NATIONAL CONSULTATIVE COMMITTEE

12th November 1957*

TO THE NATIONAL EXECUTIVESi

URGENT CIRCULAR FOR CONGRESS CAMPAIGNING OB THE GENERAL ELECTION.

"THE NATS MOST GO I "

A new period opens before SouthAfrica* the months leading

up to the General Election.

The National Consultative Committee here outlines the aims

of Congress campaigning during this period.

Attached are plans for a campaign and a oopy of an interview given by the President General of the African National Congress, Chief A.J.Luthuli, giving the Congress viewpoint on the elections and the

issues before the country.

The campaign plans attaohed are in outline only.

Tkey are placed before you for urgent and immediate discussion.

Your Executive Is asked to comment on the outline, to propose additions and amendments and to forward in t h e shortest possible time, detailed plans and targets for your own organisation in this campaign. Many details have yet to be filled inj the specif10 activities of the various partners in the Congress alliance during these months, how the oampaigns of the A.N.C, Women's L e a p e and t e Federation of SouthAfrican Women, the Congress of Democrats and S.A.C.P.O. will form prt of the general overall activity outlined

herein.

Yours fraternally, NATIONAL CONSULTATIVE COMMITTEE

"THE NATS MUST QO ; '«

The general aims of the campaign*

1. To defeat the Nats;

2. To assefct the right of all SouthAfrioans to Freedom and Demooraoy and for the aims of the Freedom Charter.

3. To intensify the peoples' struggles for their rights so that every local campaign links up with and helps to strengthen the general offensive against the Nationalists.

THE ELECTIONS DO CONCERN U S ! There are some who hold the view that the non- Europeans can be only passive spectators in the General Eleotion fight; that because the non-White people do not have the vote,the battle between the political parties has nothing to do with the non-White people,and Congress should not concern itself with the Eleotion.

BUT the general election battle is of vital concern to all non-Europeans, and to the Congresses and we can greatly Influence its course.

Many problems place the non-White people of our country, but the immediate problem of all democrats is - get rid of the Nats. Never have our people known a tyrrany as severe as the Nats have imposed on us since their accession to power in 1943* The non-White people have been dragged further and further towards enslavement, and as Chief Luthuli points out in his interview, "A further period of Nationalist rule after the elections will almost certainly strain already dangerously tense conflicts past breaking point and bring about a National disaster”.

A ruthless Government of the Nats does not weaken or frighten the Congress movement. On the contrary, it has grown stronger and more determined during this period. Butthe struggle against the Nats grows daily more bitter and harder, and that bitterness will leave scars which will make more difficult the task of building the multi-racial society of equals, that is our aim.

Congress opposition to the Nationalists is not based on any confusion about the aims of the United Party, which too often has been but a pale shadow of the Nationalists, and which has abdicated its role of a really forceful Parliamentary opposition to the Nationalists. But the defeat of the Nationalists, and a Government moreyielding to pressures from within the country from thema.jority of the :eople (As well q.s more sensitive to democratic pressure from abroad) would oreate great opportunities for the people to press forward for their rights, and great opportunities for the rapid development and maturing of the Congress struggle.

aCongress struggles during the pre-election period must be/constant, pressing

reminder that the greatest forces for freedom are found among the non-White people, and their actions will, be decisive.

NOT ANOTHER YEAR OF NATIONALIST DICTATORSHIP! Must be our slogan and side by side must be the intensification of the peoples' positive aims and campaigns, the main ones being*

. for the abolition of the Pass Laws.

. for an end to Group Areas and all forced removals

. for a £1 a day minimum wage

. for the right to free speech and organisation, the ending of the persecution of Congress leaders. (The "WE STAND BY OUR LEADERS CAMPAIGN”.)

• for the right of all SouthAfrioans to vote and have a hand in their Government.

RESERVATION OP JOBS IS CLOTHING INDUSTRY*

Attempts by the N.C.C. sub-committee appointed to arrange the convening of a representative workers' conference to protest against the reservation of jobs in the clothing industry, had failed. The Garment Workers* Union and the T.U.C. had been approached, but had not responded to the call f o r unity.

