African National Congress (Umbutho Wesizwe — Lekhotla La Sechaba)
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AFRICAN NATIONAL CONGRESS (UMBUTHO WESIZWE — LEKHOTLA LA SECHABA) ■s 1 c & n n u a l <= Q e p o r OF THE NATIONAL EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE 4(Sth c&nnual general (^on^erence of the cA\ricai\ <^Ylationcil (^onc/retA held at the iSocial Centre, urban 0 # t the 13th to 14th ember, 1958 AFRICAN NATIONAL _ CONGRESS , Report of the 46th Annual National Conference - V- , • - s* — *•— J. ‘ • held in the SOCIAL CENTRE, DURBAN ■ ■ i- - ' i’ , on the 13th~14th December, 1958. - ' r * V ,t. .*»’ PREFACE . v'" V ' v,: 1 1 • ** .-r * i. ' > ; 1. Delegates from the African National Congress Branches in many parts of South Africa are once more assembled in Durban to review the events of the past year in this country and in the rest of the World. Our purpose is to examine the progress made, the setbacks suffered, and to plan afresh in the light of new experiences gained during the period under review. » 2. It is our duty to mention at the outset that every statement in this report is not just made in order to fill pages but is made in order that it should receive your serious attention and careful study and deliberation. As a people we are to-day facing a grim future, we are confronted with many grave problems which threaten our political, economic and social progress. 3. It is therefore the desire and earnest request of the National Executive Committee that delegates should discharge their responsibilities in a manner be fitting responsible men and women charged with the affairs of a people whose life is beset with serious dangers and difficulties. We are confident that delegates, sub duing their feelings and emotions, will rise to the need of the hour.' 4. The main issues which face us to-day and which conference is called upon to consider are roughly these: unity, discipline, alertness and loyalty in the Afrioan National Congress; the strengthening and development of the Congress alliance; the Government threat to han the Congress; state of organisational preparedness and new methods of political work in the light of the changed conditions; the ruthless Govern ment attacks on our people in the towns, on the country side and in the reserves; mass arrests and mass trials; the creation of a leadership personnel, and the financing of the work and activities of our National organisation. These then are some of the most important and pressing problems "before our 46th Annual National Conference. FOREIGN AFFAIRS. 5. Great strides have been made in scientific discoveries and developments. Not satisfied with putting artificial satellites on the earth's orbit and with sending dangerous missiles round the earth, men of science are to-day talking about conquering the moon. There can be no doubt that recent discoveries and inven tions in the field of science open up vast possibilities for the progress of mankind. It is equally certain, how ever, that science has developed and perfected the most deadly weapons of destruction imaginable, and unless the nations and peoples of the world are vigilant in the preservation of peace, science will annihilate mankind, 6. Yet there are still some strange forces in this world which regard this great scientific progress as a means by which to promote their predatory interests. In the destructive nuclear weapons they see their chance to world domination. During the year we narrowly escaped the outbreak of war over the Middle East and Far East situations. But popular forces of peace succeeded in staying the hands of the villains and thus in averting a world conflagration. It is a matter of regret and great concern to all peace loving people of the world that the great powers - the United States, Great Britain and the Soviet Union - have not found an answer to the question of disarmament and prohibition of the use of nuclear weapons. 7» As an oppressed people we are very much interested in the freedom of all other oppressed people regardless of their colour, racial origin or religious beliefs. We are therefore pleased to note the increase in the area of freedom and national independence since our last Annual National Conference. And, the further consolidation of Asian and African solidarity. 8. The peoples of French Guinea and Madagascar have now attained some measure of political independence and those of Nigeria, Sierra Leone, Tanganyika, Uganda and even that of Kenya are in varying degrees and tempo moving towards National freedom and independence. Nearer home, in the Central African Federation, the African people of Nyasaland, Northern and Southern Rhodesia are in the throes of the struggle for freedom, equality and justice, and our small mountainous island, Basutoland, has also started preparations towards that cherished end. They have been granted legislative power. We congratu late them for this achievement. 