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The Black People’s Convention

In 1971, to encourage adult participation and promote their broad objectives, SASO leaders established an adult wing of their organisation, the Black People’s Convention (BPC).

The Black People’s Convention (BPC) was established an umbrella body to coordinate its adherents, as black consciousness had an immediate appeal for thousands of black South Africans. Although it was not an official organisation-but rather an Black Consciousness outreach organisation-it initiated a number of bodies that advocated its philosophy. The Black Community Project was designed to spread a political message through example. The project was involved in the assessment of the needs of the community and helped members of that community to identify their problems and also to put forward their own solutions.

At the 1972 SASO conference, hostility towards Black leaders operating from officially approved institutions of apartheid emerged, resulting in the expulsion of the president of the adult wing of SASO (BPC), Themba Sono. Sono was expelled after giving a presidential address at the SASO annual conference calling for a pragmatic approach and careful collaboration with White liberals and for “Bantustan” leaders to advance the objectives of the organisation and the liberation struggle. Biko described Sono’s speech as “very dangerous”. In fact, Sono had Chief Gatsha Buthelezi, one time member of SASO, in mind when he pleaded for some sort of co-operation with selected leaders, saying he was a “force you cannot ignore.” Nevertheless, Biko could not be persuaded to ally with a leader he perceived as representing the Black Face of Apartheid.