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,r l (./; — / ? C r^ LO This mass conference of women called by the Federation of South African Women calls upon the Minister of justice to t^kich ho& faroyfjhij or vbt withdraw the charge of High Treason* We proclaim that we stand A by our leaders who are on trial and we demand that they be released from this long-dra n out ordeal which has already lasted for over ^ two years. We pledge ourselves to carry on the strggle for our ^ freedom and the rights of our children until our leaders are ^ returned to us and we can once again be united with them in tm* th e 3 4 struggle. ^ ( g l/ i!H "T* — ^ j \ i“4 Cj "v" " / * 5 t **t^ 7 / ^ This conference of women of all races protests against the threat to ban mixed gatherings and denounces this further attempt to destroy our right to be together. It is our right to invite whom we please into our homes and no GoverniMnt sha^.1 decide this for us. We know that this ban will be extended to other gatherings and that it will be used against this great

Federation of South African Women which has called us together today, as women and mother, no matter what our race or colour*

We condemn apartheid in all its forms<> As mothers we see our children suffering from the evils of Bantu Education, from the Group Areas Act, as women who must work we are threatened with job reservation. We are now threatened with being forced to find gaurdians and we denounce this as a further insult to the dignity of womenhood. We resolve that we shall never caase in our struggle to end apartheid, to gain our rights as women and the fundamental right of our children to freedom, Justice and security. DRAFT RESOLUTION

This Conference of women of all races called by the Federation of South African Women condemns the pass system and all its hideous implications and we call for the abolition of all pass laws which persecute our men, which threaten our women, which make slaves of the African people.

As women we denounce the .extension of the pass system to African women and the despicable methods of the Government which have tricked so many African women into accepting passes, but we proclaim to the whole of this land that there are still more than a million African women who.have not taken passes and we pledge ourselves to do our i r utmost to ensure that the last million, the bulwark of the freedom of African women, stands firm.

We salute our African sisters, the women of Zeerust, Lichtenburg, Standerton and the heroic two thousand women of Johannesburg who suffered gaol and worse for their courageous protest against passes.

We resolve that we shall make 1959 a great year of struggle against passes, that we shall continue to demonstrate against the issuing of passes 'until the cry goes up from the whole of the Transvaal. # We resolve that it shall be our task to carry the message of the pass struggle to other women, both to those who have and to those who have not taken passes.

We resolve to work together as women of all races and we challenge the government of this country to separate us, for we are united as women and mothers and our unity is stronger than the power of those who try to part us. We shall go together again and again to make our protest.

We call upon the men of South Africa to come forward to join us in the forefront of the struggle and we resolve that as men and women together we shall work to make June 26th 1959 a mighty day of protest, a great step forward to victory in the struggle to end the pass laws and to gain our freedom.

As women of the Transvaal, as women of all races," united in the Federation of South African Women, we resolve that on August 9th, 1959, we shall once again make our voices heard throughout the world in protest against passers, for we shall not rest until we have won for our children their fundamental right to freedom, justice and security. THE TRANSVAAL CONFERENCE OF THE FEDERATION OF SOUTH AFRICAN WOMEN

GANDHI HALL SUNDAY 25TH JANUARY 1959

AGENDA

CHAIRWOMAN: Mrs. R. Moosa.

Fraternal messages

Opening of Conference Father Martin Jarrett Kerr.C.R. 10.30 a.m..

Presidential address and report on the Federation of South African Women Mrs. Marcelle Goldberg 11.00 a.m.

Election of Credentials and resolutions Committees

Apartheid and our children Mrs. Kay Kruger 12 noon Mrs. Rahima Moosa Mrs. S. Sibeko

APPEAL Mrs. Hilda Walaza

LUNCH INTERVAL

CHAIRWOMAN; Mrs. M. Goldberg.

Women and Job Reservation Mrs. Hetty Du Preez 2.00 p.m.

The independence of Women Mrs. Mary Turok 2.30 p.m. Mrs. Kate Molale

Passes for women Mrs. Albertina Sisulu 3.00 p.m.

Resolutions 4.00 p.m.

