On the Convocation of a National Convention: Statement by the ANC on the proposal of Chief Buthelezi for a national convention, 4 October 1971

[From: Aquino de Braganca and Immanuel Wallerstein, The African Liberation Reader, Volume 3, pages 108-09.]

Recently, Chief Gatsha Buthelezi, head of the Zulu Tribal Territorial Authority, issued a call for a national convention of all races in South Africa. This idea is being supported by the United Party, the Progressive Party, the Trade Union Council of South Africa, and other organisations. However, even this very tentative move has been firmly rejected by the ruling, fascist, all-white Nationalist Government.

A national convention has always been necessary in South Africa, where a white minority group illegally monopolises power to defend and advance its interests of oppression and exploitation.

During its long history of relentless struggle, the African National Congress... has continually demanded the convocation of a genuine national convention, representative of all the people, to discuss and draw up a truly democratic constitution in which political and economic power would be controlled by and vested in the overwhelming majority, the African people. There could be no other meaningful, realistic convention or political dialogue.

Yet the fascist Nationalist Government rejected a national convention on any basis.

In 1961, when for the last time, the oppressed people, led by the ANC, made a call for a national convention in place of a whites-only Republic, the fascist regime replied with the most unprecedented mobilisation of the oppressor army in an attempt to crush the national stoppage of work which we called in reply to the enemy's refusal to summon a national convention.

Our call was answered with the ruthless forms of legalised, police and military terrorism. Political organisations were banned; the leaders of the people were arrested, tortured and restricted. The white minority regime declared open war against an unarmed people. This marked the close of a chapter in the history of our struggle for freedom and justice. The peaceful avenues of struggle were closed, and severe penalties, up to the death sentence, were imposed. In these circumstances, the African National Congress was compelled to lead the oppressed people in a violent offensive against a violent repression. Armed repression could only be met by armed revolt.

Yet, white organisations and individuals that have supported and continue to support the perpetuation of white rule - the United Party, the Progressive Party and the Trade Union Council of South Africa - now want a national convention. Why?

These white, anti-Black groups see with the greatest fear that the liberation of the Black man is approaching. They see by the actions of the Black people of our country that their hatred of the white oppressor and their determination to seize political power, relying on their own strength, have doubled, despite and because of the iron heel of mass arrests, torture, indefinite detention and murder of patriots. They see that the ANC, the oppressed and exploited people, are not shaken in their resolve to prosecute the armed struggle up to victory.

They see that the progressive peoples the world over are more than ever determined to isolate apartheid South Africa, politically, economically, culturally, in all spheres of life, and are prepared to grab at anything to save themselves from total isolation.

They realise that the South African economy itself is threatened with collapse as a result of the apartheid policy of the super-exploitation of the Black workers.

They recognise all this and they realise that they have to devise new methods of continuing the system of white rule and Black exploitation and for deceiving the international community.

The African National Congress declares that the only genuine national convention that can be held in South Africa would:

1. be vested with sovereign and unlimited authority to change South African society in all its aspects;
2. be attended by representatives of all the national groups in proportions that reflect the composition of the South African population.

Moreover, for such a convention to be genuinely sovereign and democratic, the African National Congress declares that the following pre-conditions would have to be met:

1. The suspension of the racist constitution;
2. The lifting of the ban on the vanguard organisation, the ANC, and all other popular organisations;
3. The release of all political prisoners and banned, banished and restricted patriots and the full participation of the people's leaders like Nelson Mandela and others, in the preparations for and actual work of the convention;
4. The immediate and unconditional return of all political leaders abroad;
5. The immediate, complete and unconditional compliance with the Universal Declaration of Human Rights;
6. The immediate and unequivocal repeal of the Land Act;
7. The immediate repeal of all repressive legislation such as the Native Urban Areas Act, the Suppression of Communism Act, the Terrorism Act, Proclamation 400 in the Transkei, and all other such legislation;
8. The disarming of the police and army and disbanding the existing machinery of police and military terrorism.

The African people, other racial groups and the world must compel Vorster and his racist clique to agree to the national convention. The racist minority still believes that it is invincible and can command and herd history according to its will. It is only from a position of strength, when the Black people's war of liberation seriously threatens the white minority regime that the National Government will be obliged and ready to talk.

The main direction towards change, the content of the political struggle of the indigenous and oppressed masses in our country is through the armed struggle which the ANC has already launched and will continue to prosecute with increasing vigour.