Documents: Africans Acting Alone

DOCUMENT 48i. Report on the proceedings of the Annual Conference of the African National Congress, in Umteteli wa Bantu, May 3, 1930

The 19th annual convention of the African National Congress was held at Bloemfontein during the Easter holidays. There were many delegates from all provinces of the Union, as well as representatives of the territories of Basutoland, Swaziland and Bechuanaland and the Transkei. Also present were Chiefs from the Northern Transvaal and Zululand, and among the achnowledged leaders were Messrs J. T. Gumede, S. M. Makgatho, T. M. Mapikela, Revs. John L. Dube and Z. R. Mahabane, Dr. P. ka I. Seme, and Messrs T. B. Lujisa (I.C.U. of Africa), A. Z. Mazing;
(Durban), A. W. G. Champion (I.C.U. yase Natal), W. Bhulose (Durban), B. Ndobe and E. Tonjeni (Cape Town ), H. Selby Msimang, C. S. Mabaso, L. T. Mvabaza and R. V. Selope-Thema (Johannesburg).

The gathering was momentous in the his­tory of Congress, taking place as it did at a time when South Africa was called upon to determine the black man's place in the national life of the country. There can be no doubt that South Africa is at the crossroads, and the people of South Africa both white and black are asked to decide which road should be taken. The significant feature of the convention was the presence of a strong element of the Communist Party, led by a European, one S. Malkenson of Bloemfontein. The actual number of Communist delegates was only four, but their number was swelled by recruits from the ranks of the African National Congress, (Western Province branch) and the I.C.U. of Africa.

It is the belief of many members of the Congress that the Western Province of the Cape is to a large extent influenced by the Communist Party. "The South African Worker," the organ of the Communist Party, commenting recently on the convention of the Congress, said; "Following the example of Ndobe, Tonjeni and other courageous leaders of the Cape, and making hard work among the masses a sine qua non of leadership, a single fighting policy should be hammered out in place of the several incoherent or downright reactionary policies which exist at the pres­ent." This is reasonable proof that there is a connection between the Western Province Section of the Congress and the Communist Party.

The convention was opened by Dr. Walter Carey, Bishop of Bloemfontein, who in the course of his address, said he was glad to be present at that momentous gathering. He believed that God was asking three things of South Africa, and that the whole world was looking to South Africa for these three things. The circumstances were such that South Africa, and South Africa alone could settle the three questions. "God," declared the Bishop, "is asking South Africa to find a settlement and solution of the Native problem on the basis of equal justice and freedom. No other part of the world can find the solution of this burning question besides South Africa. We must get rid of prejudice and fear and base the solution of our inter-racial problems on justice and freedom. The second question is how Boer, Briton and Bantu can build up a State founded on mutual goodwill, and the third question is how we can bring the gospel of Christ to everyone in the continent of Africa. What we need for a just solution of the Native problem is statesmanship on the part of the white man. Prejudiced, hurried and panicky legislation will not solve the question. The whites must recognise that when a nation begins to move no one can stop it. A feeling of nationhood is a divine instinct and cannot be suppressed. But if it is true that the white man needs all the statesmanship he possesses, it is equally true of the Bantu people. You need principles of statesmanship clearly car­ried out. You want to put your case before the public in such a manner that the public will recognise the justice of it, and then you are bound to win."

After Chief S. Mini and Mr. R. V. Selope Thema had responded to the Bishop's address, Mr. J. T. Gumede delivered his presidential address, in the course of which he condemned the Government's Native legislation which, he said, was putting the Africans deeper into slavery. He challenged the legality and justification of "this anti-African legislation." The Bills were so intolerable that speedy and drastic measures must be adopted if they were to gain their liberty and maintain their manhood and self-respect. In looking round the world one found that there were everywhere risings of oppressed peoples against their exploiters, there were, for instance, the Chinese revolution directed mainly  against British Imperialism; the Javanese revolt against Dutch Imperialism;
and now there was the impending Indian revolution. In fact a terrible economic crisis was threatening the capitalistic world. Millions of unemployed were being added to an already chronic number, and there was an immediate threat of international wars. All the talk about the League of Nations and Naval Disarmament were so many smoke-screens to hide the preparations for war. Referring to Soviet Russia, Mr. Gumede said that his sympathies were with the peasant workers of Russia, and he urged Congress to consider the matter of defending them against the onslaught of the enemies of the oppressed peoples of the world. Everywhere the oppressed peoples were being inspired by that ideal of emancipation which found expression in the Russian revolution. There was still an illusion that the people would obtain justice from the British Government. But the plain truth was that they had again and again failed in their petitions to the British Government, and that their supplications to the Governor-General had been futile. "We have now to rely on our own strength, on the strength of the revolutionary masses of white workers the world over with whom we must join forces. We have to demand our equal economic, social and political rights. That cannot be expressed more clearly than to demand a South African Native Republic, with equal rights for all, but free from all foreign and local domination."

The effect of this startling speech was to raise a storm of protest from the majority of the delegates who made it plain that the address did not express their views. Probably Mr. Gumede's object in making such a fiery speech was to catch votes, but if so he failed hopelessly.

The election of Dr. P. ka I. Seme as president-general was accepted by the Com­munist Party as a challenge to the workers. Mr. S. Malkenson, who was given an opportunity of stating the case of the Communists, said no longer would the fight be a secret within the Congress; it would become a struggle outside Congress; and the militant masses would decide the issue.

Dr. Seme on behalf of the new Executive welcomed this declaration of war, and said that they did not want any militant organisation to hide under the name of the Congress. They were determined to get rid of Communist influences.

In addition to the resolutions published in last week's Umteteli the following were passed:--

"While the convention expresses its appreciation of the Government's action in appointing a commission to inquire into the economic conditions of Natives in urban areas, it requests the Minister of Native Affairs not to proceed with the Natives (Urban Areas) Act Amendment Bill until the commission has reported."

"Further the convention prays that the terms of reference should include the investigation of the conditions of rural Natives as the migration of Natives to urban areas is largely due to the operation of the Natives Land Act, as also the congestion in Native Reserves.

"That Union Day, May 31, be observed by the Bantu community throughout South Africa as a day of humiliation, prayer and protest against the policy of political domination and economic strangulation of the Bantu race inaugurated by Europeans with the consummation of Union in 1910."

The Executive of the Congress for the next three years is as follows:--

Dr. P. ka 1. Seme, B.A., L.L.B., president-general; Rev. Z. R. Mahabane, senior chaplain and parliamentary reporter on Native legisla­tion, T. M. Mapikela, speaker; C. P. Matseke, deputy-speaker and chairman of committees;
Chief Stephen Mini, president of the Chiefs' Council; T. D. Mweli Skota, secretary-general;
S. M. Makgatho, senior treasurer; R. V. Selope-Thema corresponding secretary; D. S. Letanka, secretary of the Upper House; C. S. Mabaso, financial secretary; A. Z. Mazingi, clerk of the House; Rev. J. L. Dube, education; H. Selby Msimang, labour; Dr. A. B.
Xuma, health, urban areas and assistant treas­urer: Rev. J. S. Likhing, representing Griqualand West; Mrs. Mahabane and Mrs. Matambo, chairwomen of Women's Auxiliary.

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