Vol. 4, No. 39 Registered at the G.P.O. as a Newspaper

NORTHERN EDITION Thursday, July 17. 195|L 6(1.

DADOO CALLS FOB FIGHT AGAINST GROUP

ABEASSoviet

Ambassador He Entertained Non-European Guests

Soviet Consul-General Ivanov (left), his wife and Consul Dozhdalev photographed at the docks. They chose to leave South Africa rather than apply a colour-bar at their embassy.

A MASSIVE protest cam- I the disaster of Group Areas paign must be mounted this rproclamations facing the people

year in South Africa ga inst of Durban, Pretoria, and otherareas.

Those today not yet ordered to quit their homes and businesses will get their turn tomorrow, so “all Non-Whites must stand firm, united and fearless” in opposition to Group Areas.

THESE WERE POINTS MADE IN AN EXCLUSIVE NEW AGE INTERVIEW WITH VETERAN INDIAN LEADER, DR. Y. M. DADOO.

Court actions, said Dr. Dadoo, should be instituted where possible, but people should realise that court actions in themselves could not defeat the. Act.

A broad front of Indians, Africans, Coloureds, and Whites opposed to the Act had to be buiit, based on unity of local and regional committees.

“People must not acquire ownership or take occupation in bare veld ghettoes set aside for them.”

The first hurdle the Government must get over is to try to crack the resistance of Non-Whites threatened by the Act.

Once people begin to surrender their homes and move tamely like sheep to places such as Lenasia and Claudius and other bare veld areas set aside for them—as in so many country towns too—the

(Continued on page 8)

i;:

f* ^

Worcestei ANC leaders ChargedTwelve ANC leaders have been

summoned to appear before the magistrate this week on charges of unlawfully addressing meetings during February.

The names of those who are to appear arc K. Baartman (Chairman of the local ANC), K. Tollie (Secretary), J. Ngulube, J. Dimeza, G. Mpinda, J. Busa, C. Sogwagwa, J. Nqakala, R. Sebezo, P. Bushula, and Miss Jane Maqubela, organising secretary of the African Food and Canning Workers’ Union;

‘ Mr.Have

American Ambassador, You A Colour B a r? ’

An Open Question From New Age To Mr. Byroade

^''HE American government keeps on talking

about the equality of all men irrespective of race. It speaks of its sympathy for the people of Africa.

How does America stand in relation to the Africans in South Africa?

WHAT IS THE AMERICAN EMBASSY DOING TO SHOW ANY PROOF OF FRIENDSHIP?

When the Americans celebrated Independence Day this month did they invite a single African, Indian or Coloured to join with the white guests? No. They did not.

There have been rumours that the U.S. State Department is getting a little anxious about this, and that Ambassador Byroade has been told to do something to win friends among the Non-Europeans.

There was a chance for Ambassador Byroade to do

something about it at the Independence Day celebrations this month.

Mr. Byroade drank a toast with apartheid Minister Sauer.

Mr. Byroade did not drink any toast with any Non-European leader. For no Non-European leader was invited.

Soon there will be another celebration. Lincoln Day, the anniversary of the liberation of the slaves.

New Age suggests to the U.S. Embassy that it give one real sign of its opposition to racialism by inviting representations of the Non- Europeans to that celebra-

the U.S. moreeven

functions. And claims to be democratic than the Soviet Union.

DON'T INCREASE-

END P O LL TAX!

JOHANNESBURG.The African National Congress

unhesitatingly rejects the proposed increase in Poll Tax for both African men and women, ANC Secretary-General Mr. O. R. Tambo told New Age last week.

Any additional tax on the African would prove an intolerable burden. Already thousands of Africans are arrested yearly for failure to pay the present poll tax, he said.

The poll tax is already both unfair and an undisguised instrurnent of oppression and exploitation. Taxation of the African is one of the measures that were introduced to make him work for European bosses. And today this taxation is meant not only to solve the labour problem but also as a source of revenue to finance the growing burdens of the hated apartheid schemes, said Mr. Tambo.

“The plain truth is that the Africans are already paying through their necks through various indirect taxes and other contributions. In addition Africans pay income tax and tax under the Bantu Authorities Act.”

