Documents: Africans Acting Alone

DOCUMENTS 51a-51c. Urban Africans Organize

DOCUMENT 51a. "Urban Native Legis­lation." Address by R.H. Godio, Presi­dent, Location Advisory Boards' Congress of South Africa, December 19, 1929 (Published in the Report of the Location Advisory Boards' Congress of South Africa}

Mr. Chairman, Friends and Fellow-Delegates,

It is with much fear and trembling that I venture to stand before you to address you as first president of the "Location Advisory Boards' Congress of South Africa" since its inauguration as a duly constituted body.

Never before have I been so deeply conscious of the fact that I do not possess any of the necessary qualifications for the highly responsible position I occupy. My only con­solation lies in the hope that this, our first Congress, will lose no time in calling upon one of our respected and tried leaders who are present here to-day, such as the Rev. Dr. W. B. Rubusana, Messrs. T. M. Mapikela, A. M. Jabavu and others, to assume this important position; and I can assure you that when that hour comes I shall only be too glad to abdicate in favour of any of them.

My heart is filled with unfeigned joy at seeing such a large gathering assembled here from distant parts of the Union to take part in this very important conference. To every patriot and thinking man who loves his people and takes a keen interest in their affairs, it is a favourable sign, as it indicates an awakening from lethargy and bestirring ourselves to face the issues now confronting us. Therefore, in the name of this Congress, I greet you all with heartfelt gratitude for your presence here to-day, and I desire to extend to you all a cordial welcome to this our first Congress.

Now to come to the subject that has brought us together, it is necessary that I should put you in the way of understanding the basis upon which this Congress is founded. Some of you will remember that about twelve months ago, Mr. A. M. Jabavu, our Vice President, in response to numerous corres­pondents in the Bantu press, convened a meeting of Location Advisory Boards to meet in Queenstown. The invitation met with a good response and no fewer than fourteen Boards were represented at that Conference.

The result of that meeting was the forma­tion of this the "Location Advisory Boards' Congress of South Africa," which has as its objects:--(a) To unite all Urban Location Advisory Boards constituted under the Natives (Urban Areas), Act No. 21 of 1923, and to secure the better adjustment of condi­tions socially, economically and generally of Natives resident in Municipal Locations; (b) to induce co-operation and promote understand­ing between Municipal Authorities and Natives residing in urban areas; and (c) to make such representations to the Union Government, Provincial Councils, Municipal Congresses, Municipal Councils and other public bodies as may be thought necessary.

It was pointed out at that meeting that the Bantu people in these Locations were suffer­ing from many disabilities, the foremost among which were the refusal of certain municipalities to grant trading facilities to the Bantu in such Locations; the insecurity of land tenure; the unsatisfactory conditions under which some Natives are housed therein;
the irksomeness of some of the Regulations framed under Section 23 (3), of the Natives (Urban Areas), Act of 1923, and the failure of municipalities generally to establish Native Villages in terms of Section 1 (1) (b) of the Act.

The meeting felt that it was the duty of the leaders of Bantu thought to endeavour to use all constitutional means in order to ameliorate these disabilities. Being mindful of the fact that their people in these areas were governed under the Natives (Urban Areas) Act which was introduced by the late Government for the social improvement of Native life in the towns, and the operation of which to a large extent depended upon the good faith of Local Authorities, the delegates emphasised the point that one of the aims of the Congress should be as far as possible to establish harmony and good understanding between Local Authorities and town Natives.

Therefore, you are called here to-day to put these aims and objects into definite shape.

My original intention was to review in this my humble Address, the provisions of the Natives (Urban Areas) Act, and if possible, to give a brief resume of legislation affecting urban Natives prior to the passing of that Act. Unfortunately, my recent illness, which was somewhat severe, interrupted my researches with the result that everything towards that end was completely put out of gear. However, I hope my successor will take the matter up.

The year just ended has been an uneventful one as no legislation of importance affecting urban Natives has been placed on the Statute Book, and furthermore, my colleagues and 1 have been occupied with the task of laying the foundation of this great organisation. But as you will observe when we resume the routine business of the Congress, a Bill of paramount importance as far as we are concerned has been published. 1 refer to the Bill to amend the Natives (Urban Areas) Act of 1923, and you will soon be called upon to make such comments and suggestions as you may deem necessary.

As you are no doubt aware, municipalities all over the Union are faced with the problem of the unprecedented migration of Natives to urban centres noticeable in recent years, with the result that some of them are unable to cope with the surplus Native population in the way of employment and housing. In conse­quence certain local authorities approached the Government with a view to the amend­ment of the principal Act in such form as to allow them not only to close their doors against Native ingress into, but to repatriate them from the towns.

The point of view of the municipalities in this respect is not'altogether unreasonable as this unsatisfactory state of affairs has been created by the Government in passing the repressive provisions of the Natives Land Act, of 1913, which restricted the purchase and lease of land by Natives in certain areas. Commerce and industry come under the same category, as the inadequacy of wages paid to Natives is one of the contributory causes to the existing state of affairs, because commerce and industry are benefitting at the expense of both the municipalities and Natives. These latter together make up the deficiency in Native wages. The municipalities make it up by loan charges, which are borne either by the Native Revenue Account to which all monies expended for improvements in areas set apart for Native occupation are chargeable, or by contributions from general rates. The Natives make up their share of the difference by practising rigid economy in their mode of living with the inevitable result that in all big industrial and commercial centres with large Native populations, the death rate among infants is always appalling. As proof of this contention, all investigations in this connection point to the fact that this high infantile death rate is not wholly due to ignorance on die part of their parents, as some would have us believe.

I have endeavoured to show that the point of view of the municipalities is by no means altogether unreasonable, but the attitude they propose to take up is wrong, and will never lead the country to a satisfactory solution of this phase of the Native complex. The only way towards a solution of this problem lies in the adjustment of the conditions of rural Natives, and unless the Natives Land Act is amended as suggested, the chances for a sure remedy are as remote as the Greek Kalends. At this juncture I may remind you that it has been suggested by some foolish and incon­siderate persons that the welfare and pros­perity of the black and white races in South Africa depended in a large measure on the complete segregation from the towns and the gradual repatriation of all male Natives to the country, except such as are housed under the compound system while serving periods of employment. As a preliminary to this novel suggestion the Government was urged to substitute such words as "compounds" for "locations" and "compound annexure" for "native hostel."

You will agree with me that these "sugges­tions" amount to nothing less than an agitation for the abolition of the existing Native townships and the substitution therefore of reservoirs of cheap labour to be styled "compounds." The repatriation theory is as absurd and as puerile as to aver that the non use of petrol in motor cars would accelerate their motion.

I shall not waste any more of your valuable time in dealing with these "excellent" exposi­tions of superficial nonsense. Suffice it to say that the least examination knocks the bottom out of this new theory.

Your duty as trusted leaders of the great Bantu race is to sink all your petty tribal and provincial differences and take counsel together upon these matters which are embit­tering our inter-racial relationships.
I sincerely hope that when we arrive at the stage of considering the new Bill I have referred to, the criticism and suggestions of this Congress, in the interests of our people, will be of a constructive nature, and thereby demonstrate to the European community that with the Bantu people colour prejudice does not outweigh discretion.

My desire and prayer is that you will be happy and comfortable during the short time you  will be in this beautiful town. [Bloemfontein.]

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