( THE JOHANNESBURG PLANNING COUNCIL TOR NON-EUnOPBAN SOCIAL WELFATJE.

MINUTES OP A SPECIAL MEETING OF THE JOHANNESBURG PLANNING

COUNCIL AND GUESTS TO MEET DR. I.D. DU PLESSIS, THE COMMISSIONER OP COLOURED AFFAIRS, HELD IN THE BOARD ROOM,2nd FLOOR, NON-EUROPEAN AFFAIRS DEPARTMENT, 80 ALBERT STREET,

JOHANNESBURG. ON THURSDAY. 16th October, 1958. at 3.0 P.m..---

PRESENT :

Dr, A.W. Dr. I.D. Dr. J.J.

Messrs.T.W.A.I.D.

S.

F.A.

E.A.D.J.

Mesdames

Ho^mle

du Plessis Scheepers

Koller Klapka

Young Renecke

Rass

Galli Schmidt

M.A. Hough L. Marks

J.C. Fraser G.E. Gilbert J.H. de Silver

B. Flusk M.P. du Plessis J.M. Fredericks E.T. Hlatshwayo

M. MacDowell

B. Lovell D. Tucker

V.O. Palmer E.S. Matshikiza

K. Plaatjes J. Lautr£

Chairman.Commissioner of Coloured Affairs, Divisional Inspector, Department of Labour.

Non-European Affairs Department. Non-European Affairs Department.

B.E.S.L.Jhb. Sports Board of Control.

B.E.S.L.Welfare, P.U*T.Co.Non-European Affairs Department.

■ Jan Hofmeyr School of Social Science.• Chairman, Service Products, Crown Mines.

• Vice-Chairman, " " " "• Service Products, Crown Mines.• Col. and Indian Blind Welfare Assoc.

- Non-European Affairs Department.- Joh. & Dist. C.C. Welfare Society.- Non—European Affairs Department.- Non-European Affairs Department.- Non—European Affairs Department.- Non-European Affairs Department.- Non-European Affairs Department.- Non-European Affairs Department.- Non-European Affairs Department.

- Hon. Secretary - N.E.A.D.

APOLOGIES :

Mrs. I. Wagner - Chairman, Disabled Ex-servicemen's Welfare Fund,

Col. H. Skjoldhammer - Salvation Army.Miss H. Marwick - Non-European Affairs Department.

* * * * * * *

Opening remarks by Chairman.

The Chairman, in opening the meeting, welcomed Dr. du Plessis and explained to those present that this was a special meeting of the ivon-European Planning Council of Welfare Organisations. The Planning Council was formed after the Conference that was held at the University, consisted of Indian, Coloured and African Welfare and Youth and Recreation Organisations, and met monthly to try to help in any way the Organisations concerned. The Chairman expressed appreciation to the Non—European Affairs Department which supplied the Planning Council with a Secretary and made the Board Room available for

the holding of the meetings.

The Chairman said that the Coloureds complained of the lack of

facilities for welfare and youth and recreation activities in their community. There was also a need for sheltered employment for civilians. It was known that there was a very fine scheme for ex-Servicemen at Crown Mines but there was a real need for this facility for the civilian population. Accordingly, the Chairman had written to Dr. du Plessis and asked him if there was anything that his Department could do in this connection. He had replied that he was coming to Johannesburg and would be glad to meet the Planning Council.

The Chairman expressed regret that Mr. Quaker and Mrs. Wagner could

not be present as they were particularly interested in this matter.

Dr. du Plessis explained his position in order to avoid any misunderstanding 33 to what his Department could anc could not do. His Department had already taken over several of the social welfare services and there were certain services being subsidised by his Department and others that were not. In the case of those services which were not directly subsidised, his Department acted in a liaison capacity and he undertook, if

any matters in this category were raised at the meeting, to ensure that they reached the Department concerned. In the case of those services with which his Department was directly connected, he gave an assurance that whatever

could be done within limit, would be done.

Sheltered Employment for Coloured Civilians.

Mr. Marks said he was associated with the Service Products,Sheltered Employment both European and Non-European. In principle his Committee was in thorough agreement that Sheltered Employment was urgently

needed for Coloured civilians. He said that although their European section originally commenced as an ex-Servicemen's project, today civilians, both male and female, were employed and it was thought that a similar facility should be created for the Coloured civilians. At Crown Mines there were 100 ex-Servicemen who were thoroughly trained.

(The work consisted entirely of Government Orders.) The only Department at the moment was the wood-working Department, which had for the past few

years been concentrating mainly on Government School desks for Native Schools and worked to a very strict Government specification. Consequently

the costs were kept as low as possible and the year before last, were the

second lowest in the Union.

