Documents: Africans Acting Alone

DOCUMENT 48b. Resolutions of the Annual Conference of the African Na­tional Congress, May 28-29, 1923 (Published in The Friend)

"That the South African National Congress in annual convention assembled at Bloemfontein on this the 24th day of May (Empire Day), 1923, records its full conviction of the determination of the Union Parliament to reduce the Bantu people to a position of perpetual serfdom, as indicated by the trend of legislation since 1913, and solemnly expresses its alarm and disappointment at the rejection by the House of Assembly of the principle, as contemplated by the Native (Urban Areas) Bill of 1923, of the right of Bantu ownership of landed property in urban areas set apart for Native occupation."This Congress further declares that the Bill in its amended form is utterly unaccept­able to the Bantu population, whom the measure purports to benefit.

"Further, that the declaration by Parlia­ment that the Black man, the man of African descent and origin has no right to ownership of land in this, an African, land, and that only the man of European origin has landed rights in this, a non-European country, is injustice of the grossest magnitude: is a direct challenge to the loyalty of the Bantu and an insult of a most provocative character to the sense of fairness to the Bantu.

"Also, that the incorporation of certain clauses from the Registration Bill into the measure under review, without first consulta­tion with the Bantu population, is a contravention of the provision of the Native Affairs Act, 1920, and is calculated to shake the confidence of the Black people in the word of honour of members of the ruling races in this land.

"This Congress appoints a deputation to proceed to Capetown and place the views of the Bantu population before the authorities with a view to respectfully requesting them to recommend to his Royal Highness the Governor-General to withhold his assent to the Bill, and that the subject matter of the Bill be referred to the Government for reconsideration."

"The South African Native National Con­gress in annual convention assembled at Bloemfontein on the 24th day of May, 1923, and being representative of the Bantu popula­tion of the four Provinces of the Union of South Africa, hereby solemnly resolves to place on record the following declaration, statement or Bill of Rights, viz.:--
"(I) That the Bantu inhabitants of the Union have, as human beings, the indisputable right to a place of abode in this land of their fathers.
"(2) That all Africans have, as the sons of this soil, the God-given right to unrestricted ownership of land in this, the land of their birth.
"(3) That the Bantu, as well as their coloured brethren, have, as British subjects, the inalienable right to the enjoyment of those British principles of the 'liberty of the subject, justice and equality of all classes in the eyes of the law' that have made Great Britain one of the greatest world Powers.
Cecil Rhodes' Formula.
"(4) That the Bantu have, as subjects of His Majesty King George, the legal and moral right to claim the application or extension to them of Cecil Rhodes' famous formula of "equal rights for all civilised men south of the Zambesi,' as well as the democratic principles of equality of treatment and equality of citizenship in the land, irrespective of race, class, creed or origin.
"(5) That the peoples of African descent have, as an integral and inseparable element in the population of the great Dominion of South Africa, and as undisputed contributors to the growth and development of the country, the constitutional right of an equal share in the management and direction of the affairs of this the land of their permanent abode, and to direct representation by mem­bers of their own race in all the legislative bodies of the land, otherwise, there can be 'no taxation without representation.'

"Congress therefore, respectfully urges members of the great European races of the Union to take the whole question into their serious consideration, and calls upon Parlia­ment to take steps in the direction of so amending the South Africa Act of 1909 as to make provision for some adequate representa­tion of the non-European races domiciled within the borders of the Union of South Africa in the Parliament of the Union and in the Provincial Councils thereof.

Native (Urban Areas) Bill.

"That in view of the gravity of the political situation confronting the country and people of the Union, this session of the annual convention of the National Congress be adjourned, pending the return of the deputa­tion from Capetown.

"That, whereas it is desirable and expedient that all peoples of African descent domiciled within the borders of the Union of South Africa and in other parts of the Continent of Africa,

"And whereas it is in the best interests of the African people that all existing Bantu organisations, such as inter-denominational Native Ministers' Association, Native Teach­ers' Association, Native Farmers' Associ­ation, Workers'  Union,  Bantu Women's Leagues, Vigilance Committees, and so forth, shall be affiliated with this Native National Association,

"It is resolved that the South African Native National Congress shall henceforth be known and described for all intents and pur­poses as 'The African National Congress.' "

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