Other points made by Mr. Tambo were;

# The Africans are taxed without representation in the state bodies, a principle contrary to Ac practise of all democratic countries.

# Their taxation is not based on ability to pay.

# Whereas due to the mismanagement of the country’s affairs by the Government the cost of living is constantly going up but there is no corresponding rise in wages of the Africans.

The struggle against poll tax was part of the struggle against passes, the low wages, the Bantu Authorities Act, says Mr. Tambo, speaking on behalf of the ANC.

“We call upon the people to prepare themselves for the bitterest struggle in the town and country to defeat the arrogant mentality of the Nationalists who have been contemptuous of the practical demands of the people.”

American Ambassador—He Does NOT Entertain Non-Europeans

lion on a basis of full equa-^ y .

After all, when the Soviet Consul General was here he always invited Non- European guests to his

U.S. Ambassador Byroade with Nat Minister Paul Sauer at the Independence Day celebrations. The U.S. did NOT entertain any

Non-Europeans there.

N EW A C E

LETTER BOXReligion and Politics

Catholic Viewpoint

Special Branch at Nurses Congress Verwoerd Insults The Airicans

jyj^EMBEJtS of the Special Branch were present when delegates

1. Christianity aims at the emergence of people into full personality and freedom. God made man with a freedom like His own, to have life in fullness. Christ came for that and the Church continues his work. This objective for man has practical consequences. Above all, it is the reason for man’s real dignity. Because of this, men may not be manipulated like parts in a machine (as political systems. East and West and in South Africa, do today). Christianity believes that man’s nature is not a mere transitory material thing, but that it has an element permanent, free, and responsible. This spiritual element, far from being a myth, is the condition of freedom.

Pius XII College, Roma, Basutoland.

No Freedom Without God

2. And because Christianity is an incarnational religion (which believes that God loves natural things which he created, and uses them for our redemption, and in fact became man) it is not a religion of “pie in the sky.’’ The things of the world matter. Our hnal end is heaven but that has consequences NOW. Arc your correspondents (in their marvellous ignorance) not aware of a Christian social philosophy aimed at the widest human responsibility, at worker participation, at human rights—in short, at a happiness which comes from sufficiency, goodness, and real humanity?

they are the enemies of Christ and the Gospel. The name of Christ is despised and insulted. But these men won’t shift from their political bigotry in the light of God’s Word.

The Bible teaches that man was made in the image of God. Man is the masterpiece of Gbd’s creation. To despise man because of his skin colour is to insult God Himself.

South Africa is sin-ridden. Europeans, Africans, Coloureds and Indians need Christ’s blood for remission of sin. The Bible is no European Book or else they would give their fellow Black brothers a fair treatment and good share in the wealth of a country so rich.

Freedom whether physical or spiritual cannot be enjoyed by a nation that rejects God. God freed the Israelites from Egvptian bondage through a God-fearing man, Moses. All students of history know what John Wesley, Martin Luther, Calvin and others did fgr their countries through Christ’s Gospel. Remember the abolition of slavery was brought about by Christ’s Gospel here in Africa.

Away with oppression! Down with paganism and unbelief in the God of the Bible! Forward to Freedom with God on our side.

from all the main centres of the Union attended the first annual congress of the Federation of South African Nurses and Midwives which was held in Cape Town last weekend. They left the hall when it was brought to the attention of the chairlady that they were there.

TRUE SON OF AFRICA Roodepoort.

The congress was opened by Dr. A. C. Jordan, and messages of support were received from nursing organisations in Ireland, Jamaica, Iceland, Lebanon, and India.

FOR RACIAL HARMONYResolutions were passed calling

upon nurses to refrain from forming apartheid branches of the S.A. Nursing Association, and to further the cause of racial harmony and co-operation in the ‘profession.

VICTIMISATIONVictimisation of nurses by the

authorities were condemned and working conditions, salaries and the standards of the profession were discussed.

A memorandum had been submitted to the International Labour Organisation which had on its agenda the question of racialism in the nursing profession in South Africac. Congress took strong exception to proposed separate syllabi and registers for nurses of different racial groups.

