DRAFT DKCOSSIOK STATBWRT J>4.t).65L

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A.

t ffl1* TliS PKOBLST

Tho Libor tion Movement in S9A, ha-{/(hfrin-r tho nnrt thirty tnonths been

dealt heavy bloyg and has suffered seany casur.lties» Tha fury and anr-ltj of the

Rationalist Government know no bounds, israve non have been tortured, have been

d driven to cuiciue and have been hrnred for politic 1 activities. "rave con and

voaea have been thrown into jail in their thousands, ’ hen tho ao .’eminent, not

satisfied with on® conviction, drap out of their jails mon nd women who hive already

been convicted end put thorn on trial again for the nano acts, under n new aa-e, for

which they h >ve already bean jailed. They must ouffer double uuninhnent. The con­

ditions in the jails are bestial, So ia tho treatment political prisoners receive.

Tiiis treatment is worse than that riven to the lowest erlrainnlo*

All thio is done in tho name of protecting "white" civilisation. It

establishes beyond doubt that our present rulers do not knew the Meaning of the

word "oiviliaation." Thoy are oo barbarous an any fnsoistn. ' he •, probably for

the firat time in history, obtained parliamentary sanction <'or naked torture, Nor

will their attacks on everything that is kind and humnn and decent be limited to

the Conyress movement. It has already been extended to the Li1 6r-1 Party; now

PrOiTresaives, students and 'ven their own churchmen who try to prac tise tmo

Christianity, are beiny dealt with aa enemies of tho ;.'tat,e, as'anomies of our *vny

of life", as it' the only way of life in 3 .A. was the way of the tjiw;lo*

The truth of course is clesr for all but the blind to see. The pretence of

protecting civilisation ia a hollow oxeuao '-'or protecting "whi'e" privilege, ’’White"

domination nnd, in particular, nationalist, economic interests.

This then is tho character of tho Government that vjo faco. The time has cone

for a careful ex.ur.ination of the whole situation and of the opsonin/* forces in or?er

to determine where the Liberation Movement yoos front here nnd. ^specially what the

tasks are of our organisation if it is to fulfil its mission of leadiny oar peoples

to freedom.

In order to arrive at correct decisions we must know:

(A) What our objoctiva is*

(B) What methods we can employ to achieve that oh,} otive,

(c) What machinery can be used in order to put those net’jods into pr-'ctice

successfully.

There can be no doubt no to what the objective is . The yreado Charter weo

adopted b all the Con ~re '.ees and >w the wjee men who le^d t,: ro. 'it still defines the

conditions which nro nece-sary if freedom fc - all in ... to be • near This fact

cannot be chanyed by'the <rrowin r jntxhrstsi brutality 1 nt, iarfc to

what our methods and our machinery arc to a, •■•••> ui ■■■ c . - _ ___ y o- the present

situation and what lad up to it .

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To'ijiy ia face n ruthless Govoramont which in sW an ^ it j. ■ nuppor ter<l

by \ha vn::t yvw.jority of the "white" electorate, Ita twi 1i- <w<bl fO-ti '3 «re .

VceljL Oflnaa i-t- world not hesitate tbe::.e c\med- P ore as if /£ £h m/m V it-e.

^exwweiiow is. threatened. Though Con. rcs^ wervai*^ woritw Wrfee£l\ei**\ ft w ir hftweapf

fine Vieious methods usoA, the Government c m rcverthel<c,fc ftefy on spiev cvwA

informers vh© hnvo turned fcri tr- itora to thoir cruse* In 'ctdtfclon, w in LC'-'&nmenb

is supported, ciirectly or indirectly, hy .'13 the big capitaliat» in 4hn eoantrie' tyj»©

trade 'iri.tb - the U .K ., the U .S .A ,, France, Japan ctoA even H<?l|arV*. ifyzse.r-on

ai'o r kin huje profits out of tha cheap labour of our nnopl<| - cut of the colour

hnr and .job reservation - «nd do not want .this system fllco* there has ^ e v x

the f-roatest economic boom in tho history of the country. This "prosx/ority*' uttm^cti

"white** support for tho Government - h*nco tho <fronlng number oP £n^l:ish So&akwv^

•Vhit«n" who brin th" NLationnlintru

THE P!?j-,’,SWT SITUATION 3?? '- .A .