Despite the Minister's decision to extend the present Industrial agreement, the threat of large-scale unemployment in the industry still remained and actually existed in areas not covered by Industrial Agreements.

It was the opinion of the N.C.C. that agitation against the reservation of jobs and the I.C. Act should continue* It was important that S.A.C.T.U. take a prominent part in agitating against the decision of the Tribunal and offer a militant lead to the workers who are faced with the prospect of mass unemployment and the lowering of their living standards.

A recommendation of the S.A.C.T.U. Management Committee that a mass Conference be convened by S.A.C.T.U. and sponsored by as many organisations as possible,was agreed upon. Conference is to be held on the 10th November.

The organisations are requested to give their full support and assistance to the organisation of this Conference.

MEMORANDUM ON CONGRESS CAMPAIGNS:

The above memo was approved by the N.C.C. and is attached hereto for discussion by the National Executive Committee of the organisations. Immediate action, co-ordination and mass activity on regional and local levels is necessary if the proposals submitted in the memorandum are to be effective. Each organisation is recommended to make its plans immediately and to submit these without delay to the N.C.C. so that the work can be adequately co-ordinated.

In order to facilitate the arrangements, a N.C.C. sub-committee to supervise and discuss arrangements for a National Workers’ Conference to be held in February, was elected.

A further sub-committee to assist in drafting speakers' notes and propaganda material for the various campaigns was also elected.

The full co-operation of the Congress organisations is essential if the campaigns outlined in the memorandum are to be a success and the organisations are therefore requested to give the matter their full and immediate attention.

Enclosures Discussion notes - the General Election - "The Nats must Goi"

"THE NATS MUST GO lM

The general aims of the campaign s

1. To defeat the Nats;

2. To assert the right of all South Africans to Freedom and Democracy and for the aims of the Freedom Charter*

3. To intensify the peoples* struggles for their rights so that every local campaign links up with and helps to strengthen the general offensive against the Nationalists*

THE ELECTIONS DO CONCERN US I There are some who hold the view that the non-Europeans can be only passive spectators in the General Election fight; thdt because the non-White people do not have the vote, the battle between the political parties has nothing to do with the non- White people, and Congress should not concern itself with the Election.

BUT the general ejection battle is of vital concern to all non- Europeansr and to the Congresses and W c a n greatly influence its

course.Many problems face the non-White people of our country, but the

immediate problem of all democrats is - get rid of the Nats. Never have our people laiown a tyranny as severe as the Nats have imposed on us since their accession to power in 1948. The Non-White people have been dragged further and further towards enslavement and, as Chief Luthuli points out in his interview, "A further period of Nationalist rule after the elections will amost certainly strain already iscgKr dangerously tense conflicts past breaking point and bring about a Rational disaster.

A ruthless Government of the Nats does not weaken or frighten the congress movement. On the contrary, it has grown stronger and more determined during this period. But the struggle against the Nats grows daily more bitter and harder, and that bitterness will leave scars which will make more difficult the task of building the multi-racial society of equals, that is our aim.

Congress opposition to the Nationalists is not based on any confusion about the aims of the United Party, which too often has been but a pale shadow of the Nationalists and which has abdicated its role of a really forceful Parliamentary opposition to the Nationalists, But the defeat of the Nationalists, and a Government more yielding to pressure from within the country from the majority of the people (as well as more sensitive to democratic pressure from abroad)would create great opportunities for the people to press forward for their rights.and great opportunities for the rapid development and maturing of the Congress strupr.le.

Congress struggles during the pre-election period must be a constant, pressing reminder that the greatest forces for freedom are found among the non-White people, and their actions will, be decisive.

NOT ANOTHER YEAR OF NATIONALIST DICTATORSHIP! lust be our slogan, and side by side must be the intensification of the peoples* positive aims and campaigns, the main ones being s . for the abolition of the Pass Laws . for an end to Group Areas and all forced removals* for a £1 a day minimum wage* for the right to free speech and organisation, the ending of the persecution of Congress leaders.(The MWe STAND BY OUR LEADERS CAMPAIGN”.)

