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FIGHTING TALK May, 1954. a -NATIONAL WOMEN’S CONFER1 By HILDA WATTS A LTHOUGH women’s rights were fea tured at the National Conference of Women held in Johannesburg over the week-end, they did not appear as the over-riding issue of the Conference. The emphasis was clearly on the strug gle for full rights and freedom for all, . and on the role that women can and must play in winning those rights. If the women delegates who attended the Con ference are typical of women from their various areas, then it is certain that the force for freedom in South Africa is more powerful than many think. Delegates numbering more than 150 came from many different areas, in cluding many towns in the Cape, as well as Durban, Port Elizabeth, East Lon don, Bethal, and Kimberley. They re presented approximately 230,000 peo ple, and included a representative num ber of African, Indian, Coloured and European women. The Conference was opened by Ray Alexander, who spoke of the important in role that women played in the past, and A delegate from the Eastern Province wearing her national dress, •HK.> ttlij noiliil'i- .! 11 nit / 11:>i w... AND THE MEN TAKE THEIR PL A MJiO'tllio ">»’} t!;'*. • ' s i ‘)n o li By PAUL JOSEPH. ■rtiniM ■ i!S I:'? '/ ••J WIEL| not easijv' fpj;get Saturday, 18 served two terms of imprisonment dur The delegates were trade unionists, Apr^il. 1954. 'It was one' of the most ing the defiance campaign; Mrs. Debi housewives, social workers, nurses, fac exc/itlfigfand .inspiring days of the nat- Singh, defier wife of the Natal Indian tory hands and farm workers, women ional liberation movement. Congress secretary; Mrs. Dora Tamane, with a diversity of religious and social the inspiring secretary of the Retreat outlooks, yet all determined to remove (Cape) branch of the African National their social, economic and political dis It 'was inspiring for it was then that Congress; and scoies of others with abilities and to make life free and hap- the' Women of different nationalities similar records. came forward to launch the first wo py- men’s national organisation to fight for ' ' / . r I • v-f. f,* Above the platform was a banner: their rights and the protection of their On the platform was the veteran anti “Greetings to the Women of all Lands”; children. It was inspiring because the pass fighter from Durban, Miss Mkize; an on the walls round the Conference founders of the organisation each have hard-working and rousing freedom song hall: “No more war! Let our Children a proud record in our struggle for libe leader Miss Ida Mntwana; powerful ora Live! Ban the H and A Bombs!” and ration. tor and energetic worker Miss Hilda so forth. -nr.'-- 1 1,: Watts; arid Miss Ray Alexander, one of 1 As I looked round the crowded hall, the most inspiring women of our time, I saw Mrs. Njongwe and her comrades a woman who has reared dozens of The level of debate and discussion in their traditional dress, her entire de trade union leaders, and brought hap was impressive. The only practised pub legation consisting of defiers; veteran piness. to thousands of workers. Ray lic speakers were Ray Alexander and trade unionist Hetty du Preez; Mrs. was indeed the brains and driving force Hilda Watts. The rest of the women Fatima Seedat, a steeled fighter who behind the conference. ' °b made impromptu speeches -i-r but rous- May, 1954. FIGHTING TALK 9 today, for themselves, their children and their families. The Charter forms the ENCE FOR FREEDOM basis for the organisation that was form ed, and for the work of the Committee that was elected at the end of the Con ference. must play in the present and future of gate spoke with bitterness of the West The purpose of the Conference was our country. Ida Mntwana spoke of the ern Areas Removal Scheme, describing position of women in South Africa, and the terrible conditions under which achieved — to advance the role of wo a most interesting report on the posi- families lived in the Orlando shelters, men in our fight for freedom. Without . tion of Indian women in South Africa while the Government threatened the the active part of women, — one half was given by Mrs. Fatima Meer, of forcible removal of people from their of the population — that j fight cannot Durban. Mr. D. Nokwe, deputising for homes in Sophiatown. succeed. To organise the women, we Mr. W. Sisulu who was unable to be must also fight against those traditions, present, read a paper on the position of Women from Durban, Cape Town women in China today, and I spoke on and other areas spoke of the conditions customs or habits that relegate women the role of women in the struggle