‘rrhltas" who ;!oin th*' Nationalists*

All this has en.ablod tho Government, dor;pita /Towing ia 'eyyialiGtm'i t

And cAosnite the enormous (jlan^rs and tensions whiclfl «r<g te©ir*j Cfea ino<^€. f&gL-

country, to proceed recklessly to ntop up its policy of ^psrthnid o nA nxci<\1 Ait-

crimination, ori, in th<> procesa, to inflict trejvuWous losses m |>es*t tioia

forewent and on our orp 'n.inatj on.«l

Vvte • ■••• vn now reached the position where all ConfTesr ogam'galiotiS tore.

ellher been dieelaraA unlawful or bnvo been paralysed t>j ayM^rfeowijonj

lexers are in jell in exile or are binned or banished; ^«ept fey $\* £.ft*3.C#, S'AGTU ctrd iK* S^\„ Vtpnens ^federation, in no far m Uvy C h st'utl tVeve ii

A© dv^anifvxiion today which supports the Kraedom Charter,

W g P.->ftia?v? Bi ' j-vN .TXONAL GTTO^TIOT?

Thou'h the yearn of our /.greatest dofe-xts (19^? to S*y <*.

•advance U.IV.O. of tin forces f\oatilo to MoiionaUfffc jpo1itie&» KCojhisQ.

that hero ■*oo, diirin,.' the p.nat 12 months, graw <?y-«.nfcs* 'mcK to tVv d i 4 o :W a .e ,^- -

ovxr f t n ^ l e , hove t'sScen place, tl.N.O. *s dY.ility to help in thij stv^Ujjle, Qm fr\

fact its very cxietenoo, ia threntenrd by tho • ■w in which ■ WtV h«.S Str^ly <W”

pnenedl the. w>rlrt or^nisation ty jein^ to .rnr ftjecivpiit •.'iotr\a»*n { :itVy 4SVt$t~

Onco of Auntr.ilia and fiw Zenl md the vnocal support vec\ t n)* UMJ

aLao been temporarily p<tr«.lyredi by thn (I.j tViwi all m ? m W 4 ^ 4 ^ ^oct \4 Corr

tribute to the evoonaea o ' the invfiaion o tho Com/o, '

§:iwil®rly the OAU han .nuffe'-ed aovoro fxot~b' ckS -iKTOWJ feh*® intri(nj® of ,

bi»* VfosietW'ffe'/ers who viah r>t 11 coats to prevent jrenl

in .-ifricA- IAwW 0, new ^uie® they wish to retain, juata^ they do their

sourcea of chc*»p raw m- teriaJ.fi and cheap labour and their huro a 'Ofifef * tH© OAfel IS

probably for iho tine bainj ir>cw|»nbl« of r a e i t ^ boycott of S»A«

“The wur in Vietnam too, has partly r waved v>-M S’ratl.i^vt PromS'fy:

And even Pusws Iho cane ut^iinpl tide country at tW Wial' W« Iwvie.

had of b«|p frem the I«bour Govommrnt in thitain , re vapidly fading So it ;4

doubtful Wnatkev'cither Hhodosia or EiAIX* S.U.A* in eci vt to oft- <\r\y orio^

in the nx.i'i: near fixture*

These are the realities which we have to face i r we ■ r to Pink©

correct decisions, but this of course is not the whole pictur .

r .v o k m ^ K r w

fyis, t* i'M c'-untry fltpp nvj iti W- stataV* of-fiCia"! t*--! io

VM1 y «7itr*,ucbe4* this can never be th< c-.ce whore th whot? ecartc&ic -no1

political ttracturo contains the basic contradictions ivucb exist in 3 .A*

On the international front the V/er.tom Powers mtr/ turn end twist to

retain their control of underdeveloped nroas of the world, but they cannot escape

the drive towards freedom which is spreading acro3B Africa, Asia rtl 3 . America*

