DOCSLIB.ORG

And the Rule of Law

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
And the Rule of Law AND THE RULE OF LAW INTERNATIONAL COMMISSION OF JURISTS EDITED BY GEOFFREY BINDMAN South Africa: Human Rights and the Rule of Law International Commission of Jurists Edited by Geoffrey Bindman Intemati on al Co mm i s si on of Jurists (iCJ) Geneva, Switzerland "jOU Pinter Publishers, London and New York © International Commission of Jurists, 1988 First published in Great Britain in 1988 by Pinter Publishers Limited 25 Floral Street, London WC2E 9DS All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted by any other means without the prior written permission of the copyright holder. Please direct all enquiries to the publishers. British Library Cataloguing in Publication Data A CIP catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library ISBN 0-86187-919-8 Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data CIP available from the Library of Congress ISBN 0-86187-919-8 Typeset by Florencetype Ltd, Kewstoke, Avon Printed in Great Britain by Biddles, Guildford Contents 1 Preface 1 2 General Introduction 4 3 Legal Structures of Apartheid 11 4 Freedom of Movement and Forced Removals 15 5 Education and Access to the Professions 43 6 Freedom of Speech and Expression 47 7 Freedom of Association 53 8 Freedom of Assembly 60 9 Trade Unions 63 10 The Right to Personal Freedom 66 11 The State of Emergency 88 12 Children 101 13 The Administration of Justice and the Judicial System 109 14 The Security System 119 15 Political Institutions 128 16 The Homelands 130 17 Future Developments 141 18 Conclusions 144 Index 152 1 Preface With increasing reports of the tensions and repression of blacks in South Africa, the International Commission of Jurists decided to send a mission to South Africa. Their terms of reference were to examine the degree of compliance in South Africa with international human rights law as embodied in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and other relevant instruments. The particular subjects they considered were trade union rights, the repeal of the pass laws and other discriminatory legislation, the independence of judges and lawyers, the security system, the treatment of children under the legal system, the state of education, freedom of speech and political activity, legal services in rural areas, and human rights in the homelands. In accordance with its normal practice, the International Commission of Jurists informed the South African government at the beginning of July of its intention to send a mission in September, and of the subjects to be studied and the places to be visited. The Commission asked if the mission could have meetings with government ministers and senior officials at the end of its visit. Shortly before this a state of emergency had been declared in South Africa, covering the whole country. The South African ambassador to the United Nations in Geneva thought it likely that the government would ask that the mission be postponed in view of the state of emergency, and this proved to be the case. Accordingly, it was decided to postpone the mission until the beginning of 1987. By that time it became clear that the emergency was likely to be prolonged, so a decision was taken to send the mission to South Africa and to wait until the later stages of its visit before seeking appointments with ministers and other representatives of the South African government. The mission was composed of four lawyers, each having expertise on the apartheid system. They were Geoffrey Bindman, a solicitor practising in London; Jean-Marie Crettaz, a member of the Council of the Geneva Bar; Henry Downing, an Irish barrister; and Guenter Witzsch, Professor of Public Law in the University of Munster, in the Federal Republic of Germany. The mission went to South Africa for a period of three weeks in February 1987. A programme of meetings and visits was arranged. The team began with a series of meetings in Johannesburg and then divided into two pairs. One travelled to Bophuthatswana and then to Port Elizabeth and Ciskei. The other to Durban and Cape Town, where they were later joined by the other pair. The whole team then went to Bloemfontein and spent a final few days in Pretoria and Johannesburg. They met a wide range of practising and 2 PREFACE academic lawyers, judges, community workers, political and trade union leaders, human rights activists and ordinary residents of townships. At the end of their stay they met government officials and the Deputy Minister of Law and Order. The team had secretarial assistance throughout which enabled them to record and transcribe virtually all their interviews. They obtained copies of many affidavits, court documents, reports and publications relevant to their enquiry. A preliminary report of this mission, written by Geoffrey Bindman, was published in the International Commision o f Jurists’ Review, No. 38, in June 1987. The