A national congress, under auspices of the Dutch Reformed Church, meets to discuss the ‘poor White problem’

Updated: 30 Sep 2019

The 'poor White problem' or the Armblankevraagstuk as it was referred to in Afrikaans, was a significant political issue in South Africa in the late 19th century and first part of the 20th century.

The issue of 'poor Whites' was first discussed at a synod of the Dutch Reformed Church in 1886. Over the following fifty or so years there were conferences held in Stellenbosch (1893), Cradock (1916), Bloemfontein (1923), Pretoria (1930), and another in Bloemfontein (1933).

However, the first national congress dedicated to solving the 'poor White problem' met on 2 October 1934 in Bloemfontein. The congress was organised by the Dutch Reformed Church and was the first congress specifically dedicated to solving this issue.

Research into this issue was also funded by the Carnegie Commission, who investigated the causes for the 'poor White problem', and published a report in 1932 called "The Poor White Problem in South Africa: Report of the Carnegie Commission", which made recommendations about segregation and institutionalised support for 'poor Whites'.

How we know this

01Fourie, J. (2006) 'The South African poor white problem in the early 20th century: Lessons for poverty today' from the University of Stellenbosch working papers: 14/06 [online] Available at: www.ekon.sun.ac.za [Accessed 28 September 2010]
02Swart, M.J., et al. (eds)(1980) Afrikaanse Kultuuralmanak, Aucklandpark: Federasie van Afrikaanse Kultuurvereniginge. Carnegie Corporation Oral History Project. [ONLINE] Available at:https://www.columbia.edu/cu/lweb/digital/collections/oral_hist/carnegie/special-features/. [Accessed 16 February 2015]

Last updated · 30 Sep 2019

Cite this entry

South African History Online. (2011, March 16). A national congress, under auspices of the Dutch Reformed Church, meets to discuss the ‘poor White problem’. South African History Online. https://sahistory.org.za/ref/E-0011542

South African History Online (2011) 'A national congress, under auspices of the Dutch Reformed Church, meets to discuss the ‘poor White problem’', South African History Online, 16 March. Available at: https://sahistory.org.za/ref/E-0011542 (Accessed: 16 October 2026).

South African History Online, A national congress, under auspices of the Dutch Reformed Church, meets to discuss the ‘poor White problem’ [website], https://sahistory.org.za/ref/E-0011542, (accessed 16 October 2026).

"A national congress, under auspices of the Dutch Reformed Church, meets to discuss the ‘poor White problem’." South African History Online, 16 Mar. 2011, https://sahistory.org.za/ref/E-0011542. Accessed 16 Oct. 2026.

South African History Online. "A national congress, under auspices of the Dutch Reformed Church, meets to discuss the ‘poor White problem’." South African History Online. March 16, 2011. https://sahistory.org.za/ref/E-0011542.