In no century has political independence been achieved » so i'.njoy nations pj» in

tho last ten yours. This has led to a complete change in the character of UKO

which in no lon;-or the organisation which its founders inienrofl it to lio. The

Western Powera have to pay lip-service to the ideas of freodonj noon it vrf.T* have

to bo r»ore than lip-service if they wish to retain their trade. Iho rxovir.g

ntrength, economically mid politically, of the socialist third or tho world

beooi&ss a more important, factor in tho drive to freedom each -/ear. Tho Vcotero

counter ot'fonsive must fail in the long run* Already it is d e a r that the Worst

does not know how to stop the leaks in its own ramshackle ship. Tho ITS roan -o

war against the people of Vietnam and ir. faced with crises in ,>m Boning© and

Greece. Britain tries to appease "white " Rhodeoia, and its HaJayolan empire

.falls to bits* fivcn De Gaulle may have to stop soiling ailitnry aeroplanes to .*'*A*

On tho economic front too, tho West faces cno loar. wories o" arises. rho

.€ o tori in;' in perpetual ly in danger of devaluation; USA reserves drop; no one

knows whon the next recession may not land the world back in he bird of derrc~rion

it experienced in 1930. Automation itself in something the capit'-li system

cannot in the Jong: run cope with*

It la against this background that the 3 *A* situation must be looked at,

Tho "boom" here has had contr-dictory offccts. It bra led to nranperit--

for most "whiten", hut wages, particularly notv-white waora s..-a n >t 3'ont xr, w3 t h

rising roots though* Of course there i.o more employment in in •ue.’rry, tra.de,

transport, building, etc, than ever before. The re-iul t o.' this ha a ’ eon a sea re

strain on tho colour bar* It has been strained out not bra- a. A rcoo nion noa

would immediately brinr about a full restoration of the xolxna- bar in r*il its

vioiouaness, as it did in 1130 with the "white labour" policy of tho ’ atioj 'ill it

Government of that time. What ho,/ever, has become clear f;n r. nj ror-l.-;?t p a e a n

is that real incu.-.trial -nd enx economic progress in our country i r no longer

possible if a rifti'l colour bar is maintained. Thin fact b a ( Onetr .< a even to

those etrcmrholds ef racial discrimination, the wining industry rr1 !-’•• -tecl

industry, yes even to tho latter, tho heart of Af r iv •«n©tw .tot.r> tol* o-~; "y

it i" not only the manufacturers of consumer roods who n.-?d i a market wb o'r would

be ore.'it-.'J by tho payment of hipbor wages to the wo -icor • of 1 ■ cow tty; vcn

basic industries ©an no longer auvnnce without tiv br-alaa s’kili o< *■}■. alta

of tho people — rold, stool, tran port, nanufaoturim '"'d ovr— out* •n-'t'-l ncrvr c i

Thi ’ then is the boaic contradiction s The colon • ar -ust r 1 Ted c

the country must atox^ata* Wo enount of talk about ':. ->rv ■ ut ,»sl

development'' can chan c© thi3 choice.

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Put ther® nr© oth-r fundr nt^l. •••oniradicti.en-:). 'ft--1 fen-To-v o'"'--: !

* Jq for a "non-racirl" ■ aei©*7 'rncvriin,': t.J’rt ’ip/'or tr.o drive's '.'v r ’-O", -\A-

o n dv-are© ra idly in cv ery di: atior: economically, r<ad.‘P'! :?, er^tur ;lly* fa

itr -2d drive to retain tho colour bar, then Ration.' H st doceiv.-.ant hau ore,'led

i&ntuutenta and Croup Arens* Then© nr© the oced been ot ©. a* rros; "noiv-tfMto"

nationalise. Khich r.,ust inevitably clnoh with "white” netlomliom* i’amr/er mch

the collaborators - tho f-'.atonzlis.n© and certain "loaders*1 of tho Coloured and •

Indian people ~ may pretend to co-opernto in tho policy ot’ npr rthei1'*, -.oy .rill

inevitably be driven by forces they cannot resist, to dc/annd rltfxt* for their

people which ore irreconcilable with "apartheid **• Thin boa nlrcadv br-on made

clear by Matanziraa’a demand for property righto in urbae locationo end by his

C5-11 for hi'i people not to return to the Translcei, Thia roaboa nouaono of

V'or.001x1 *a theory that by 1073 there ei.ll be n flow of ropuietlon h-sck to

Nantustsn© (the Reserves), and m-kea Covemmcnt nolioy .-’ourc© of ifth'.,v,ent

un t iblenean.