Both the Works Committee and the Social Welfare Committee, of which Mrs. Wagner is the Chairwoman, worked entirely as voluntary committees.Mr. Marks paid tribute to Mrs. Wagner and her co-workers for the work done

for the Europeans and Coloureds.

Mr. Marks thought that the Service Products Committee could actually be of very great practical assistance to the Planning Council as in a short time and with the minimum of cost both from the point of view of capital expenditure and from a general administration point of view, Sheltered Employment for Coloured civilians could be established. The activities at Service Products had extended so much that the present works had outgrown, under normal conditions, the demand put upon them and although approximately two years ago an adjoining area of ground had, with the consent of the Government,, been acquired from Crown Mines for the purpose of extending the factory to regularise the flowsheet in anticipation of welfare demands being placed upon them by the Government Department, unfortunately, due to lack of finance, no progress had yet been made.Plans had been drawn up and lodged with the Public Works Department and the scheme only awaited the approval of the Treasury. Mr. Marks pointed

out that if Service Products were permitted to develop the area which adjoined and would become an integral part of the present work, probably

as many as 50 Coloured civilians could be employed and trained with the present staff. They would receive the 3ame rates of pay as the other employees.

The present rates of pay plus C.O.L.A. were as follows

On admission...................................... 9̂ 1 • Per week.After three months probation.................... £ 2.17.10a. per week.After six months satisfactory conduct and work .. £ 3 . 8. 5d. per week.

Rising to .........£ 3.17. 7d. per week.Rising to .........£ 4 . 6.lid. per week.

Rising to a maximum of ........................... £ 4.19. 3d. per week.

In addition to this, through the Social Welfare Committee, tha employees paid

6d. per day and received the following -

A break of 10 mins. at 10.0 a.m. - cup coffee and 4 slices brown bread with jam, A break of \ hour at 12.30 p.m.- soup and 6 slices white bread with sliced

tomato, fishpaste or cheese.

A break at 3.0 p.m. - mug of tea.

In addition to the above they were served with fruit in season - apples, oranges,

naartjies, when available. Those men suffering from stomach ailments and non—contagious Tuberculosis received milk instead of soup, tea and coffee.There was also a Welfare Officer who looked after the welfare of the employees and their families. At Noordgesig there were 12 cottages which were rented to

some of the men, at a very low rental and it was hoped to be able to extend

these.

The same facilities as described above would be extended to the

civilians. All that was needed was the support of the Treasuxy in approving the extensions to the factory. (This would improve the property which was a Government asset.) Mr. Marks requested Dr. du Plessis to do all he could to

persuade the Treasury to grant the necessary funds so that the project could be proceeded with. (He invited Dr. du Plessis, time permitting, to inspect

the Sheltered Employment at Crown Mines.)

Dr. du Plessis had an idea that the Coloured section of the B.E.S.L,

had previously raised this matter (employment of civilians in sheltered workshops) and all he could do was to stress the urgency of obtaining the funds from the Treasury. However, now that he knew what the actual position

was, he would take the matter up again and see what could be done.

Miss Fredericks advised that this point had been raised at the

last two conferences of the B.E.S.L.

Dr. du Plessis requested the B.E.S.L. to write a brief letter to

him reminding him of the problem and asking him to take it up again.

The Chairman enquired of Mr, Marks if it was possible to give an

estimation of how much money would be required.

Mr. Marks replied that approximately £60,000 was needed.

Dr. Scheepers, the Divisional Inspector of Labour, said that the estimate of money that had been arrived at was a reflection of the cost of buildings, etc., but probably an item that would cost very much more was the Government subsidy for wages; the Government had up to now refused to subsidise any Coloured wages. The number of Coloured ex-Servicemen

employed at the present time in the factory was about 100, At times it was difficult to keep this number up to 100 and therefore on a number of occasions, the Department had been approached to get authority to employ civilians to keep the number up to 100, So far the Department had not

accepted the principle.

The problem was therefore divided into two -

(a) A question of finance.

r(b) The persuasion of the Government to accept in

principle that provision should be made for the

employment of civilians as well. This was a matter of policy and Dr. Scheepers felt that some sort of action could be taken by Dr. du Plessis'

Department fairly soon.

Mrs. du Plessis enquired whether the number of persons who would require sheltered employment was known. No definite figure could be given but Mr. Marks had in mind 50 as an initial figure. The available ground was such that if and when the principle was accepted by the G-ovemment,

extensions could be added.

General.

(a) Welfare Services.

The Chairman asked Dr. du Plessis if ho could explain which welfare

services were being subsidised by his Department.

Dr. du Plessis said that the main sections at the moment were creches^

disability grants and family allowances - not maintenance grants. There were also certain institutions such as placement Hostels which were being subsidised.

His Department had already taken over to a large extent the delinquent schools

and intended talcing over the schools for the blind and deaf.

He undertook to submit to the Chairman, a complete list of the activities taken over by his Department to date, and those which it was

intended to take over.

