Date: 6 July, 1977

The Coloured Labour Party strengthened its position by forging an alliance with six members of the Coloured Persons Representative Council(CPRC). Unity talks were held and it was decided unequivocally to tell the government that the present political dispensation of apartheid was unacceptable. They rejected the “dialogue policy” of the government, which they considered as an attempt to steer them away from cooperation with their fellow Blacks.

The Coloured Persons Representative Council (CPRC) was formed with forty elected members and twenty nominated members. It had the legitimate right to make laws affecting Coloured people on finances, local government, education, rural settlements, agriculture, community welfare and pensions. No bill could be introduced without the approval of the Minister of Coloured Relations, nor could a bill be passed without the approval of the white Cabinet.

References:

Kalley, J.A.; Schoeman, E. & Andor, L.E. (eds)(1999). Southern African Political History: a chronology of key political events from independence to mid-1997, Westport: Greenwood.

Anon, (n.d.), ‘South Africa: Time of Change’from South African Communist Party [online] Available at www.sacp.org.za[Accessed: 30 June 2011]

Anon, (n.d.), ‘Separate Representation of Voters Amendment Act No 50 of 1968 isenacted’ from South African History Online [online] Available at www.sahistory.org.za[Accessed: 30 June 2011]