Among the new offfcials elected are Mrs. B. V. Mvabaza, President; Vice-Presidents, Mrs. A. C. Mamitz and Mrs. Mbambo Secretaries, MissG. Khala, Miss S. White, Organising Secretary, Mrs. I. Deoduth; Treasurer. Mrs. Sopazi; Editor of journal, Mrs, B. V. La Guma.

3. Christianity—never forget it —is based on the fact that it i* the humble and simple who matter, and that God in becoming man became no prince or duke but a poor carpenter. This fact of God’s choice of the humble brings in an enormous lot—those values of overflowing generosity, love, and self-offering which are summed up in Jesus’ death on the cross. This remains the Christian motive. Come into these cold Basutoland mountains and sec who it is who really live and struggle among the distant poor!

Christians Must Fight Unjust Laws

Impatient View

Without the people, Christianity could not exist. Therefore it is the duty of all the religious organisations to go out and do door- to-door work organising the rank and file to fight all the unjust laws, which are contrary to the will of God.

I appeal to all Christian laymen to support the struggle being fought by their leaders, who have taken a stand against racial laws. Let us form a united front and defeat the Nats.

4. Of course bourgeois lethargy or doctrinaire intolerance can overcome Christians. But their true work, which at darkest moments is always renewed, must be

EPHRAIM Z. MGCUWAKensington Proper Branch ANC, Cape.

I was very disappointed to see in the article called The First Black Organisations that there is a full description about the Africans and the Coloureds but there is not even a single word about the Indians although everyone knows that they were one of the first to unite themselves under Gandhi when he was here.

I was looking for this report but I saw only about the others. What is the reason for not counting the Indians? Are they not black enough?

A. C. PARKERCape Town.

A little more patience was needed. See this week’s article.— Editor.

far as Dr. Verwoerd is concerned, there are no such things as Africans. Refusing to answer a question in the House last

week about the removal of the African inhabitants of the farm Onverwacht, in the district of Weenen in Natal, he said there were no statutes dealing with “Africans, whoever'they might be. The Department of Native Affairs is concerned only with Natives or Bantu as defined in various Acts of Parliament, The question therefore falls away.”

This reply was not merely a gratuitous insult to Mr. Lee- Warden, Africans’ Representative for Cape Western, who had asked the question. It was also an insult to Parliament, which includes representatives of Non-Whites, including Africans, as well as Whites, elected in terms of a constitution which the Nationalists are pledged to honour. It is an insult added to the injury done to the Arican people of Onverwacht, whom Verwoerd feels he is entitled to kick around without being called to account by any damned “Native Representatives” in Parliament —“who did nothing but stir up trouble” as he said in another context.

And finally it is an insult to the whole African pe

YET ANOTHER CAPE TOWN LEADER EXILED

^HO RTLY after the exile of Greenwood Ngotyana, Cape

Town is to lose another of its outstanding people’s leaders— John Motloheloa.

Last week his lengthy legal battle to resist Government attempts to deport him came to an end when his application for a permit to remain in the area of the Cape Peninsula was refused and a removal

order was issued against him.John grew up in the Free State

and early in his life learned that only through hard struggle and self- sacrifice would the working people of South Africa achieve their

liberty. More than a dozen years ago he came to Cape Town, where he threw himself into the battles being waged by the local Congresses.

STOWED AWAYIn 1955 he achieved a long-stand

ing ambition by travelling overseas. He went the hard way—stowing away under a lifeboat for most of the voyage, and spent some time in the Hungarian Peoples Democracy.

Though while abroad he was stricken by illness, his trip was an inspiration to him, and he returned to South Africa in 1956 enthused by the strength of the world'wide battle against exploitation of man by man.

Fighting back against his illness, John became the chief New Age seller in Cape Town. He soon broke all records with his energetic campaigning for the paper in the shantytowns, at bus queues, in buses and in trains.

People of all races were amongst his customers—Africans, Coloureds, Indians, and even a large number of Europeans to whom he introduced the message of Congress for the first time.