(b) Coloured Recreation.

Mr. Renecke said that now that the Group Areas had been proclaimed, it was felt that there was no prospect of obtaining recreation facilities for the Coloured population. The only available area where a Coloured Recreation Ground could be established, had been proclaimed a buffer strip and light

industries would be developed on the area. It was felt that there was sufficient available ground for the establishment of light industry and appealed, through the Planning Council, that efforts be made to have this area reproclaimed for the purpose of establishing a Coloured Recreation

Ground, as suitable ground for this purpose was so limited.

Dr. du Plessis said that this particular question had already been put to his Department and a memorandum had been submitted in writing. He requested Mr. Renecke to give him his name and the name of the Organisation he represented, after the meeting, and he would investigate the matter on his return and reply to Mr. Renecke on how far the matter had progressed.

Dr. du Plessis pointed out that the matter would however, have to

be taken up with the Group Areas Board.

Mr. Koller advised that the Non-European Affairs Department had

already taken this matter up with the Town Clerk, who would make representations to the Group Areas Board. There was a possibility that the decision would be reconsidered.

(c) Housing Schemes.

Miss Fredericks felt that there was a great need for a working Girls’

Hostel, for a Home or cottages where blind people and their dependants could be

housed, and accommodation for people who could not afford to pay high rents.In the Coloured areas there was in existence only one Hostel which was run by the Methodist Church and catered mainly for girls belonging to this Church.

Dr. du Plessis said that housing was one of the very important aspects which did not fall directly under his Department. Social Welfare work, etc. was dependent on the provision of adequate housing and one of the functions of this Department was to send out Inspectors who reported on the areas suitable for housing. His Department collaborated with the local

authorities and urged the matters with the Group Areas Board, which sat in

judgment as a Court and had to consider all the aspects. He gave the assurance that no areas were proclaimed before, at a hearing, the people concerned had had a chance of putting their views and his Department had put its views. The viewpoints were then submitted to the Minister, together with a report from the Group Areas Board. He said that his Department had the very greatest respect for the work done by the Johannesburg City Council in regard to housing and he gave the assurance that his Department, together with the Johannesburg City Council was endeavouring to urge these

matters as rapidly as possible.

Regarding facilities in the Housing Schemes, tue finding of capital funds at the moment was a difficult matter. The Treasury was at the moment

very loath to expend money for capital expenditure. Regarding other facilities, e.g. the provision of amenities such as playing fields, etc. his Department helped directly in this direction, Improvements to playing

fields, fencing, pavillions, dressing rooms, conveniences, etc. were subsidised by his Department. His Department also assisted with the

subsidisation of cultural facilities.

He gave the assurance that once the housing schemes had been established, his Department and the local authority would endeavour to expedite

the matters as much as possible.

The Chairman enquired about New Monteieo - in relation to the

expense of developing the area.

Dr. du Plessis said that the Group Areas Board was giving funds to develop the area and there might be some possibility of the Development Board

coming into the picture.

Mr, Koller explained the position. When this ground was first proclaimed as a Coloured Group area, the Johannesburg City Council, in its desire to proceed with Coloured housing schemes, immediately took the matter up, but the price that was quoted was quite unreasonable and made it quite impossible to develop the area for housing within the capacity of the Coloureds to pay. The Council therefore, abandoned the idea and informed the Development Board that it could not develop the area. From unofficial information received, it was understood that the Group Areas Development

Board had taken the matter up and the transaction was almost complete.The development of the area would be carried out by the Development Board,

Mr. Renecke complained that there was no proper liaison between the Coloured community and the City Council, etc., with the result that there was often misunderstanding on both sides and the information received by the Coloured community was often insufficient or incorrect. He felt that responsible Coloured persons should be elected to act as liaison between the Coloured community, the Council and the Coloured Affairs Department.

The Chairman pointed out that this was one of the objects of the Planning Council - to act as liaison and to assist the Coloured community wherever possible.

It was general opinion that it had been a very worthwhile meeting,

considerable encouragement being received from Dr. du Plessis. It was hoped that something would result in regard to Sheltered Employment.

i4, Vote of Thanks.

The Chairman thanked Dr. du Plessis for attending the meeting and

wished him well in his job in Pretoria.

The Chairman thanked everyone for finding time to attend the meeting

and hoped it would be for the benefit of the Coloured community and everyone

else concerned.

THE MEETING TERMINATED AT 4.0 P.M.

* * * * *

/ms.25.10.58.

Collection Number: AD1715

SOUTH AFRICAN INSTITUTE OF RACE RELATIONS (SAIRR), 1892-1974

PUBLISHER: Collection Funder:- Atlantic Philanthropies Foundation

Publisher:- Historical Papers Research Archive

Location:- Johannesburg

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