Elections 4.30 p.m. 4th January 1959

The Editor,

The Star. Rand Daily Mail New Age

Bear air It would be very much appreciated if you. would kindly give publicity to the enclosed statement, either as a Press statement or as a letter to the Editor.

Yours faithfully,

HELEN JOSEPH

National Secretary The Federation of South Afrioan Women protests in the strongest terras against the latest move by the Minister of Bantu Development, the first tangible sign of the loudly good will:- the proposed prohib ition of mixed gatherings in Johannesburg.

Bhe Federation of South Afrioan Women represents women of all races and is the only multl-»raoial women's organisation in South Africa.

We have demonstrated proudly on many occasions the unity of women;

African, E-uropean, Coloured and Indian women have stood side by side in their struggle for the rights of all children. We have gone together in thousands to the late Prime Minister, to Cabinet,Ministers, to Mem bers of Parliament, to the Mayor of Johannesburg, to Native Commissioner in dignity and discipline to protest against the Pass Laws, against the

Group Areas Act, against Bantu Education.

As women, we condemn this ban on meetings as a deliberate attampt to prevent raolal har/nony amongst the people of South Africa by destroy ing our fundamental right of free association, and we oall, not only

upon the Caty Council to stand firm in its opposition to this disgraceful attack upon the liberty of its oitizens, but upon the women of Johannes burg to oppose this ban and to defend our right to come tdgether as women and mothers, no matter what our race or colour.

Let no one think this is a prohibition which affects only the

africans; it strikes at every home. But our homes are ours, be they

the mansions of Houghton or the ^Lats of Hillbrow, the houses of !

Coronationv^lle or lumrm of. Vrededorp or Fordsburg; shall we

allow any Minister to decide for us whom we shall Invite into our homes,

to forbid us to to invite certain people? This law is lddeed arrogant

but it is the arrogance of despair and defeat for no laws can stamp out the struggle of a people for freedom, Justice and security

Helen Joseph |,V

National Secretary.

Federation of S.A^Women DRAPT RESOLUTION

As women we denounce the extension of the pass system to African women and the despicable methods of the Government which have tricked so many African women into accepting passes, but we proclaim to the whole p f this land that there are still more than a million African women who have not taken passes and we pledge ourselves to do our utmost to ensure that the last million, the bulwark of the freedom of African women, stands firm.

We salute our African sisters, the women of Zeerust, lichtenburg, Standerton and the heroic two thousand women of Johannesburg who suffered gaol and worse for their courageous protest against passes.

We resolve that we shall make 1959 a great year of struggle against passes, that we shall continue to demonstrate against the issuing of passes until the cry goes up from the whole of the Transvaal.

We resolve that it shall be our task to carry the message of the pass struggle to other women, both to those who have and to those who have not taken passes.

As women of the Transvaal, as women of all races,' united in the Federation of South African Women, we resolve that on August 9th, 1959, we shall once again make our voices heard throughout the world in protest against passes, for we shall not rest until we have won for our children their fundamental right to freedom, justice and security. THE TRANSVAAL CONFERENCE OF THE FEDERATION OF SOUTH AFRICAN WOMEN

■ GANDHI HALL SUNDAY 25TH JANUARY 1959

AGENDA

CHAIRWOMAN: Mrs. R. Moosa.

Fraternal messages

Opening of Conference Father Martin Jarrett Kerr.C.R. 10.30 a.m.

Presidential address and report on the Federation of South African Women Mrs. Marcelle Goldberg 11.00'a.m.

Election of Credentials and resolutions Committees

Apartheid and our children Mrs. Kay Kruger 12 noon Mrs. Rahima Moosa Mrs. S. Sibeko

APPEAL Mrs. Hilda Walaza

LUNCH INTERVAL

CHAIRWOMAN: Mrs. M. Goldberg.

Women and Job Reservation Mrs. Hetty Du Preez 2.00 p.m.

The independence of Women Mrs. Mary Turok 2.30 p.m. Mrs. Kate Molale

Passes for women Mrs. Albertina Sisulu 3.00 p.m.

Resolutions 4.00 p.m.

Elections 4.30 p.m.

Collection Number: AD1137

FEDERATION OF SOUTH AFRICAN WOMEN 1954-1963

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