The Congress of the People was a dramatic affair held over two days in an open space near Kliptown, a coloured township near Johannesburg. It was attended by 3 000 delegates from all over the country, including 320 Indians, 230 coloureds and 112 whites. The various clauses of the Charter were introduced, there was an opportunity for impromptu speeches from delegates present, and the clauses were then read out and acclaimed by a show of hands. The Isitwalandwe/Seaparankoe – the highest honour awarded by the ANC – was awarded to Chief Luthuli, Yusuf Dadoo and Father Trevor Huddleston.

Only Father Huddleston was able to accept his award at the Congress of the People, as Luthuli and Dadoo were unable to attend because of banning orders placed on them. The proceedings were brought to an exciting close by the arrival of a large detachment of police bearing sten guns in the afternoon of the second day.