Documents: Africans Acting Alone

DOCUMENT 49b-3. Resolutions of the demonstration against the Prime Minister's Native Bills, 1926 (Mimeographed, 2 pages)

The Industrial and Commercial Workers Union of Africa, having in mind the definite promises and frequently re-iterated by the Prime Minister that the legislation embodying his Native policy would make provisions whereby the Natives would be assisted by the Government to become possessed of the land which became their heritage under the Act of 1913; and further, that provisions would be made encouraging the development and pro­gress of the Native people --, is compelled to regard the Prime Minister's Native Bills as failing to fulfill his solemn promises, and as constituting a breach of faith which can only result in the most serious menace to the peace and security of this land. It is obvious that the disfranchisement of the Natives in the Cape Province, the serfdom inaugurated by the license-conditions of labour tenants, the nuga­tory effect of the restricted functions of both the proposed Native Council and the repre­sentatives of the Natives in the House of Assembly, as well as the subtle methods by which all representations of the Natives in both the Council and the House are (directly or indirectly) Government nominees, all evidence:--

(1) to refuse the Natives any real partic­ipation and responsibility in the Government of the land of their birth;

(2) to discourage the progress or develop­ment of the more enlightened section of the people; and

(3) to inaugurate, through forced-labour conditions a fresh era of slavery. The I.C.U. therefore resolves:--

(1) That the proposed measures, as embodied in the Prime Minister's Native Bills, be strenuously and unconditionally opposed as being a retrogade step in legislation on Native affairs, and as being inimical to the welfare of the Native people.

(2) That the Prime Minister be requested to drop the present proposals, as embodied in the Native Bills, in TOTO; and that organisa­tions and individuals--European and non-Europeans--interested in the welfare of Natives, be asked to submit constructive proposals which shall embrace the following principles:--

(a) The allocation of territories specifically for Native occupation, on such terms and with such reasonable Government assistance as will make it possible for tribes, registered companies and aggregations of Natives to procure land on a secure tenure;

(b) The encouragement of a system of "small-holdings" which shall assist progressive agricultural  development by enlightened Natives and aggregations of Natives;

(c) The gradual abolition of the squat­ting system in such a manner as to avoid hardship and to encourage settlement and development in specifically Native territories;

(d) The revision of the Masters and Servants Acts to render their operation equitable and just.

(e) The abolition of the Pass Laws and the institution of a more equitable and humane system of police supervision and control.

(g)* The repeal of the iniquitous Col­our Bar Act, and the institution of some system encouraging the opening up of agricultural, industrial and commercial enterprise by non-Europeans in non-European areas;

(h) The revision of the constitution of the present Annual Native Conference so as to make it more truly representative of the Native people in every walk of life, through a direct vote;

(i) The granting to that Conference, when so re-constituted, of real power of legislation on matters directly affecting the welfare of Natives; and the recognition of such a Conference's opinion on matters indi­rectly affecting them;

(k)* The retention of the franchise by Native voters in the Cape and the extension of this franchise to Natives and other non-Europeans elsewhere:  the qualifications-particularly educational of voters to be raised considerably;

(1) The direct representation of Native opinion in the Native Affairs Commission by the appointment of a Native member thereto;

(m) The revision of the constitution of the Senate so as to make it primarily elective; and the election of a longer portion of the Senate to be representative of Native opinion and interests--such election to be by the direct vote of duly qualified Native voters;
'Items "f" and "j" do not appear in the available manuscript (n) The exercise of the provisions of the Electoral Act of 1911 to safeguard and control all elections by Natives; and provision made--with all due safeguards--for the record­ing of Native voters by post where necessary;

(o) That a period of not less than two years be allowed for such recommendations and schemes to be submitted; and

(p) The provision that any enactments subsequently made shall be scrutinised and revised by the Native Affairs Commission, the Native Annual Conference and the Govern­ment, at the end of five years after the commencement of the Act. It is further resolved:

That the I.C.U. pledges itself to devise and submit a constructive scheme for the removal of disabilities and restrictions imposed by

(a) The Pass Laws,
(b) The Masters and Servants Acts,
(c) The Colour Bar Act;
for the more just treatment of the non-European workers and for the improvement of their conditions of service, and for the encouragement and training with a view to personal advancement and the improvement of the economic and social life of the non-European workers.

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