for under which children were brought up to an inferior place in our society and peace. today, the lack of proper family life, prevent them from playing their, part to the lack of amenities and education and the fullest extent. In fighting against Delegates Spoke Up other opportunities, the need for schools, this inferior position of women, we are creches, maternity homes, the high rents The most interesting and inspiring also fighting for freedom for all. and poor houses. But over and over part of the Conference was provided by again delegates emphasised the fight the many delegates who spoke during against unjust laws the Bantu Educa the discussion. The subjects covered all the delegates’ accommodation And tion Act, the Industrial Conciliation showed the real political awareness of Amendment Act, the Population Regis transport problems while they ‘ in1 the delegates, who linked up the ques Johannesburg. ' -1'1 tration Act and the Pass Laws. tion of women’s rights with their own . r: Iu ji .i: . struggles and problems, the Bills now In the early hours of the morning of before Parliament, and the political is Resolutions were passed on these Acts, the conference the men folk were' up1 sues of the day. as well as on the issue of peace, Kenya, and about, taking arrivals to their plates and support for the Freedom Congress. of accommodation. At 6 a.m. on the One delegate was loudly applauded Saturday we were at Park Station to, when she said that if it were not for the A Charter of Women’s Rights was meet the Port Elizabeth and Cape Town husbands, many more women would adopted, and this Charter summarises delegates. *jj' i . ° it.) II >11 >1 1 have amended the Conference. This dele the demands of women in South Africa A visit to the kitchen showed a hub of activity. You would find John ,Motsa- bi, banned Secretary of the Transvaal African National Congress, ai^Youth kCE IN THE KITCHEN Leaguer Harrison .Mptlana sljpingj ham (and too often slipping ,a mpr^unto their mouths!). Young Faprrjed,Adams was preparing biscuits, and,, munching ing and impressive ones, at that. One some at the same time. Leon, ’Woul<jl be when she said that if it were not for the washing lettuce while Norman would be speaker said: “If the men stand in our preparing. fruit. The Moola brothers way we shall sweep them aside for our would be washing cups while Stanley rights.” Another: “I live in bondage, Lollan of SACPO was busy with the tea everything I do, drink tea or work, I urns. Shy Solly and Abdulhay of the mix with tears. No longer can I stand Indian Youth, Congress would be tidying this oppression!” up. The women were on no account to see an untidy kitchen. , ' f : !, n They finally adopted a women’s char ter of rights, elected a committee and Occasionally Rica and Beata of the established their new national organisa Congress of Democrats would sniff tion. around and pass favourable comments. O 1 i . v ... • .V .lUr.Kii li ■ I. ' ■ . In the evening the men organised a Here were women in revolt! social for the women. • ‘ ‘ , ■ -iftVil)! ' t t V The day held yet another excitement^! • i ' 1 ; f Hi Aftet the conference I arrived!home '£•%> • ■ ■ fliiw .11 v/oJ-oMftii -lir.)! .TI/LI 1 t !>;•'■ • •'< i-.J near midnight, fagged out, but hdping- The men Wtfte.-in the’. kitchen -jWC*|»a|s :,r< \ A' /l»r contribution -from the that I, for one, would not be “swept! ing teas and lunch.".Thtfy slfco [tackled,,| }j 111 l |(H|<|II , floor. aside”. ’I GRIN&ff'TS POVERTY & MASSIVE WEALTH - THE CARNEGIE REPORT ... The first Carnegie Commission in the 1920s studied the conditions of poor whites. Its report was the basis of effective state in tervention to alleviate the ‘poor white pro blem’ — often at the expense of poor blacks. Carnegie II was a very different investigation. Initiated in 1980^MheJJniversity^of Caps, Town, its premise was that black South Africans were the main victims of the widespread poverty and destitution in the country. The second Carnegie enquiry drew in researchers from universities and organisa tions around SA. The Carnegie conference at the Universi ty of Cape Town in 1984 was attended by some 450 people who presented over 300 papers, describing the dimensions of pover ty, analysing its causes and exploring possi ble solutions. In addition, several post conference studies addressed gaps in the research which participants had identified. The scope of the research, funded largely by the same US-based trust as the first com mission, was encyclopaedic. Topics ranged from micro studies of small rural com munities to macro-economic analysis; from malnutrition to fuel; from health care systems to trade unions.