1940s: Overview
The 1940s in South Africa were characterised by chains of political, social and economic events, resistance and campaigns. These were spearheaded by blacks, Indians and Coloureds and were a direct challenge to the whites - only government and companies owned exclusively by whites.
The first campaign in the 1940s took place in Alexandra Township. There were two bus boycotts in Alexandra in 1940 and 1944. The residents of Alexandra responded positively to the call by their leaders after several threats were made by the bus company operating in the township to raise its fares from 4 pence to 5 pence. These boycotts spilled over into other parts of the country.
There are a number of reasons for these resistance campaigns. People lived under very poor socio-economic conditions. Unemployment and poverty levels were sky high in Alexandra and the people reacted angrily to the bus company's proposed new fares. The residents simply could not afford the higher fares. The committees such as the Alexandra People's Transport Committee (APTC) and the Evaton People's Transport Council (EPTC) were set up to engage in talks with the bus company's management and organise the campaigns. Apart from these committees the liberation movements like the ANC and South African Communist Party played a pivotal role in the mobilisation process. In Alexandra C.S. Ramahanoe and Gaur Radebe were on the Transport Committee. Ramahanoe was a member of the ANC ... 