Every crowd to John was a meeting. If he travelled in the train then every person in his carriage heard about the freedom struggle; time and again he would be locked up at the instance of irate ticket examiners, and each time he would be released by the prison authorities who found him to be too “dangerous” an influence amongst

the other prisoners, and even amongst the warders!

IN JAILNow John is in prison once more,

awaiting deportation. The Native Commissioner who issued a removal order against him refused an application by the defence that the order be suspended for a week to enable John to cement his customary union with his wife Pauline by means of a legal marriage. (TTie date for the marriage had been fixed several weeks before the order was made.)

John’s “crime” was that he was that strange entity, a “foreign native.” Evidence was led at his trial that he was born in Basutoland and brought to the Union when only a few months old.

He does not know Basutoland at all. The only relatives he has there were those who gave evidence against him at the trial. Basutoland to him is a strange country, and he is to be an exile there.

Yet John has learnt that even in prison the struggle can be carried on. He will not be an exile in Basutoland for long. With his strong personality, his clear thinking and his determination not to spare an ounce of his energy in the battle for liberation, he will soon win a place for himself in the hearts of the people of Basutoland, as he will always remain in the hearts of the people of Cape Town.

The delegation speaks to the Mayor’s secretary.

PAARL WOMEN SEE MAYOR ON PASSES

CAPE TOWN.A FRICAN women in Paarl attended a report-back meeting last

week to bear the results of an interview by a deputation with the Mayor or Paarl. The deputation was elected on June 26 when Paarl women marched on the Town Hall to protest against passes for women. The Mayor’s secretary arranged for them to interview the Mayor a few days later.

The deputation was met by the Mayor, the Town Clerk, the Chairman of Native Affairs and the Location Superintendent.

GRAAFF BEGS THE NATS TOLET HIM JOIN THEM

By C.P.E.^ H E headline in last week’s

New Age—“The U.P. Throws in the Towel”—was fully substantiated by the *hio confidence” debate.

United Party speakers, one after another, repeated Sir de Villiers Graaff’s offer of “co-operation” long after it had been rejected with scorn by the Prime Minister.

Even in his final speech, when the debate was over. Sir de Villiers turned to the Nationalist Party, and said: “The UnitedParty’s offer still stands,”

What were the terms of the offer (surrender is a better word)? That the United Party was prepared to assist in the implementation of “certain aspects” of apartheid. What aspects? In the absence of any criticism of the apartheid policy as it has unfolded over the past 10 years, we can only assume that Sir de Villiers has no reservations.

On the republic, too. Sir de Villiers implied that he was prepared to discuss terms. It was left to a backbencher (Mr. R. Swart—Zululand) to declare that the republic was “repugnant” to the United Party; Sir de Villiers did not say so, either in his introductory or concluding speech, and according to newspaper reports Mr. Swart is in trouble with his party colleagues for being so outspoken.

Not even the Cape Argus could stomach this. In an angry editorial, it said: We do not entirely blame Mr. Strijdom for replying to an offer of co-operation

with a demand for unconditional surrender. We blame far more those who, being anti-republican, have not dared to raise their voices; who gather at political party meetings and from some confuted notion of tact or tactics conceal their own convictions. Out of this dissembling has been generated a whole conspiracy of silence.

“READY TO JOIN UP”“What can the Nationalist

leaders think but that silence gives consent? Sir de Villiers runs all the very real risks of being thought ready to join up with the Nationalists—and let it be plainly said that there are many who have been alarmed by that very thought—and all he gets is a brush-off.”

I do not propose to dwell on the subject this week, but in case anyone is misguided enough to think that the U.P.’s capitulation is of no importance politically, may I urge them to bear some points in mind:

The first is that the U.P.’s sellout has been so abrupt and so far-reaching, that it has evoked hardly any protest (as yet) from United Party supporters.