So a.lao the Mea that ovoc throe— martere of th.a population can ever be

natinficd when it in restricted to rl-'hta to lend in l e t h a n Tif^tvolfth of

the l ad of the country* Or that throo-quarters of iho popnl'. \ico eon b©

pereuaded to accept an inferior ,-olitic^l on-i aeci- 1 po eltion .‘or • 1 indefinite

period of time.

These are only come of the feature© of the present rituatic- * There are

tarry more, and all of them i:n to e-how that t'r le nif.:«1:don one t.Jr-t ear-act lr.-t*

Thus while the present aituation of tho .llbornjrlon roTfieent fay appear to

h© gloomy ~ lioth hoc >uoe of ?-be crenel-, of the Tb«t 1.0m ' v t Co err- at and u©~

oann© of the fmntrntion of ita i »tera ational support - the truth do that thio

.la but a t©"!por*'ry and p'-neinfl pa >.©e* I/hat wo h-.ye to n look to in v<b.»t the n r t

ph.-se will be. Vhat wo h w * to roalino, above all, in the oolitic*-! truth, the*

no situation ia over at.--tic, but in elway© fluid > ”'1 ’ ;»ncfc to far den and radical

ehan rea* A recession in J #A* could ehon.<:e tho picture <r> .-ni-’ht j defeat for

tho U3A in /ietnam or a triumph for the prorrren-tv© ferae ia freace could levd

to a m.i,jor break-through for tlv> »«ti-Imperi^liat force ;j a world ' .e-d reecr /. on

could lead to a greater eriveo in the capitnliat world th'n tln-t a" tho 3050*3 ,

Kemenber that the almighty dollar never «ppoared to b*e no^e recur:> td'-.a in 19?%

COKC’PJaiO'iS

Oor ?niidin«: princiole in i tmimotancea oueh aa the-ae n:st ■ "'wave be tc

prep-t o for th^ ch.an.re when it e -aea and to ho raralv to l^ad f:. " -t it

tnia -iocsTnot tell ua bow to sot. .about or tanka, and - ore ■■ ei.fie -r ?r-l,-,'f or-

cm he dr; wa from the analyeia rich haa h«?en ra.a«’e, m at not paid© cn.y v- aa

a change cornea; we miat naiide to.iaida a change.

The cencln.aions which era ?<& drawn erej

(a) Vo cannot ex wot any radio 1 -chan.'o in G*A* *© nol oy o-' reci 1 orprer "icii

until ita economic weaknea- is oxpane-1 end its '’cva.' "i— . st br ,1a to er■' ■■

Haas political action directed toward a thin end '-aed • ,;.or-..'ore bo tb©

pi’imo objWS* 1

While it i- true that "internal11 blovo at our economic atrueturo imy by thcr>-

«elres be. insufficient to cnaritfe tran po.iicyf there cm re no'dc ubt thr.t they

Kill succeed if accompanied by concrete international rctioi\ - other than niore

talking and UNO rooolutionn,

T>e rruot therefore r,nitt international oupport* >>31 tho b^nt end in fVct the

euro method of achieving 1 VrL in by internal mnee oo Xtic ;! aertien# Iteal

« v ’ietance fron other notions cannot bo o.xpeotod vdtbeut atroa■ * poll ticojr and

tr* io wtf.on action Jv.n*e« In particular, the c^pitnlinte in th"’ Ids Watorn

states? Hill not eh,-mgo thoir vir^n about our Government un4 11 it hrj^oocu

den.onatr:itod that 'the present policy of rvp vrth^id end an,/ora V^::lxylr.vzr, ^onts in

our country* Tldn is what in too long run the policy a-.' apart^&a does do, Hit

it muet be demonstrated to tho vorld# • /

In decidin r rrhat •maftn political action1 mot bo t^ken ao^luat not bp hjdo-hoircd

nr_tHnk only ilona old lie0e# row i3 tho tiroo for flrriblliy ■ ad orirln H t y n

