NOVEMBER 22, 1957 (1)
Mr. Chairman
Ladies and Gentlemen,
Once again I speak to you through a proxy, thereby emphasising the fact that the restrictions which have been imposed on me are still in force, preventing me talking to you in person. But this restriction is no bar to our thinking together and planning for a free South Africa, a country in which the basic freedoms would be guaranteed to all her citizens, Africans and non-Africans.
We are most fortunate in having with us Mr. Govan Mbeki. Mr. Mbeki is a well known figure in the African National Congress and is one of the great leaders in the national liberation struggle in South Africa. His presence here tonight is most welcome to us because it demonstrates in no uncertain manner the unbreakable bonds of friendship and brotherhood that have been forged between the African and the Indian people in our united endeavours to make South Africa a happy home for all her people. We assure Mr. Mbeki that the Indian people of Natal will stand united with the African people in all their just struggles conducted under the freedom banner of the African National Congress.
Since we last met in Conference, one of the most significant things that has happened is the tremendous strength shown by the Congress organisations notwithstanding the nation-wide arrests of prominent leaders on a charge "high treason". (2)
The treason case is before the courts of the country and therefore any comments in relation thereto cannot be made. As the lawyers say the matter is sub judice. I will therefore not make any comments save that the Treason Trial Defence Fund has received world-wide support and we must express our sincerest thanks to men like Canon Collins in England and Mr. George Houser in America for the wonderful work they are doing. In South Africa too, the Fund has rallied round it men and women of great prominence who have shown that there is a tremendous amount of goodwill in our country in all sections of the South African people.
This Conference has received messages of support and encouragement from people throughout the world. While we express our sincerest thanks to them for their messages, we must always bear in mind that our struggle is a South African struggle and that in keeping with our basic principles of non-violence and non-racialism we will bring freedom in South Africa through our own efforts in this country.
In the international field, since we last met the cause of freedom has made great advancement. It is necessary for us to take note of the advances made in the cause of freedom in all parts of the world, for we are not living in isolation. The struggle for freedom and emancipation is a global struggle and so is the struggle against the bigotry of racialism.
We welcome the emergence of the new Malaya and Ghana, a free country on our own continent. We pray that Ghana, with all her painful teething troubles, may become an outstanding example of democracy and freedom to the whole world.
At the United Nations once again, the policies of the South African Government have received searching examination on the part of democratic nations who have with one voice rejected apartheid and segregation. We are thankful to India and Pakistan for their united stand on the question of treatment of Indians in South Africa when this matter was again debated at the United Nations and we express the hope that these countries may soon solve their differences and work together on all issues as they have done on the colour question in South Africa.
The United Nations resolution calling for a solution of the so-called Indian question in South Africa by tripartite talks, bearing in mind the principles and purposes of the United Nations Charter and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, is to be welcomed and let us hope that sanity will prevail and that the Union Government will not stand in the way of Round Table talks between the three Governments.
We reiterate our total opposition to colonial oppression and welcome the great strides made by the forces of world peace. Let the scientists of the world be rallied to the cause of peaceful reconstruction instead of making nuclear weapons of destruction. Man is on his onward march to conquer space and in this age of "Sputniks" let mankind advance to the great heights which it is capable of achieving.
While the world is making tremendous progress and while the old outmoded concepts are being discarded all over, South Africa continues to find herself groaning under the oppression of apartheid tyranny. Whereas in India the Government is making untouchability a criminal offence, in South Africa the Strydom Government is not only perpetuating a caste system but is sanctifying it with the halo of religion. Whereas in the United States of America the Federal Government is carrying out a vigorous programme of integration, in South Africa the Government of Mr. Strydom is doing everything possible to work against the natural process of integration and is busy cutting up our multi-racial population into ethnic segments.
White domination and white supremacy are paraded before the all-white electorate as the only basis for the survival of the white man in South Africa. It is a policy which will lead South Africa to disaster. It is a policy which has resulted in such measures as job reservations, resulting in the whole country facing upheaval and chaos.