participants in the mission felt, however, that they could only do justice to the vast information and documentation they received by making a comprehensive review of the present state of apartheid, including the historical background to the legislation and practice where this is needed, to enable the reader to understand more fully the present critical stage in the evolution of the apartheid system. The International Commission of Jurists joins with the members of the mission in expressing their deep gratitude to all those who devoted so much time and effort to help the mission in its task. The International Commission of Jurists is also deeply grateful to the members of the mission, in particular to Geoffrey Bindman for editing this report as well as being its principal author, and to the Swedish International Development Authority and the Ford Foundation for their grants which made the mission possible. Geneva, December 1987 Niall MacDermot Secretary-General International Commission of Jurists EDITORIAL NOTE 3 Editorial note The members of the mission were able to travel freely in Southern Africa but many of those who talked to us clearly did so at some personal risk. For this reason the identity of many informants cannot be disclosed. Since our visit in February 1987 we have been able to maintain contact with some of them and have continued to receive much information from published and other sources. The report therefore takes into account developments up to the end of February 1988. Geoffrey Bindman London, March 1988 Jean-Marie Crettaz Henry Downing Guenter Witzsch 2 General Introduction1 The country and its people The Republic of South Africa covers an area of over five times the size of the United Kingdom. The country is divided into four provinces, the Transvaal, the Orange Free State, Natal and the Cape Province. In addition, the South African government has established ‘self-governing’ African ‘homelands’ and has granted ‘independence’ to four so called ‘homelands’: Transkei, Bophuthatswana, Venda and Ciskei. This independent status has not been recognized by the international community,2 and indeed has been con­ demned by resolutions of the United Nations.3 The estimated population of South Africa in 1985 was over 29,000,000. This figure is made up of 21,197,253 classified as Africans, 4,590,639 whites, 2,853,964 coloured and 801,758 Asians. Precisely 5,954,425 people live in the four so-called independent homelands. The black African people make up 72 per cent of the total population of South Africa, whereas the white population represent 15.6 per cent of the total.4 Different birth rates for the whites and Africans will lead to a steadily increasing black majority. Every South African is classified at birth as belonging to a particular racial group. By virtue of the Population Registration Act 1950,5 a register of the entire population is kept in which each person is classified as belonging to a particular racial group: white, coloured, Indian (Asian) or African. The term ‘coloured’ refers to people regarded as of mixed racial descent. A person’s social, political, civil and economic rights are determined by the race or ethnic group to which he is deemed to belong, and, therefore, this Act provides the basis for separate and unfavourable treatment under other legislation and is at the root of the apartheid system. English and Afrikaans are the two official languages of South Africa. In addition, there are a large number of African languages. Most South Africans are members of the Christian faith, but there are also a small number of Jews, Moslems and Hindus. The majority of whites belong to the Dutch Reformed Church. Historical background In 1652 the Cape was occupied by the Dutch East India Company for the purpose of establishing a resting point for its ships. In 1795 the British occupied the Cape to protect its sea route to India, but in 1803 it was returned to the Netherlands. In 1806 the Cape was recolonized by Britain and the Cape GENERAL INTRODUCTION 5 became a British Colony. In 1843 Natal was taken over by Britain. The Dutch settlers moved into the interior and established the Orange Free State and—in the territory which is now the Transvaal—the South African Republic. The British fought the Dutch settlers in the Anglo-Boer War of 1899-1902. In 1910 the four colonies joined together to form the Union of South Africa, which then became a self-governing dominion. The Union of South Africa of 1910 attempted to consolidate white power by bringing together the Boer republics and the British colonies. Unity of the white settlers was essential for the economic exploitation of the mineral wealth of the country. In 1931 South Africa became an independent state within the British Commonwealth of nations, and in 1961 the South African Parliament converted the state into a Republic.6 In 1948, the National Party came to power on the platform of apartheid and has retained power ever since.