It is truo that the rebvdldim: of our own or/^niaationf of tho Conereorea rail of

tr-de anions (especially of -JAOTb) will be our pri.ns.ry task* Cut if vra aro to

defeat tho ffationa Liata in tho aborteat ponciblo tiwo, them we taiat think be­

yond tbit?# he wimt explore all pof>sibili tieo of enlist:'mr md vncovrr??in% usd

of helping ijiow dlios> in tho fifdrt ageinat orploitatioa end r-co op^Toarica,

evoa frcai nraon- t tboae vno may appear to havo ftivea up any .nhmr of reeiatanco*

Wo nsuat, for inst°nce, support 1 T>r&g^iial^ mrtjos and^^divluii ia in thoao

noa-vhito eodio^ which navo been creator bv thio <;ovMre.peni» -"hoae who >mfo n

voice in tho T.?«A# in >:entu Urban Councils and in Indian uk! Coloured Councils

mu at -a encoura‘?od and helped to put forward pro,rrre^ ia*-9 nnti-racl'l ideas#

rit\ thisi way cai he hc.lp< to Attack tho

Colour ]Hr, jtonm ivffucaiTwT^^^ otc# m. -a-- level of f>mieip‘l

nnthoritiea (Urban Councils) tbo.ro in no roaaon Khy the a > 0 roccp?;;» rthould not

t"'m place# A demand fron nil t*b» bqub major To^naMpa for v/aamlup of nd

could havo .1 major i.Mpi»ctf not only in ;V\*t but alao at -‘FIO#

So toof wo mtuit nook to oual into tho atru/^lo • n(\ to c-acourn, tudantof

and - omen’s or^'niaatioaa, prora-eaoivo ohurehnien, noan>aa^ra r-ad jaurhaliats

and oven nrofoa.^ionnl bostes (l:iwyorof doctor?* tonc’ver ata»)

In doaliD j with m ch aar"or.a and o^mi'-.ationo wo alv?.-vr. havo *ao p.v-pot• •

in mind svi) ve mast realise tVnt tba object of tbo Gov^m^aat?-. aclca bar, : to

inatil fear into thm aid tloin to protlnco n 'pathatio acaar" ‘-aco o« ita

policy# ^v^ry ef fort w r thoroforo bo rn do to .-uila cour an I .. aair**

of r "Sirstance* ospocially amon^t thooe \mo j^r ::af/ "--n aa . --nee 0Govr-mm* at policy ind oppooition to it ha^-uae f " - •; ''":t i*~ ia

fundamental "I y wra^a *,snd i».njur»t*

(ii) W$ mat *n*>ko it out buiinaas to food thorn ••.’1"* • ol-.: *■' (.fucnto tbaa

by aropa#rvaba in every voaaible forrc - leaflet'', . •» ta • ;o prrr a * a '

to individualst porv onMl p.orau?>nion9 nav*/;-at- :-t , ’ » fa~,

Thera* r.\ethodo have proved aureeaaful in eonp} ';ely f a *' . ' r e'

Spnin ,*■ nd Portuanl# 'Phare ia every roanon ta th r" • ar f1.a v ‘ f ^ a-*0 successful bore in 3#A.#* wharo fanciam has no< dev' ■. r>-sd t^ it or ant*#

( f ) lifhilo it .in nrob »bly tj-uo that violent methods sues

a p p lie d in th o p r e s e n t circnftstsnccn. t f t c r o ir , n o t 'd n as.-botaff) c'Tiinot bo

inherently vrronr irs

unin/r such tsethods a,-gainst n Coverament which nowex coaeea to two violent

coons to deprive people of tholr rirhts, i .o . vielenco ranrinre fro? torture

in ax ”3'’ilo and police stations to shooting down people at diarpgville.__

i* / Violence can T»~ on* of the moat powerful wenpona in TSe b ncis of tho l i ‘ oration

