Petition to King Edward VII, from the Orange River Colony Native Congress, June 1906

TO THE KING'S MOST EXCELLENT MAJESTY.

The humble Petition of the loyal Native Subjects of His Majesty Edward VII, King of all
Britain
, her Colonies and Dependencies, sheweth:-

(1) "That those of His Majesty's loyal Native Subjects residing in the Orange River Colony are much gratified that His Majesty has been pleased to attach to himself as his servants the Leaders of the Liberal party, whose discharge of the trust committed to them will, they believe, conduce to brighter and more prosperous days for all races and colours of British subjects.

(2) "That your petitioners are humbly confident that the condition and welfare of His Majesty's Native subjects in this Colony will not be forgotten or occupy the background when the interests of other races of British subjects are being consulted:

(3) "That your petitioners respectfully desire to bring before your Majesty the importance of the problem of Native Representation when Self-Government is conceded to this Colony:

"That your petitioners earnestly deprecate the clause in the Vereeniging Peace Terms which compromised the claim of the Natives to what they feel is a legitimate franchise. Indeed, it seemed to them deplorable that before bloodshed ceased the avowed cause of Justice, Freedom, and Equal Rights, for which the war had been undertaken, should have been so easily abandoned.

"That your petitioners believe that without some measure of representation in the legislatures of this Colony their interests will ever remain in jeopardy, and that however they may conform to the rules of civilized life they can never hope to enjoy those of its privileges as, for instance, liberty to trade and to own land, which are at present withheld from them.

(4) "That your petitioners, therefore, humbly pray that the Imperial Government, when preparing a Constitution for the Self-Government of this Colony, would insert some clause which will either grant some representation to its Native subjects or retain the Administration of Native Affairs under its direct control until their enfranchisement is accomplished.

(5) "That your petitioners desire also to bring before your Majesty their position under Municipal Governments in this Colony:

(i). In the large Municipal locations there are thousands of civilized and tolerably educated Natives who have entirely discarded the customs and practices of such Natives as are still living in tribal fashion. Despite the fact that they live in conformity to the rules and requirements of civilization, they are debarred from any form of civil rights. In Municipal Councils, which possess enormous powers for making laws and regulations for the management of locations and of natives in locations, they have no voice and no means of making their grievances and needs known to the Councils; their deputations are more often refused than granted a hearing.

(ii). To show the position of Municipal Councils, your petitioners respectfully tender, inter alia, the following information; -

In Bloemfontein recently blasting operations were undertaken in a stone-quarry in Waai Hook location. These operations sub­jected the property and lives of house-owners to great danger. But in spire of remonstrances from the occupants in that locality they were not discontinued until recourse was had to legal measures, and the High Court ordered their immediate cessation.

(iii). Next followed the valuation of houses in the land expropriated for the extension of the same quarry. Considerable losses were incurred by the house-owners, who were forced to accept compensation without arbitration, and ordered to remove at once. A deputation sent by the house-owners was refused an interview with the Mayor.

(iv). At the present moment new laws under the title "Zogt Regulations for Bloemfontein Municipality" are awaiting the sanction of the Lieut. -Governor. These are in principle identical with the methods in vogue in countries where slavery is still counte­nanced, and in practice will be nothing short of enforced labour.

(v). One of the most painful things to your petitioners is the carriage of street and residential passes by Native women, who, under pretext of this requirement are examined (sometimes indecently) by the police in the streets.

(vi). Your humble petitioners hold the opinion that it is only just and constitutional that where sufficiently large numbers of civilized Natives are congregated who contribute towards Municipal revenues, they should be granted some means of making their voice felt and recognized by the Municipality in matters affecting themselves.

(vii). In Bloemfontein and Kroonstad, for instance, their contributions towards Municipal revenues take the form of Water and Sanitary Rates, monthly rent for house stands, and the monthly street and residential passes required of male and female persons over 16 years of age. Hence the conviction of your humble petitioners that their qualifications and contributions towards Municipal finances fully entitle them to some rights of Municipal representation, if not of separate Municipal self-government."

And your petitioners will ever pray

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.

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