Load more

Recommended publications
  • Transnational Resistance Strategies and Subnational Concessions in Namibia's Police Zone, 1919-1962
    Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports 2021 “Remov[e] Us From the Bondage of South Africa:” Transnational Resistance Strategies and Subnational Concessions in Namibia's Police Zone, 1919-1962 Michael R. Hogan West Virginia University, [email protected] Follow this and additional works at: https://researchrepository.wvu.edu/etd Part of the African History Commons Recommended Citation Hogan, Michael R., "“Remov[e] Us From the Bondage of South Africa:” Transnational Resistance Strategies and Subnational Concessions in Namibia's Police Zone, 1919-1962" (2021). Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports. 8264. https://researchrepository.wvu.edu/etd/8264 This Dissertation is protected by copyright and/or related rights. It has been brought to you by the The Research Repository @ WVU with permission from the rights-holder(s). You are free to use this Dissertation in any way that is permitted by the copyright and related rights legislation that applies to your use. For other uses you must obtain permission from the rights-holder(s) directly, unless additional rights are indicated by a Creative Commons license in the record and/ or on the work itself. This Dissertation has been accepted for inclusion in WVU Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports collection by an authorized administrator of The Research Repository @ WVU. For more information, please contact [email protected]. “Remov[e] Us From the Bondage of South Africa:” Transnational Resistance Strategies and Subnational Concessions in Namibia's Police Zone, 1919-1962 Michael Robert Hogan Dissertation submitted to the Eberly College of Arts and Sciences at West Virginia University in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy In History Robert M.
    [Show full text]
  • Country Guide South Africa
    Human Rights and Business Country Guide South Africa March 2015 Table of Contents How to Use this Guide .................................................................................. 3 Background & Context ................................................................................. 7 Rights Holders at Risk ........................................................................... 15 Rights Holders at Risk in the Workplace ..................................................... 15 Rights Holders at Risk in the Community ................................................... 25 Labour Standards ................................................................................. 35 Child Labour ............................................................................................... 35 Forced Labour ............................................................................................ 39 Occupational Health & Safety .................................................................... 42 Trade Unions .............................................................................................. 49 Working Conditions .................................................................................... 56 Community Impacts ............................................................................. 64 Environment ............................................................................................... 64 Land & Property ......................................................................................... 72 Revenue Transparency
    [Show full text]
  • The Immediate and Long-Term Effects of Namibia's Colonization Process
    The Immediate and Long-Term Effects of Namibia’s Colonization Process By: Jonathan Baker Honors Capstone Through Professor Taylor Politics of Sub-Saharan Africa Baker, 2 Table of Contents I. Authors Note II. Introduction III. Pre-Colonization IV. Colonization by Germany V. Colonization by South Africa VI. The Struggle for Independence VII. The Decolonization Process VIII. Political Changes- A Reaction to Colonization IX. Immediate Economic Changes Brought on by Independence X. Long Term Political Effects (of Colonization) XI. Long Term Cultural Effects XII. Long Term Economic Effects XIII. Prospects for the Future XIV. Conclusion XV. Bibliography XVI. Appendices Baker, 3 I. Author’s Note I learned such a great deal from this entire honors capstone project, that all the knowledge I have acquired can hardly be covered by what I wrote in these 50 pages. I learned so much more that I was not able to share both about Namibia and myself. I can now claim that I am knowledgeable about nearly all areas of Namibian history and life. I certainly am no expert, but after all of this research I can certainly consider myself reliable. I have never had such an extensive knowledge before of one academic area as a result of a school project. I also learned a lot about myself through this project. I learned how I can motivate myself to work, and I learned how I perform when I have to organize such a long and complicated paper, just to name a couple of things. The strange inability to be able to include everything I learned from doing this project is the reason for some of the more random appendices at the end, as I have a passion for both numbers and trivia.