movement# BaT~it~mu5t not be unorganised or rash or ill-tiinod. For must ft

evor1ja~nsed as a ~aubntliu,fco ror maaa political ccTTctu"™ D!!1'xria work i3 _

undertskon by -.11 with onthuoiasQ It could have a saov»-

bnllinffceffect taiJtf^lfHfuca n liatrc t or this

Goj^rnactt and jta po i ic io n ^T H fS Lieen It froia oi • ic<vT~ * * * “

nrscu&uoN

If wo ‘ire whole-heartedly to accept thia lino end put it into praotico with

success then certain thin.aa must bo cloarly understood

A* It the first place, this lino requires everyone who works with vr. to uoe the

greatest possible individual initiative# There im*.yt be no hantfUv* back on the

excuo* tb it tlio individual in waiting for directives* He .<nrst sack bis own

opening and use them. Of course he m at resort on what h a is doing in order

that work con be into/rated aP chaos avoided* But to-d.v; he is in tho beat

position to Jud^e what he can do. It is true too, t..et when ho ia in doubt

about a particular course of action, ho nbould consult before acting. Xrt

thi;-. micA never bo an ©xcuae for inaction*

ho rtsscnce of this line .1.;; tho well-known principle: to combine I o t I nd

l l'Vail activity to fan full oat nxtertt. It would bo extreme folly to sit back

to-day and say that beoaur-e of tho dangora involved, leg--! activity only rhnulq

bo undertaken. In effect this would conntitufce "linnid.atienj >-<y: an I vro in S.;A.

know how harmful thiM~olin be<» strictly nlar 1" roetftoss, a y m em-olvcs aaa

make no real headway in n,\. to-day,. Qua ’'whites'1 could not no ira ■>r-od tc

undertake such work by itself; our "non-white-*" won id aaam it l ; x , ~ 'o' net

accompanied b'a illegal activity. Other or#uaiaatione \o.r* the 'ivoa)

limit themselves to this kind of work. They have the resources to so eo ,.rd

jhould be helped and encouraged to carry on. But no os ’•an i.:jntion of car H ad

should over adopt the same principle* I f it is said *'<■ t -ha only v r ? to

preserve oumolves is to cosine oumelvea to "legal* o r ' y , t o n the

aw.v/er is that that will not "preserve" our oxgnnln'-felo’U T o ’• - a . r e v o l u t i o n -

nrv forcea inactive ia not t o nreacrve It is o a * c o r t o • & !< >’ •

Hot? oa-uld one «vor recruit nm ~ V a r~vc

AflklH"' th'H to .refr-'ln from »vr* ■>: J ■ a - a c t i v i t y ? ft ill

them Ir' dlainto«rr to a ry orTaiua.'ili ou"

l o s s by t o l l i n ' - thew to Po i n a c t i v e !

The truth is tliat i f we mr*> to follow thA line of c-'.afinim oureelver. to

atrietly legal activity, thin would ..n Tc.-vny ensr- ■ , roa. cn for dein'r

n a th iu y f o r m*>ny asro hy banning n ear a - rmy "legal" otivity.

Ti)r, re fore, let us c aibino i ■■■! wi illegal --.otiv:./

In order to nreserve oursolv a» avmlv a-- ‘ ■ .1

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0, Pro", thia it follows that it in the duty of all our nnpporfcem ^s-vo in cn3ec

of extrene danger to therjsclvea or othcro, nnd srvsi in tho ct.o of exceptional

hardship) to remain in and to work in this country# ha Covnrnncnt ffiynt r;ot !;o

led to believe that b. its barbaric wthouo it can dc-alota our rcafcs iiaply hy

iioldinr the throat of imprisonment or worse over our he do,

P# lastly, there are those who seem to believe that i'll our <1 of rata ot>m about be­

cause the Congress policy of allowing R.K* to undert ake a ennpaign of sabotage

and that such a policy is therofore inherently wrong, Thi'-. leads Qjse to consider

whether the policy should not have beon applied*

g mOTACB

The background to the policy its fresh in our minds* It wet fully explained in

tho evidence in the ilivonia trial* In 1990 the Of.P., the vaiguard of tho liberation

struggle, nnd the organisation which h<sd for years advocated n united frost, sm

outlawed* On V e 26th June of tint year, in arotest ngainst tbir action a true

wni’od .front care into existence which later doveloped into tho Co ngreaa Alliance of

the ARC, tho SAIC, the CPO, the COO and SACTO, supported by the £>ACP* Thereafter

followed the historio events - the hefience Campaign of 1992, tho Coagresc of the