9# In spite of bitter and slanderous propaganda and economic sabotage by representatives of imperialist and colonial powers, as well as all those who are ill- disposed towards them, the young independent states of Asia and Africa have steadily consolidated their politi cal power and developed their economics. Thus we have seen the emergence of the United Arab Republic the idea of a West African Federation or Union and the new political re-orientation in a number of these countries. In connection with the question of developing their economics, some have benefitted from the concept and policy of Soviet Russia regarding economic and technical assistance. 10. Having so far only emphasised the struggles of those countries and peoples who have emerged from national oppression and attained freedom and independence, let us now say a few words about the peoples of Africa who are still Anguishing under the strain of national oppression and racial discrimination. The whole of the African continent is awakening and beginning to find it self, its various peoples are captivated by the spirit of the time, the spirit of freedom, human dignityf self- respect and self-determination. Their march to freedom may at times be retarded but can never be stopped. 11. Savage atrocities have been committed against the peoples of Africa in the name of "Western Civilisation". We have in mind here some of the harrowing deeds of the Portuguese, Belgian, French and British Governments. Each of these powers has at one time or another committed acts which are at variance with its declared policies and professed aims. But these brutal attacks and repressive measures have not succeeded in totally silencing or suppressing the people’s struggles for freedom and justice, in the given terri tories, Doubting Thomases are Invited to look beyond their borders and see what is happening there. Even areas / . areas which seemingly appear peaceful and politically tranquil are in reality simmering with discontent "below the surface and suffer periodic political eruptions. PAN-APRICAN CONFERENCE^, 12. Africa is to-day both important and valuable. It is important for its sons and daughters because of its political awakening and achievements, as well as its developments. It is valuable to Great Powers and colonial powers who see in it a field of investment and battleground for their ideological struggles. They are therefore antagonistic to the people’s struggles for freedom and liberation. These facts have Increased the ever-existing need for the coming together of the peoples of the various countries and regions of Africa, and the formation of some sort of political co-operation among them. 13. With this object in view and with a view to checking the intentions of the colonialists, a most historic all-Africa conference has just ended in Accra, Ghana. The conference started on the 8th and ended on the 12th December, 1958. The Conference has struok fear into the hearts of racialists and imperialists. It is hoped that the Conference will have succeeded in estab lishing a machinery to step up the process of liberation and to bring about an effective co-operation. No one in the continent of Africa could be happier about this step than the A.N.C. .. and the progressive forces in South Africa. South Africa was represented by delegates includ ing the President of Basutoland Congress and Mr. Z, Mphahlela and Hutchinson. Our foreign policy flows from the Bandung Decl'arations^on which decisions of the Pan- =/ See Annexure . , African / . African Conference should be based. (Our Memorandum to the Pan-African Conference is attached hereto). THE APARTHEID POLICY IN SOUTH AFRICA . 14. The apartheid policy of the Nationalist Government has again been attacked at the United Nations. The delegates from various countries expressed concern that the Union Government continues to turn a deaf ear and has ignored numerous appeals from the world body to revise its racial apartheid policy. More and more dele gates are joining in the attack as shown during the last session. 15. During last year’s General Assembly, the Nationalist Government decided to boycott U.N.O. debates on the racial policy of the Government. This year the Government was forced to abandon its unwise boycott. It is also significant that the Government allowed a U.N.O. Commission to enter South Africa for the purpose of in vestigating the position of South West Africa. 16. The commission recommended the division of South West Africa into two sections, one to be annexed by the Union and the other to be administered by the international organisPtion. The recommendation was consistent with the apartheid policy. It was correctly rejected by the people of South West Africa and the General Assembly. It ?/as obviously an attempt by the Union Government to evado the real issue, the demand that South West Africa should be administered by U.N.