Delegates attending this Conference will have to study in detail the apartheid laws passed by the last session of Parliament. They will have to study the administrative measures taken by the Nationalist Government in their indecent haste to impose apartheid on the unwilling masses of the people in the country. Delegates will have to take decisions on these questions and will have to carry out these decisions through their branches in keeping with the policy of Congress.
While the Government has continued on its onward march with its policy of apartheid leading the country to the brink of disaster, the South African people have not sat quiet with folded arms. The growing democratic front of the South African people is the real answer to the challenge of apartheid.
We welcome the important Inter-race Conference taking place in Johannesburg early next month. (3)
We note with satisfaction the fact that this conference is being sponsored by people of such varied views and we regard it as an important milestone on the road to racial harmony in our country.
The Nationalist measure which is likely to receive the greatest attention of the Indian community is the Group Areas Act, a measure which has been rightly denounced as one aimed at facilitating the expatriation of our people from South Africa.
It is the duty of each and every delegate to rally his or her branch and the entire membership of the Congress in defence of our homes. The Group Areas Act must and will be fought by our people until South Africa takes a saner stand.
Linked with the Group Areas question are other vital issues which affect South Africa's people as a whole. We must show our solidarity with all the oppressed people of South Africa in their struggle against apartheid and segregation. We express our admiration of the African women's struggle against the passes and pledge our support to them. We pledge our support to the Coloured people in their struggle against communal franchise. We pledge our support to all South Africans engaged in fighting apartheid tyranny.
The general elections scheduled to take place next year will give the white electorate an opportunity of expressing their views on the Nationalist Government, a Government which represents only a minority of even the white voters. Although the non-white people are voteless the outcome of the elections is of vital importance to us. We are unanimous in our resolve to end the Nationalist tyranny and therefore we must do everything possible for the defeat of the Nationalist Party at the polls.
But by taking this stand we are in no way accepting the segregation policies of the opposition parties. We reject baaskap and white supremacy no matter from which source it comes but at the same time we are pledged to work for the broadest possible united front against the injustices and oppression of the present regime. It is necessary for this Conference to give the Indian people of this province guidance and lead on the question of the forthcoming elections for we cannot and we shall not be passive spectators when the country, or rather when the white electorate, goes to the polls.
Conference will have to deal with questions such as education, housing and unemployment among the many items that appear on the agenda paper. I am confident that our delegates will take each issue affecting our people, discuss it and give a correct lead so as to advance the cause of freedom, to advance the principles enshrined in the Freedom Charter.
Let us remember most categorically that we have declared a war against segregation and apartheid, for we believe segregation and apartheid to be evils which destroy human dignity. We have chosen the superior moral weapon of non-violence in our peaceful struggle to uphold human dignity. Let the white rulers of South Africa know that we are equally interested in upholding their dignity. They must realise that by keeping the non-white people prostrate in the gutter they themselves have to be in the gutter. Our concept of South Africa is a South Africa for all her people.
We believe in the brotherhood of man. We want to see the white and the non-white people give their best to this young and rich country and we want to see the white and the non-white people share equally in the country's wealth and happiness. We have never preached hatred for anyone and once again let me emphasise that at no stage will we tolerate anyone within the Congress fold advocating the use of violence to achieve our noble objective of freedom.
Delegates to this Conference, I want to say to you that posterity will be proud of you for the able manner in which you have held high the Congress flag during the year under review, notwithstanding the treason arrests and the great organisational tasks with which you were confronted. I appeal to you to go forward in that spirit during the coming year and build on the foundation which has so ably been laid by our founder, Mahatma Gandhi.
Forward to a free South Africa under the banner of "Democracy and Justice for All"!
(1) The address was read by the Vice-President of NIC since Dr. G. M. Naicker was banned from attending gatherings.
(2) In December 1956, 156 leaders of the people, including Dr. G. M. Naicker, were arrested all over the country and charged with high treason. The trial dragged on until 1961 when all the accused were acquitted.
(3) A multiracial conference on the theme "Human Relations in a Multi-racial Society" was convened by the Interdenominational Afrian Ministers` Conference as a follow-up of the All-in African Conference of October 1956. It was held at the University of the Witwatersrand in Johannesburg, and was attended by about 400 participants.