People in 1995 which drafted nnd .adopted the Rreedoa Charter, tthich van subsequently

adapted by each of the Congronseo, tho Seks Treason Trial of 1956 nd tho .'Teat

Stay-at-home of 1999, the Emergency of I960 followed by tho h-r-niflg of the AHC and

FAC, the calling of the f-iaritzburg Conference which loft it to Nelson thadela to

organise the three-day Stagp»at-floae at tho end o?‘ ??«y 1961 aad the joaefJivo use of

police and militaijy force by the (rovcrnment to atifle this*

It wan only then that the Congresses, after carefully woighinfr all the facts,

decided to allow Mandela to form id.K, which undertook its first sabotage oner.-, ticao

on the 16th ,i>c., .1961 which continued with ups *>nd downs ^rora then until 196-i,

In 1963 c>no tho Rivonia njcreotu, tho subapauent trial of the lea.dor;: and their "life”

ccntoneee* In 3964 and 1969 came the further trial of ANC nd CP members and, ptr-

hara fforo romyrksble, the trials of a, number of young "whiten'' -'or moatcrshin of /.PM

and for taking part in sabotage - young men and women who paevf ossly fcad been no

further ‘ loft’ t' an tho liberal Party or NUa/'B* And throughout tho whole of thin

period, the banning, banishment nnd house arrest of hum!redo tat .ing part in the

’■cnui.no struggle for freedom, whether thoy did no legally or illf '«13y*

Wh-t are ‘the principle features of tho .trus.rle during th< pan ‘i fiftoe years?

They ere;

(i) That the ARC finally abandoned its reliance -on completely legal forwa of

struggle with tho Stay—at—Kome of Juno 26th, 1990 - t" * f:i eat June a t ,

(i.i) That this won the approval of all tho Congresses >d of - v at majority

of S. Africans#

(lit) That violence was not undertaken until "illegal" methods 'd nor* ar.net ircd

for over 11 years .and" then only when no other methods wer*. available*

(iv) That this period of 11 years •.•roduced no "chnage -f hemt" in the Ratio '.ia\

Government* On the contrary it was a period of growing 0 prc-seion at he

of which tho senior W-tional organisation W-s fin '■ • •» out!awe - to he

followed by ths outlawing of Hew Age rid the "OS*

8

(v) Thj'.fc violence, ’-jben'it did occi.it in tho form of r-bot- -o inct c -ofully

r«3noted tirrata, so ed to fulfil a "nod- amonant thooa f<* rleaa or-cu/$ to

fiebt for fraedcns, ao is shovm by tho intenea inter'*; it s.-va’f.-nn-t- ?ad by

t*to fact tli -'.t it withered to other people like tho A i ucmhern who had not

befors t-hen any nart in tho atruftdo. It was certainly ■ proved of by tha

'■' >Jority of tho raop3a of out- country and undoubtedly V 'Thr^cei fhn cntcid'

orld to take many of tho international ctopa aflairrt £>♦<’•« that hi-vo b ' fa

t-dcea nj'ico I1)??*

(vi) That it roaultcd in the vicious "Sabotage” Act and, in !'<$'}, in tho ^O-Pey

Law, tft<> instrument of torture, but that nt ana ntfc-e, v-hcn Hsa Government

iteelf u -ed mnoa violence it Charpviilo end in tho Cnpo, ?'«A. policy cena

nearar to n radical change tb*«n it hey ever been before.

f\'vxxot tho orvrioun riet—bncfrn of 1063 to 1.06*5 therefor?* tc Mrm?d cm the

adoption of i. policy of ”11l w i l n wethofla nnd finally on M. o format J/>o of H*! a?

