Address on disturbances in Bloemfontein location, I.J. Nthatisi, March 4, 1919 (Published in The Friend)

At the request of the leaders of the location, the Resident Magistrate, Mr. J. Ashburnham, and the
Mayor of Bloemfontein Mr. D. A. Thomson, motored out to Waalhoek Location yesterday afternoon to
address the natives of the location on the recent disturbances. About 1,000 natives gathered near
Fichardt Siding where a trolley formed the impromptu platform, from which the addresses were
delivered. I. J. Nthatisi read an address to the Resident Magistrate and the Mayor, which, after
expressing their loyalty and thanks for the visit of the recipients, proceeded as follows: --

"It is not pleasant to recall the circumstances which have necessitated your visit to us this day,
inasmuch as they eclipse the good reputation which the residents of this place have always borne.
However, we are confident, sirs, that your presence amongst our people will result in restoring peace
and harmony, which have been suddenly and temporarily disturbed.

"As it is of absolute importance, sirs, that peace and order should be restored and be made
permanent, we beg to point out in a most respectful manner and with all due submissiveness, that
such permanence can only be maintained when the internal grievances of the people have been fully
disclosed to you in your capacity -- one as a representative of the Government in the Native Affairs
Department, and the other as Mayor of the town -- positions which place you under a common
obligation to protect the interests of the native people within the limits of your Jurisdiction. The people
must not only ventilate these grievances on the one hand, but the governing authorities must also
redress them on the other hand.

"We would, therefore, humbly request that an opportunity be granted to lay before you all matters
which disturb the peace of the locations, with a view to adopting a much more satisfactory mode of
governing the people.

"With regard to the burning question of the increase of wages, we beg to thank you from the bottom
of your hearts, your Worship the Resident Magistrate, for the kind words you addressed to our people
from the bench on Monday, the 3rd instant. It was a relief to us to learn that there is no law to
prevent agitation for increase of wages, provided it is done in a lawful manner. This assurance has
given us strength against intimidation, and we therefore wish to avail ourselves of the opportunity we
have to lay before you and before his Worship the Mayor that this agitation for an increase of wages is
not a matter that has been thought of on the spur of the moment, or brought into the minds of the
people by outside influence. It is a movement which is spontaneous among the people, only it has
been lying dormant in their minds on account of their obedience to the order of General Botha that
people should refrain from making any agitations during hostilities; and by their obedience to this
order they have materially helped to accelerate the termination of the war; and now that the war is
over they feel it is time that they should raise the question.

The Minimum Wage Demand

"People are sincere in their demand for a minimum wage of 4s. 6d. a day, and to say it is absurdly
high is to show glaring ignorance of the conditions under which our poor people live ever since the
coming into force of the Native Lands Act which has recently been declared by Mr. Neser, M.L.A., that
its results have been cruel. On top of these cruel results there has come the high cost of living
occasioned by the war; and the people who feel the pinch came to the conclusion to ask the masters
to raise them from the miserable position by granting them this minimum wage of 4s. 6d. a day. We
therefore humbly beg to request you, sir, in your capacity as Mayor of Bloemfontein, to use all your
influence over the Town Council and the other bodies employing native labour in town to reconsider
your decision with regard to this matter, and kindly allow yourselves, as good and sympathetic
masters, to come to the rescue of your poor but honest and humble servants. The cry of the people is,
we are perishing, masters; please make the rope a little longer so as to be within our reach and then
pull us up.

"We equally apply to you, sir, in your capacity as Resident Magistrate, to communicate this request to
the Government on behalf of the men employed on the railway and other Government institutions,
using all your influence over them to secure relief for these poor people. While we are on this point it
is only fair to express our gratitude to those firms in town, which have acceded to the request of their
servants and are already paying them the 4s. 6d. A day. We can assure them they will never be
poorer for that; by their kind act they have made themselves the friends of the needy.

 The Friday Disturbance

"We feel it our duty to express the most profound regret that, owing to the attitude of the authorities
in handling the incident of Friday, a very unusual disturbance took place in the locations. Whatever
happened that day was due wholly and principally to the most unfortunate oversight on the part of the
police, which made them take the role of alarmists in making the whole town believe that a most
depressing cloud was hanging over Bloemfontein, which fact rendered the irresponsible and unruly
class of our people practically unmanageable. We would urge that in future immediately after the
arrest of one of the leaders the police should see their way to get into contact with the leaders to warn
them of what has taken place, in order to save a calamity; and that before any drastic steps are taken
the opinion of the natives should be consulted.

"However, in spite of this unfortunate oversight, sirs, we cannot allow this opportunity to pass without
expressing our appreciation of the able manner in which the police handled a most delicate situation,
which passed off without loss of life. We particularly wish to mention the name of Lieut. Raftery, who,
by a rare combination of patience, tact and presence of mind, averted a catastrophe on Sunday
afternoon. The work he did at that critical moment deserves recognition."

Source:

Karis, T & Carter G. M. (1972). From Protest to Challenge: A Documentary History of African Politics in South Africa, 1882-1964, Volume 1: Protest and Hope, 1882-1934. Stanford University: Hanover Press.

<>