Petition to the South African National Convention from "aboriginal natives of
We, the undersigned, being aboriginal natives of
We desire to remind you that the natives in this colony have hitherto been totally unrepresentative in the local Parliament, notwithstanding the fact that they contribute largely in direct taxation to the treasury, in addition to bearing a full share of the indirect taxation through pass-fees, the railways, and the Customs tariff. We attribute the advancement in prosperity, contentment, and loyalty, which is such a marked characteristic of the natives of Cape Colony, to the generous policy that has permitted them to qualify themselves as citizens, and to enjoy the privileges of citizenship. And we submit that the same happy result may be expected to follow the extension of the Cape franchise to our people throughout
We therefore submit to the favourable consideration of your honourable convention our claim to be permitted to qualify for the full political privileges such as may be granted to the European population in the constitution you are preparing for submission to His Majesty the King, while praying that the interests of those of our people who may be unable to qualify for this franchise may be protected by a measure of separate representation following in part the method suggested in the report of the South African Native Affairs Commission. [Published in The Aborigines' Friend of January 1909, which notes that the petition was "very extensively signed."] Source: Karis, T & Carter G. M. (1972). From Protest to Challenge: A Documentary History of African Politics in South Africa, 1882-1964, Volume 1: Protest and Hope, 1882-1934. Stanford University: Hanover Press. |