on the peo­ rpo many South Africans the word "Ki- South Africa: the description of police ple of Zeerust and Sekhukhuneland: Kuyu” may still mean either a behaviour is all too familiar: “The uni­ “The African,” he says, “would like to type of grass or the dreaded Mau Mau. versal attitude of hostility between the see Mau Mau put down, both the Euro­ Land of Sunshine will do much to dispel African on the one side and . . . the pean and the African Mau Mau. It is this ignorance, while at the same time police on the other, is mainly due to the no good telling the African . . . that showing the reasons for the emergence enforcement of discriminatory laws by there is no European Mau Mau, for we of Mau Mau. The writer, a Kikuyu, police brutality, to the unlimited powers know that European Mau Mau caused uses incidents from his early life to of the police to arrest, detain and beat the African Mau Mau and that to bring illustrate the inherent kindliness, hospi­ up any African and then to dismiss him about peace both must be stopped im­ tality and abhorrence of violence of his without taking him to a court of law . . . mediately.” people. And he uses other incidents to The usual attitude of the police to an R.K. show that it was essentially oppressive innocent African who asserts his inno­ legislation and the "European Mau cence is to manhandle him.” LAND OP SUNSHINE, by Muga Gi- Mau” which caused the birth of Mau This is not a great work by any caru, with Foreword by Trevor Hud­ Mau. means: the occasional clumsiness of There are some frightening similari­ style and other faults prevent it from dleston, C.R. Published by Lawrence ties between conditions in Kenya and in being so. But the writer has a grim & Wishart, London, 1958. Price 16/-.

FAMILY IN FLIGHT SUFFRAGETTES C o much has already been written about A father, a mother and three children, father is eventually glad to lead his ^ the struggle of women for emanci­ their home destroyed in a bombing family back to the company of others. pation that any new work on the sub­ raid, take as many possessions as they The story is told sensitively and un- ject must, if it is to have any value, can carry, and escape into the country. sentimentally; indeed, so carefully does either present hitherto unknown facts or One of the children is lost in the stream the novelist avoid sentimentality that approach the known facts from a new of refugees and never found again. The he almost — but not quite — falls over angle. Go Spin, You Jade! by the au­ father, aware at once of how completely backwards. At times during the story thoress of the study of Olive Schreiner: they are dependent on him, becomes ab­ of the flight (as in the passage which her Friends and Times, does neither. sorbed in the problem of safety for his describes how the invading tanks head The writer drains her subject of every wife and children. He feels convinced the refugees from the side roads back vestige of inspiration as she struggles that only in solitude can they be safe into the main road) Jean Bloch-Michel from “The Influence of the Renaissance” from the invaders, and so they travel on achieves a highly-concentrated atmos­ to “Women M.P.s”. She does, it is true, towards the mountains, refusing offers phere of helpless desperation, reminis­ manage to infuse her account of the suf- of help and refuge from farmers whom cent of Kafka’s novels. This, however, ragette movement with some excitement, they meet on the way. Life, for them, resolves itself finally into the optimism but even this is marred by passages of is reduced to its minimum and society to at the end: trite writing. the family unit: they have only enough “Pierre felt vanishing behind him his Perhaps the main weakness is that the for themselves, and there is no sharing dreams of a solitude which he had want­ work has no cohesion. The approach is of food and scarcely any social contact ed to be perfect, even though it had historical: the book consists mainly in between them and other refugees on the never existed except within himself. In potted biographies of women, ranging road; in fact, they separate themselves a few moments he would be mingled in time from Queen Elizabeth I to Elea­ from these other refugees as soon as with this road, this crowd, this dust and nor Rathbone, which might have been they can. sweat, rejoining mankind.” plucked from the pages of the Encyclo­ Once the mountains are reached and J.S. paedia Britannica, but there is no at­ safety obtained, new difficulties arise. tempt to combine these biographies into It becomes clear that no one can live THE FLIGHT INTO EGYPT by a harmonious whole. in isolation and that the family unit Jean Bloch-Michel. Published by The main merit of the work lies in the cannot stand entirely by itself; and the Longmans Green and Co. Price 14s. fact that it gives a list of other books on the subject to which the reader would be well advised to turn. R.K. GO SPIN, YOU JADE! by D. L. Hob- man. Published by Watts, London, GHANA EPISODES 1957. P rice 15/-. VP7ritten records about the Gold Coast the interior, and then follow descriptions ” date back to its "discovery” by the of Ashanti civilisation, the Ashanti war, Portuguese in 1471, and this volume is a travel in the interior and gold-mining. collection of eye-witness accounts of The story is brought up to date with THE U.S.S.R. Ghana and its people by traders and ad­ accounts of newly independent Ghana Here is plenty of information about venturers, administrators and mission­ and the last brief piece, appropriately, the Soviet Union, for those who claim aries, soldiers, journalists and anthro­ is an extract of a speech by Nkrumah that none is ever to be had. This pam­ pologists. The concern of the first Euro­ himself. These sketches are a tantalis­ phlet it not only a useful reference book; peans was “the gold and not the welfare ing appetiser for a proper history of it is also a readable account of different of those souls” wrote a French writer Ghana — though at a price within the levels and aspects of organisation in the towards the middle of the 17th century means of the average reader. Soviet Union, and, to a certain extent, and for 300 years the European foot­ R. of what life in the Soviet Union is like. hold was precarious, so that the early It is illustrated with a great number of descriptions are limited to the building interesting photographs. of coastal forts and towns, the markets PAGEANT OF GHANA, by Freda THE SOVIET UNION IN FACTS and trading of the people. Between 1800 Wolfson. Oxford University Press. AND FIGURES, 1958 Edition. (So­ and 1870 Whites began to penetrate into Price: 36/6. viet News). Price 5/-.