The second point is that this sell-out can seriously impair the anti-Nationalist cause. Tens of thousands of U.P. supporters are likely to be plunged into despair or bewilderment, and the whole level of opposition to Strijdom lowered dangerously. We can only trust that other U.P. members, in their revulsion, will seek out political organisations in which to continue the struggle.•NEW RIGHT-WING SOUND’

Anti-Nationalists cannot be expected to keep a close watch on

all the intrigues, conspiracies, and manoeuvres that will characterise the U.P.’s behaviour in future, but if Die Burger, which for 10 years has tried persistently to stick the label “liberal” on to the U.P., is ready to admit that “a new right-wing sound” is being heard from the U.P.’s ranks, then democrats at large should heed the warning. What is vitally important, is to know that toena- dering is being attempted from the U.P.’s side, and to realise clearly what it may lead to.

Every anti-Nationalists should have grasped by now that the lesson of the 1958 general election was that the struggle for democracy has shitted almost entirely from inside Parliament to outside Parliament (even if the Opposition in Parliament itself was not the real force in the struggle over the past few years, it was militant enough to pretend to the formal leadership). Now even that role is being surrendered.

To transfer the struggle almost wholly to outside Parliament is easier said than done. It will require a tremendous effort on the part of every anti-Nationalist and in the view of the suddenness of the U.P.’s collapse, it will require also considerable speed, because if the U.P. is dissipating its energies in time-wasting manoeuvres, the Nationalists certainly are not wasting their energies. Their legislative programme is ready: special criminal courts, higher taxes for the Africans, university apartheid, further fleecing of the Africans to pay for the “development” of the Reserves, the transference of Fort Hare to the government, etc.

People may scoff at Dr. Ver- woerd for his crazy notions, but bit b ̂ bit the Verwoerd-entpire is growing. Meadowlands, Zeerust, Sekhukhuneland — one upheaval after the other, but the unpalatable truth is that Verwoerd has bludgeoned his way through to BAASSKAP, even if it is BAAS- SKAP over a desolate battlefield.

NO CAUSE FOR PESSIMISM

There is no cause for unnecessary pessimism: the anti-Nation- alists have every cause to place their faith in the future. But it must not be thought that the Nationalists will “take it easy,” or try to make their policies more acceptable to “world opinion.”

Verwoerd has had an opportunity to make one brief speech in Parliament so far, and already he has: warned the NativeRepresentatives that they will soon be kicked out of Parliament; 'contemptuously rejected the right of Africans to be known as Africans (they are “Natives” or “Bantu,” he says); and declared that he is steaming ahead as fast as possible with the Bantu Authorities system.

Couple this with the advance warning that has been given of the legislative programme, and the future pattern becomes very clear, indeed!

The five-year period that lies ahead, undoubtedly, is going to be a decisive period in South Africa’s history. It might not be as spectacular as the preceeding periods, but it will be crucial.

ARRESTED AT DEATHBEDDescribing the hardships ex

perienced under the pass laws the women mentioned the care of a man who was arrested at his mother’s deathbed in the middle of the night. She died while he was on the way to the police station. The deputation protested against the removals to Langabuya location after people had spent considerable sums of money on erecting dwellings in other parts.

The people had no confidence in the Advisory Board to handle their grievances, the deputation said.

The Mayor gave the assurance that the points raised by the deputation would be considered at the next meeting of the Council. In the meantime there would be no arrests of women who were unable to prove the length of residents in the area and who could not trace their former employers for references. These women would be required only to make statements to the Council. The Council would also consider compensation for tho:e who had to move to the location.

At the report-back meeting they also passed a resolution against the deportation of Basutoland nationals from the Union.

Indian Youth Hold Durban Conference

“Over the last decade there has been forged a steady and sure alliance of the National Organisations of our peoples. The alliance embraces not only the African, Indian and Coloured people but also our white fellow countrymen. Immense though our achievements in this respect already are, the consummation of our task requires greater effort to fotser and strengthen this alliance,” said Mr.H. E. Mall when he opened the biennial conference of the S.A. Indian Youth Congress at Durban last week.

The Gandhi Libraiyr was full to capacity for the opening of the conference which is the first to be held in Durban. Delegates from the Transvaal and Natal were present.

Collection Number: AG2887 Collection Name: Publications, New Age, 1954-1962

PUBLISHER: Publisher: Historical Papers Research Archive, University of the Witwatersrand Location: Johannesburg ©2016

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