    [Show full text]
  • The Black Sash
    THE BLACK SASH THE BLACK SASH MINUTES OF THE NATIONAL CONFERENCE 1990 CONTENTS: Minutes Appendix Appendix 4. Appendix A - Register B - Resolutions, Statements and Proposals C - Miscellaneous issued by the National Executive 5 Long Street Mowbray 7700 MINUTES OF THE BLACK SASH NATIONAL CONFERENCE 1990 - GRAHAMSTOWN SESSION 1: FRIDAY 2 MARCH 1990 14:00 - 16:00 (ROSEMARY VAN WYK SMITH IN THE CHAIR) I. The National President, Mary Burton, welcomed everyone present. 1.2 The Dedication was read by Val Letcher of Albany 1.3 Rosemary van wyk Smith, a National Vice President, took the chair and called upon the conference to observe a minute's silence in memory of all those who have died in police custody and in detention. She also asked the conference to remember Moira Henderson and Netty Davidoff, who were among the first members of the Black Sash and who had both died during 1989. 1.4 Rosemary van wyk Smith welcomed everyone to Grahamstown and expressed the conference's regrets that Ann Colvin and Jillian Nicholson were unable to be present because of illness and that Audrey Coleman was unable to come. All members of conference were asked to introduce themselves and a roll call was held. (See Appendix A - Register for attendance list.) 1.5 Messages had been received from Errol Moorcroft, Jean Sinclair, Ann Burroughs and Zilla Herries-Baird. Messages of greetings were sent to Jean Sinclair, Ray and Jack Simons who would be returning to Cape Town from exile that weekend. A message of support to the family of Anton Lubowski was approved for dispatch in the light of the allegations of the Minister of Defence made under the shelter of parliamentary privilege.
    [Show full text]
  • South Africa
    Safrica Page 1 of 42 Recent Reports Support HRW About HRW Site Map May 1995 Vol. 7, No.3 SOUTH AFRICA THREATS TO A NEW DEMOCRACY Continuing Violence in KwaZulu-Natal INTRODUCTION For the last decade South Africa's KwaZulu-Natal region has been troubled by political violence. This conflict escalated during the four years of negotiations for a transition to democratic rule, and reached the status of a virtual civil war in the last months before the national elections of April 1994, significantly disrupting the election process. Although the first year of democratic government in South Africa has led to a decrease in the monthly death toll, the figures remain high enough to threaten the process of national reconstruction. In particular, violence may prevent the establishment of democratic local government structures in KwaZulu-Natal following further elections scheduled to be held on November 1, 1995. The basis of this violence remains the conflict between the African National Congress (ANC), now the leading party in the Government of National Unity, and the Inkatha Freedom Party (IFP), the majority party within the new region of KwaZulu-Natal that replaced the former white province of Natal and the black homeland of KwaZulu. Although the IFP abandoned a boycott of the negotiations process and election campaign in order to participate in the April 1994 poll, following last minute concessions to its position, neither this decision nor the election itself finally resolved the points at issue. While the ANC has argued during the year since the election that the final constitutional arrangements for South Africa should include a relatively centralized government and the introduction of elected government structures at all levels, the IFP has maintained instead that South Africa's regions should form a federal system, and that the colonial tribal government structures should remain in place in the former homelands.