Fighting Talk - August, 1958 Page Fifteen What's Happening To Paul Robeson's Message to the Our Schools? Congress for Discrimination and Perfect Writing International Co-operation. (Continued from page 13) — Stockholm, July 16-22, 1958. Instruments sorship imposed by the Department of Education which excludes, for example, Of all the Conference of Peace this in fiction the works of Somerset Maugh­ has become the most important to all am, Oscar Wilde, Sarah Gertrude Mil- the peoples of the world. lin, Chesterton, Belloc, etc.); learning You have gathered from every cor­ must not be related to experience; me­ ner of the earth — delegates of every chanical discipline is the order of the political belief — of diverse cultures day. and nations. — sPi We all know that the people them­ AND PENCILS How else can White South Africans selves of all our lands do not want the uphold their prejudices in the face of a destruction of all of human-kind. Yet changing and increasingly critical in some strange way, they hesitate in Your friend world? How else continue to rule on the restraining of their war-hungry militarists and fascist-minded elements. the basis of the false ideas of white Let there ring once more from Stock­ for life! supremacy and leadership? holm the noble words of Joliot-Curie: You will argue that you know a tea­ “The people themselves must impose cher who works on progressive lines, or the peace”. There is still time. Let the world hear in no uncertain terms a school' where sound education may be that hitherto-coloured peoples are deter­ Juno Furnishing Co. obtained. Of course, individual teach­ mined to control their own destinies, 64 KNOX STREET ers and perhaps some schools remain, their own resources. Let the war- Phone 51-1106 G E R M IS T O N where a fairly good education may be makers hear that history will not be obtained. But I am speaking of gener­ turned back. Let them be made quickly For A Square Deal to understand that the balance in world al trends, not isolated instances. Contact Us forces has drastically changed. “It is the duty of home and school,” Let them remember that they can be writes an English educationalist, “ to do met blow for blow, that the spirit of the their best to equip children with the es­ peoples of Africa, Asia, Latin America can never, never be broken. STAR CYCLE sentials for leading a useful and satis­ All the best to you in your labours — fying life in the context of contempor­ WORKS millions and millions all over the globe la GUSTAV STREET ary society.” Now examine South Af­ stand by your side. ROODEPOORT rican contemporary society, and ponder Salud. My deepest affection and on what your child may become. thanks to you all. Serdechny Privyet. Stockists: We parents work and sacrifice to PAUL ROBESON. Raleigh, Rudge, Humber create beautiful, happy, loving- children. Cycles Then they go to school. The African child will learn to wield a hoe efficiently, FINEST VALUE IN PIPES and say ‘Ja, baas’ in both official lan­ guages as well as vernacular. The Standard Furnishing White child will learn to throw bottles (Pty.) Ltd. at African cyclists from motor cars — 30d, 30e, Voortrekker Street yes, that is how they turn out. Here and 35a, Prince's Avenue indeed is T. S. Eliot’s waste land: BENONI You neglect and belittle the desert, For The Best In Furniture The desert is not only round the corner The desert is in the heart of STEWART'S your brother. REXALL PHARMACY In trying to create a desert round S. Joffe, M.P.S. the corner for Non-Whites, the Whites BARRIS BROS. CHEMIST & DRUGGIST PHOTOGRAPHIC SUPPLIES are making a desert in the heart of WHOLESALE MERCHANTS AND every child. DIRECT IMPONTERS 280a, Louis Botha Avenue, That is the sorrow that the ideas of 120 Victoria Street Germiiton ORANGE GROVE Nationalism and apartheid have brought P.O. Box 146. Phones SI-1281: 51-3589 Phono 45-6243/4 to our finest treasure — our children.