. for the right of all South Africans to vote and have a hand in their Government.

SEE THE CAMPAIGN AS A WHOLE: LINK ALL DEMANDS AND STRUGGLES.

Every effort against apartheid and the Nationalists is a part of the general struggle. A victory In one comer of the country is a victory for all. A local struggle even in a small village opens the door to wider peoples' action. 1957 has proved just this. This has been a historic year in which more and more sections of the people were drawn into the struggle against the Nationalists. Milestones of the year have been the great Bus Boycott, June 26th, the struggles of the people of Zeerust, Sekukuniland, the broad campaigns against University and Nursing Apartheid and many others.

The evensts of the year must teach us that the issues on which the people will campaign cannot rigidly be dictated* their local condition will determine that for them. For example, in some areas the possibilities of action against the pass laws, or for £1 a day, or against Group Areas, majf be remote, but the people may take strong action on the issues of Bantu authorities. Provincial and local leaderships must study closely local conditions, and devise campaigns and slogans which fit these conditions. Similarly, on the general issues of the pass laws aid g against removals, local Congress leaderships must formulate demands and actions which suit local conditions, e.g. in Johannesburg, the anti-pass campaign might well take fhe form of a demand to "Get the Ghost Squad off the Streets“(linked with theMcrime wave” and yet the failure of the pass laws to stop crime and on the contrary, the intensification of bitterness and frustration as a result of daily raids and arrests). In Johannesburg and the Reef the demand for a minimum wage of £1 a day should be linked with the campaign against the reht increases. "Asinamali No rent increases. £1 a day.

Particular campaigns must be tackled by the appropriate sections of the Congress movement. Throughout the campaigns conducted by the Congress movement, there must be stress on the following two points:

UNITY IS THE KEY.* Those who take part in militant-Nat activity in different parts of the country do not belong to the same body, or share the same policy. Not all who fight the Nats agree with the aims of the Freedom Charter, for example. But we are all allies against the same main enemy; we are one in our opposition to thj policies of the Nation­alist^ Government and this unity, growing every day and in every struggle, must be preciously guarded, and is the key to victory. A turning point in the growth of unity and co-operation between the £nti~Nat forces is, of course, the approaching multi-racial conference.

ORGANISATION IS THE ANSWER: Out of every campaign must grow stronger Congresses. "Every new Congress member is a blow against the NatsH. 195o membership campaigns must fix a target for national membership and quotas for recruitment by every branch in the country.

This, then, is the general framework into which campaigns should fit1 Every attack on the peoples* rights by the Nationalists must be met by answering militancy, struggle for the peoples' demands, heightened Congress organisation and preparedness.

In addition, certain particular parts face the Congresses.

1. Provincial Regional Congresses. On the lines of the one organised in the Transvaal should be held to prepare the people for this new campaign.

2t On December 10th, there will be a world-wide DYA OF PROTEST AGAINST SOUTH AFRICA, organised in America by the American Committee on African whose declaration is already supported by signatories drawn from 36 countries. In six countries public meetings and demonstrations will take place on this date

There must be couiitry- wide demonstration, timed to co-incide with these world-wide demonstrations of support for the struggles of the South African people.

It should be noted that this Day of Protest falls approximately at the same time as the Multi-Racial Conference.

3> The trial remains an important issue and the organisation shault continually keep it before th® people.

1+. In February the National Conference for £1 a day must not he regaredd as "just another Conference" hut as one of the peak points in a vital capmaign for £1 a day.

AWAY WITH THE HATS. AND FOR FREEDO' IN OUR LIFETIME.

NATIONAL CONSULTATIVE COMMITTEE

November 12th, 1957*

Enclosure: Copy of an interview given by the President General of the African National Congress, Chief A.J. Luthuli, giving the Congress viewpoint on the election and the issue before the People.

Collection Number: AD1137

FEDERATION OF SOUTH AFRICAN WOMEN 1954-1963

PUBLISHER: Publisher:- Historical Papers Research Archive

Location:- Johannesburg

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