    [Show full text]
  • Re-Creating Home British Colonialism, Culture And
    View metadata, citation and similar papers at core.ac.uk brought to you by CORE provided by South East Academic Libraries System (SEALS) RE-CREATING HOME BRITISH COLONIALISM, CULTURE AND THE ZUURVELD ENVIRONMENT IN THE NINETEENTH CENTURY Jill Payne Thesis submitted in fulfilment of the requirements of the degree of Master of Arts Supervisor: Professor Paul Maylam Rhodes University Grahamstown May 1998 ############################################## CONTENTS LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS ..................................... p. ii ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS ...................................... p.iii PREFACE ................................................... p.iv ABSTRACT .................................................. p.v I: INTRODUCTION ........................................ p.1 II: ROMANCE, REALITY AND THE COLONIAL LANDSCAPE ...... p.15 III: LAND USE AND LANDSCAPE CHANGE .................... p.47 IV: ADVANCING SETTLEMENT, RETREATING WILDLIFE ........ p.95 V: CONSERVATION AND CONTROL ........................ p.129 VI: CONCLUSION ........................................ p.160 BIBLIOGRAPHY ............................................ p.165 i ############################################## LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS Figure i. Map of the Zuurveld ............................... p.10 Figure ii. Representation of a Bushman elephant hunt ........... p.99 Figure iii: Representation of a colonial elephant hunt ........... p.100 ii ############################################## ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS My grateful thanks must go firstly to Professor Paul Maylam. In overseeing
    [Show full text]
  • REFERENCES to COLONIALISM, COLONIAL, and IMPERIALISM South Africa Truth Commission
    REFERENCES TO COLONIALISM, COLONIAL, AND IMPERIALISM South Africa Truth Commission Abstract A list of references to colonialism, colonial, and imperialism in the South Africa Truth Commission. Chelsea Barranger Links to Data Visualization This section contains links to all data visualization for the South Africa report. Comparison Charts • References to Colonialism, Colonial, and Imperialism chart • References to Colonialism, Colonial, and Imperialism excel list Word Trees • Colonial • Colonialism • Imperialism References to Colonialism, Colonial, and Imperialism This section contains all references to colonialism, colonial, and imperialism from the South Africa report. <Files\\Truth Commission Reports\\Africa\\SouthAfrica.TRC_.Report-FULL> - § 64 references coded [0.13% Coverage] Reference 1 - 0.01% Coverage 1834 (when slavery was abolished). b The many wars of dispossession and colonial conquest dating from the first war against the Khoisan in 1659, through several so-called frontier conflicts as white settlers penetrated northwards, to the Bambatha uprising of 1906, the last attempt at armed defence by an indigenous grouping. c The systematic hunting and Reference 2 - 0.01% Coverage violation of shocking proportions.2 f The genocidal war in the early years of this century directed by the German colonial administration in South West Africa at the Herero people, which took them to the brink of extinction. 8 It is also important Reference 3 - 0.01% Coverage trees are stripped and leafless. 16 But if this was an act of wholesale dispossession and discrimination, so too was the 1909 South Africa Act which was passed, not by a South African legislature, but by the British Parliament. In terms of the South Africa Act, Britain’s four South African colonies were merged into one nation and granted juridical independence under a constitutional arrangement that transferred power in perpetuity to a minority of white voters.
    [Show full text]
  • Reflections on Apartheid in South Africa: Perspectives and an Outlook for the Future
    DOCUMENT RESUME ED 415 168 SO 028 325 AUTHOR Warnsley, Johnnye R. TITLE Reflections on Apartheid in South Africa: Perspectives and an Outlook for the Future. A Curriculum Unit. Fulbright-Hays Summer Seminar Abroad 1996 (South Africa). INSTITUTION Center for International Education (ED), Washington, DC. PUB DATE 1996-00-00 NOTE 77p. PUB TYPE Guides Classroom Teacher (052) EDRS PRICE MF01/PC04 Plus Postage. DESCRIPTORS *African Studies; *Apartheid; Black Studies; Foreign Countries; Global Education; Instructional Materials; Interdisciplinary Approach; Peace; *Racial Discrimination; *Racial Segregation; Secondary Education; Social Studies; Teaching Guides IDENTIFIERS African National Congress; Mandela (Nelson); *South Africa ABSTRACT This curriculum unit is designed for students to achieve a better understanding of the South African society and the numerous changes that have recently, occurred. The four-week unit can be modified to fit existing classroom needs. The nine lessons include: (1) "A Profile of South Africa"; (2) "South African Society"; (3) "Nelson Mandela: The Rivonia Trial Speech"; (4) "African National Congress Struggle for Justice"; (5) "Laws of South Africa"; (6) "The Pass Laws: How They Impacted the Lives of Black South Africans"; (7) "Homelands: A Key Feature of Apartheid"; (8) "Research Project: The Liberation Movement"; and (9)"A Time Line." Students readings, handouts, discussion questions, maps, and bibliography are included. (EH) ******************************************************************************** Reproductions supplied by EDRS are the best that can be made from the original document. ******************************************************************************** 00 I- 4.1"Reflections on Apartheid in South Africa: Perspectives and an Outlook for the Future" A Curriculum Unit HERE SHALL watr- ALL 5 HALLENTOEQUALARTiii. 41"It AFiacAPLAYiB(D - Wad Lli -WIr_l clal4 I.4.4i-i PERMISSION TO REPRODUCE AND DISSEMINATE THIS MATERIAL HAS BEEN GRANTED BY (4.)L.ct.0-Aou-S TO THE EDUCATIONAL RESOURCES INFORMATION CENTER (ERIC) Johnnye R.
