Sixty-five years ago (1947-2012) the Joint Declaration of Cooperation known as “Three Doctors’ Pact” was signed by three doctors, Dr. A.B. Xuma, president of the African National Congress (ANC); Dr. G.M. Naicker, president of the Natal Indian Congress (NIC) and Dr. Y.M. Dadoo, president of the Transvaal Indian Congress. This was done in the recognition that all 'non-Europeans' should unite in the struggle against the National Party government and it's segregationist policies. This agreement was a forerunner to the Congress of the People, which drafted the Freedom Charter in 1955.
eventREF E-0011697Revised
Event record
The Joint Declaration of Cooperation ("Three Doctors’ Pact") is signed
- Updated
- 30 Sep 2019
Dr. G.M. Naicker, Dr. A.B. Xuma and Dr. Y.M. Dadoo signing the Pact Image source
How we know this
- 01South African History Online ‘1947-Joint Declaration of Cooperation’,from SAHO [online], Available at: www.sahistory.org.za [Accessed: 17 February 2012]
- 02The University of KwaZulu Natal, ‘The Dadoo-Xuma-Naicker Pact’ from SAHO [online]. Available at: scnc.ukzn.ac.za[Accessed: 17 February 2012]
- 03South African Communist Party, ‘Three Doctors’ Pact, March 9, 1947’, from SAHO [online], Available at www.sacp.org.za[Accessed: 17 February 2012]
Last updated · 30 Sep 2019
South African History Online. (2011, March 16). The Joint Declaration of Cooperation ("Three Doctors’ Pact") is signed. South African History Online. https://sahistory.org.za/ref/E-0011697
South African History Online (2011) 'The Joint Declaration of Cooperation ("Three Doctors’ Pact") is signed', South African History Online, 16 March. Available at: https://sahistory.org.za/ref/E-0011697 (Accessed: 24 October 2026).
South African History Online, The Joint Declaration of Cooperation ("Three Doctors’ Pact") is signed [website], https://sahistory.org.za/ref/E-0011697, (accessed 24 October 2026).
"The Joint Declaration of Cooperation ("Three Doctors’ Pact") is signed." South African History Online, 16 Mar. 2011, https://sahistory.org.za/ref/E-0011697. Accessed 24 Oct. 2026.
South African History Online. "The Joint Declaration of Cooperation ("Three Doctors’ Pact") is signed." South African History Online. March 16, 2011. https://sahistory.org.za/ref/E-0011697.
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