Page Sixteen Fighting Talk - August, 1958

Pacific Press (Pty.) Ltd., 302 Fox Street, Jeppe, Johannesburg THE A FR ICA N ISTS 2nd Article by Dan Tloame 'Africa for the Africans?' rjphere are two sorts of lie. Some lies The first article in this series dealt and Madzunya was composed of Euro­ are believed by those who tell with African National Congress co­ peans, Indians and Africans. Now the them, because they are ignorant. For operation with other bodies; the only committee where national A.N.C. example, when a Nationalist politician slander of so-called Congress of De­ representatives ever meet Indians and gets up at the U.N. General Assembly mocrats domination of the A.N.C.; Europeans to discuss matters of com­ and tells the world that the “Bantu” in and the 'inverted racialism' of the mon concern is the National Consulta­ South Africa are quite happy and con­ Africanists. tive Committee (the N.C.C.). Because the N.C.C. consists of representatives of tented and support apartheid, he may This month the writer discusses the all five organisations it could not pos­ well imagine, in his ignorance and pre­ Leballo-Madzunya expulsions, Afri­ sibly have had the composition describ­ judice, that he is telling the truth. Simi­ canist attacks on 'N EW AGE', and larly, when the “Africanists" keep re­ ed by “ The Africanist.” But leaving opposition to the Freedom Charter that aside, and more importantly, it peating that the African National Con­ under cover of a false slogan. gress is being “dominated” by the could not possibly have “instructed” the much smaller Congress of Democrats A.N.C. to expel anyone — they are merely repeating a silly slan­ ascribing it to ignorance or mistaken 1. Because, as a consultative body, der begun two years ago by Jordan opinions. It is a pure invention. the N.C.C. cannot issue "instruc­ Ngubane —- and squashed pretty effec­ The decision to expel Madzunya and tions” to any of the constituent tively by Chief Lutuli at that time. If Leballo was taken by the National Exe­ bodies; it can only advise, and then they actually believe this nonsense they cutive Committee of the African Na­ only on matters of common con­ are stupid and ignorant, but not neces­ tional Congress following a lengthy cern; sarily dishonest. post-election review covering, among 2. Because the N.C.C. cannot and does But there is a second sort of lie which other matters, the setbacks of National not ever discuss or consider the cannot possibly be believed by the per­ Protest Week and the role played by internal and domestic concern of son who tells it: because it involves a certain Congress members therein. It any of the Congresses. m atter o f fact, not of opinion, and be­ can hardly be said that these expulsions In order to grasp this point fully, we cause he has invented it himself. In­ came as a surprise. Both of these men, should recall the fundamental nature of ability to distinguish between this sort as leaders of the “Africanist” sect, had what for convenience we often call “the of lie and the truth is a mark not of ig­ for a long time been openly and pub­ Congress movement”, which is in real­ norance but of insanity. In the absence licly flouting established Congress pol­ ity not a single organisation at all, but of a medical certificate of lunacy, we icy, particularly with regard to the Alli­ a voluntary free alliance of several per­ must assume that a person who pub­ ance and the Freedom Charter. In fectly distinct and autonomous and in­ lishes such statements is a deliberate fact they had practically been asking dependent bodies. liar, dishonest with the intention to de­ for expulsion, and many Congress mem­ But I shall return to this point later. ceive. bers had long been demanding that the "New Age" and the Congress A remarkable example of such a leadership take action against them. The lie appears in “The Africanist” for “Africanist’s” open sabotage of the of Democrats June/July 1958, in an article headed stay-at-home campaign was the last “Africanist Statement” , dealing with straw; it overcame the understandable The Editorial in "The Africanist” re­ the summary expulsion of Messrs. reluctance of the N.E.C. to use disciplin­ fers to “New Age” as “the business Madzunya and Leballo. The article ary sanctions as long as there may be a journal of the firm of C.O.D.” This, I states (p. 6) that the National Work­ hope of saving individuals for the move­ suppose, is meant to be insulting, but ing Committee of the A.N.C. was “in­ ment and led to a unanimous decision the insult is so far-fetched as to be structed” to expel these two by a for their summary expulsion. hardly worth consideration. If the term “committee.” “We know” says this Obviously, the N.E.C. did not need “business journal” implies that the ob­ statement issued by the Africanists” any “instructions” to expel these strike­ ject of “New Age” is to make money it that this committee "was composed breakers. is so far removed from the plain facts of eight (8) Europeans, three (3) The men who have been elected to the as to make the angels weep. Indians and four (4) Africans. We National Executive Committee of the Everybody with the slightest know­ also know that of these Africans only African National Congress have been ledge of South African realities knows two voted for the expulsion.” put there because they have earned a perfectly well that “New Age”, appear­ reputation for fearless and uncomprom­ ing practically without advertising re­ The Facts of the Expulsion ising opposition to White Supremacy. venue, the mainstay of every other They have not hesitated to face police newspaper, only manages to keep up Now, the anonymous “we" who issued violence, deportation, prison, victimisa­ publication by some sort of miracle, by this "Africanist Statement” could not tion in the cause of African rights and the self-sacrificing voluntary financial possibly “know” who was on the "com­ freedom. Yet the “Africanists” ask us support of readers of the paper. The mittee” which they say "instructed” the to believe that men like this take “in­ talented journalists and overworked ad­ A.N.C. to expel their two friends, or how structions” about Congress matters ministrative staff of the “New Age” the voting went, for the simple reason from others who are not members of are, without exception, making personal that there is not and never was any the A.N.C.! sacrifices to work on the paper, accept­ such committee. This is not the sort “The Africanist” says the Committee ing salaries well below what they would of statement which can be excused by which decided the expulsion of Leballo (Continued on page 10)

Fighting Talk - September, 1958 P age Seven

Collection Number: A3299 Collection Name: Hilda and Rusty BERNSTEIN Papers, 1931-2006

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