    [Show full text]
  • Land Reform from Post-Apartheid South Africa Catherine M
    Boston College Environmental Affairs Law Review Volume 20 | Issue 4 Article 4 8-1-1993 Land Reform from Post-Apartheid South Africa Catherine M. Coles Follow this and additional works at: http://lawdigitalcommons.bc.edu/ealr Part of the Land Use Law Commons Recommended Citation Catherine M. Coles, Land Reform from Post-Apartheid South Africa, 20 B.C. Envtl. Aff. L. Rev. 699 (1993), http://lawdigitalcommons.bc.edu/ealr/vol20/iss4/4 This Comments is brought to you for free and open access by the Law Journals at Digital Commons @ Boston College Law School. It has been accepted for inclusion in Boston College Environmental Affairs Law Review by an authorized editor of Digital Commons @ Boston College Law School. For more information, please contact [email protected]. LAND REFORM FOR POST-APARTHEID SOUTH AFRICA Catherine M. Coles* I. INTRODUCTION...................................................... 700 II. LAND SYSTEMS IN COLLISION: PRECOLONIAL AND COLONIAL LAND SYSTEMS IN SOUTH AFRICA. 703 A. An Overview of Precolonial Land Systems. 703 B. Changing Rights to Landfor Indigenous South African Peoples Under European Rule. 706 III. THE INSTITUTIONALIZATION OF RACIAL INEQUALITY AND APART- HEID THROUGH A LAND PROGRAM. 711 A. Legislative Development of the Apartheid Land Program. 712 B. The Apartheid System of Racial Zoning in Practice: Limiting the Land Rights of Black South Africans. 716 1. Homelands and National States: Limiting Black Access to Land by Restricting Citizenship. 716 2. Restricting Black Land Rights in Rural Areas Outside the Homelands through State Control. 720 3. Restricting Black Access to Urban Land..................... 721 IV. DISMANTLING APARTHEID: THE NATIONAL PARTY'S PLAN FOR LAND REFORM............................................................
    [Show full text]
  • Inkanyiso OFC 8.1 FM.Fm
    21 The suppression of political opposition and the extent of violating civil liberties in the erstwhile Ciskei and Transkei bantustans, 1960-1989 Maxwell Z. Shamase 1 Department of History, University of Zululand [email protected] This paper aims at interrogating the nature of political suppression and the extent to which civil liberties were violated in the erstwhile Ciskei and Transkei. Whatever the South African government's reasons, publicly stated or hidden, for encouraging bantustan independence, by the time of Ciskei's independence ceremonies in December 1981 it was clear that the bantustans were also to be used as a more brutal instrument for suppressing opposition. Both Transkei and Ciskei used additional emergency-style laws to silence opposition in the run-up to both self- government and later independence. By the mid-1980s a clear pattern of brutal suppression of opposition had emerged in both bantustans, with South Africa frequently washing its hands of the situation on the grounds that these were 'independent' countries. Both bantustans borrowed repressive South African legislation initially and, in addition, backed this up with emergency-style regulations passed with South African assistance before independence (Proclamation 400 and 413 in Transkei which operated from 1960 until 1977, and Proclamation R252 in Ciskei which operated from 1977 until 1982). The emergency Proclamations 400, 413 and R252 appear to have been retained in the Transkei case and introduced in the Ciskei in order to suppress legal opposition at the time of attainment of self-government status. Police in the bantustans (initially SAP and later the Transkei and Ciskei Police) targeted political opponents rather than criminals, as the SAP did in South Africa.
