(Dr. Dadoo and Dr. Naicker, Presidents of Transvaal and Natal Indian
Congresses, visited India in March 1947 to attend the Asian Relations
Conference and meet Indian leaders, including Mahatma Gandhi, Pandit
Jawaharlal Nehru and Mohammed Ali Jinnah. They were given a farewell
at a packed meeting at Gandhi Hall, Johannesburg, on March 10, 1947.
They issued the following joint statement to the South African people
on the eve of their departure on March 11, 1947.)

We carry with us the goodwill and the good wishes of the entire Indian community
and the Non-European peoples, and the progressive elements among the Europeans
to the people of India.

We are leaving the shores of South Africa at a critical and decisive
phase in her history. The Smuts Government has shown a bankruptcy in
leadership in dealing with the acute post-war problems which confront
both the white and non-white populations The acute housing shortage has
created a crying scandal. Thousands of homeless people amongst the Africans
are forced to live in squatters' hell in sack shanties.

Fostering Race Antagonism

Instead of giving a strong lead on the decision of the United Nations,
the Smuts Government is guilty of not only permitting but fostering race
antagonism. This antagonism has begun to express itself in the boycott
of Indian traders and the open propaganda of our vulgarly fascist bodies.

General Smuts is attempting to cover up the criminal failure of his
Government to deal with the colour and post-war problems by riveting
the attention of the people an the pomp and glamour of the Royal tour.

But this will be a temporary affair, and when the curtain goes down
on the Royal visit, the chaos and confusion existing in South Africa
will be exposed to the public gaze. Under the guise of the Royal visit,
reactionaries in the Indian community are being rendered every assistance
by the Union Government, with the sole purpose of attempting to divide
the Indian people.

The Indian people must beware of this trap. We appeal to them to stand
fast. Do not heed the counsel of despair. Render full support to the
Passive Resistance Movement. Join up as volunteers. Help financially.
History has entrusted you with the important task of being in the vanguard
of the battle for democracy in South Africa.

Historic Meeting

The historic joint meeting last Sunday between representatives of the
African National Congress, representing the African people of South Africa,
the Natal Indian Congress and the Transvaal Indian Congress, and the
Joint Declaration ensuing therefrom, have paved the way for greater and
closer cooperation between the African and the Indian people.

We hope that ere long the Coloured community too will come in, into
this great movement.

On to Freedom

We appeal to the Non-European people to come forward on the road to
freedom. We appeal to all true democrats and men of goodwill in the European
community to throw in their lot wholeheartedly on the side of progress.
They can either through the extension of democratic rights to all South
Africans go forward in step with the world democratic forces to a greater
and happier South Africa and towards world peace or else allow the fascist
forces in the country to lead us into racial antagonism, a totalitarian
regime and war.

The battle for democracy is on!
On to Freedom!
Au Revoir.

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