    [Show full text]
  • The Making of an African Working Class
    THE MAKING OF AN AFRICAN WORKING CLASS THE MAKING OF AN AFRICAN WORKING CLASS PORT ELIZABETH 1925 - 1963 JANET MARY CHERRY THESIS SUBMITTED IN FULFILMENT OF THE REQUIREMENTS FOR THE DEGREE OF MASTER OF ARTS UNIVERSITY OF CAPE TOWN JANUARY 1992 Abstract The thesis examines the 'making' of an african working class in Port Elizabeth. It offers an alternative interpretation to conventional histories which emphasize continuity both in the idea of a strong industrial working class, and in a tradition of militant and effective worker organisation. At the same time it posits the idea that there was a working-class movement which developed among Port Elizabeth's african community in the late 1940's and 1950's. Chapter 1 examines population growth in Port Elizabeth, the growth of secondary industry, and employment opportunities for africans. It is argued that limited opportunities for african employment in secondary industry affected the forms of working-class organisation that emerged. Chapter 2 examines the situation of the urban african population in the 1920's and 1930's, looking at factors which influenced its organisation and consciousness. The low wages paid to african workers were not challenged effectively in this period by the Industrial and Commercial Workers Union which had declined by the mid-1 920's, or the Trades and Labour Council which did not organise african workers. However, the permanently urbanised status of the majority of the african population laid the basis for a militant community consciousness. Chapter 3 analyses attempts to organise african workers during the Second World War. It focusses on Wage Board determinations, the first african trade unions formed by the Ballingers and Max Gordon, the organisation of the Council of Non-European Trade Unions and the Trades and Labour Council, and the organisation of railway workers.
    [Show full text]
  • Early History of South Africa
    THE EARLY HISTORY OF SOUTH AFRICA EVOLUTION OF AFRICAN SOCIETIES . .3 SOUTH AFRICA: THE EARLY INHABITANTS . .5 THE KHOISAN . .6 The San (Bushmen) . .6 The Khoikhoi (Hottentots) . .8 BLACK SETTLEMENT . .9 THE NGUNI . .9 The Xhosa . .10 The Zulu . .11 The Ndebele . .12 The Swazi . .13 THE SOTHO . .13 The Western Sotho . .14 The Southern Sotho . .14 The Northern Sotho (Bapedi) . .14 THE VENDA . .15 THE MASHANGANA-TSONGA . .15 THE MFECANE/DIFAQANE (Total war) Dingiswayo . .16 Shaka . .16 Dingane . .18 Mzilikazi . .19 Soshangane . .20 Mmantatise . .21 Sikonyela . .21 Moshweshwe . .22 Consequences of the Mfecane/Difaqane . .23 Page 1 EUROPEAN INTERESTS The Portuguese . .24 The British . .24 The Dutch . .25 The French . .25 THE SLAVES . .22 THE TREKBOERS (MIGRATING FARMERS) . .27 EUROPEAN OCCUPATIONS OF THE CAPE British Occupation (1795 - 1803) . .29 Batavian rule 1803 - 1806 . .29 Second British Occupation: 1806 . .31 British Governors . .32 Slagtersnek Rebellion . .32 The British Settlers 1820 . .32 THE GREAT TREK Causes of the Great Trek . .34 Different Trek groups . .35 Trichardt and Van Rensburg . .35 Andries Hendrik Potgieter . .35 Gerrit Maritz . .36 Piet Retief . .36 Piet Uys . .36 Voortrekkers in Zululand and Natal . .37 Voortrekker settlement in the Transvaal . .38 Voortrekker settlement in the Orange Free State . .39 THE DISCOVERY OF DIAMONDS AND GOLD . .41 Page 2 EVOLUTION OF AFRICAN SOCIETIES Humankind had its earliest origins in Africa The introduction of iron changed the African and the story of life in South Africa has continent irrevocably and was a large step proven to be a micro-study of life on the forwards in the development of the people.
    [Show full text]