This conclusion could not bo JuntiTlod —

(a) Tho immediate and direct omxoe of th* maw arrc&ta which took r>};c3 fcftor tb*

Gov \<rnmcnt« ot^rtod urdns tho '3CMDay law w;;r: tint poodle ia Ocfcention (no.-*e

troi torsi oven before any torture van nppliod) broke ';own nod r~:to Jhvir

corowd^n «mny*

(b) wo know that thla tomtnl <'ovorrw?nt Kould apply snch rrr-thocH r: uv;t m y

politic '! action \Thich threatened tho ba^ic economic rtrnvturo of men i?>-

cri ruination in tbia cormtry*

(c) Not* thnt ptecir^ly ia tho objective for winch we atrl^o - to threaten the

baaic ic atnutturo of ^hlch privilege* ■- cut , 1 a tv^rta 1' -.ho ;;o7err-' *-nt

c ' i thoreforo not bo avoided v!nto<*3 wo confine ourselvea to b ;;n mptbodf'*

rn "not *-.ho lt?'^i^lntiOM oincc. tho Oofianeo O-jmpni/rx - 4 ae Lnwr? - r 25-

oits*iartf n tha riaM; to aot hail, ajrdnnt th™ Ccy r -;o,, -*• inr;t

. >aK6t‘>v'rj * nd f j"ally tho Lnw?- on dotent < oi> o< Mtiopocta s . rov • ol

nonrv.‘^ )f t-T.v/o In one .°*envo that Conr:ro^ olicy >■}>' -o .roo* ■ ' th .t it

did thr^‘-\ton 4 ■ founfi-'jtion?. of tho Colour ^/ir*

(d) It io ^ ||Q ihnt o 7^00 n- • rrv -i ,

th 'rofoT. .-•rfootr should not h*vro hrr.:n under taken« • •. .• .!’• be- ■* ":o

-•1.1 1 r ;c•')!'rTTTrT7r"^7W7,,TTT5r"^^^ d-.» ■ " o -'h. ■ . r* --t ' »

th:' o ;r‘ I'jws would hr vo p^sBod and rto rvvny poor - Id h : / •>0?'*. in -

vr\ :>ono,1 o Ten thouoarj i went to jail dnrln.^ tho oc ;, To •' o^o thn:

h: d hn.'u . :ny t >lk of n^botiy.ro#

The conclusion thoreforo ia th-<t vlolonco c*' " ; >nde cm

Vrinoi^lo, o: i ho -wi _t.A •.nyA ho:^ ?-jy -y-j nr. :• • V|,h^ ■' n -■ •**"’t

vie tori*'9 0 ‘ n° p;nT throo y ,;rr,s

C^EJ’zl -1

U;v;.t thrn were thn mist-'kon thni were m do? ?

to h ivn brrn two: Bad cocurl ty -*rv.i a fr'iluro o ^^li

•> y rv:' ■ on y:'on applied in a thovoo^jhly .M-'h^rio ^otbod*

(r) It ia ohviouo fron much of tb-;* evidence tb&t frV'. been /-.iron in the

trials • irioo October 10f>'5 that f.ho orfpni.aation oi* undorrroirv* work vrno in rr^y

*;' *tcurioh and inefficient® JFV* too ‘any peoplo t kirxr. p.*v*fc in tho

poli tic I lo and in *!#K. were irnown to -ach otb^r* Persons rtnruiUx!

rore not elected with sufficient care# Too mmsy vrcr■■> ?llo od to join without

sufficient political education md v. thout (sufficient trrinJ n * in &pplyin#

strict security nlies* Far too many .knew tho where^bouta of tho leadership

and there \r\& not & sufficient division of fi motions# rtfhe result of thin ras

that vhm the police got on to the track of om organisation, they were able

to track ‘own tho centres of most of tho illegal org^nisatlona*

It nny ilno bo th.it tho leadership was in too #reat a hurry to ~ot

result* ■■ mi th’it this led to many of tho mint'dcee. that were made* Certainly

lack of experience of underground work u wao nn important contributing

(b) 9 p ^ \yr ^ {W.» It io clear that tho lack of experience of tho torture of

political pr'ieoncrn was tho main contributing cmwe n^.!:inr t-in r,uch nn

effective weapon in the hundo of the ^peoi^l brrnch# ’e did not rc'-\li£* t<iat

even Joy.nl ccnraden mi.-ht brenk down* We did not pay ettoit"*on to trelrdn^

cenradee to vdth* t;uad solitary confinement rind tho ^tntuo1* nothod of interrc-*

.ration nnd physic?! torture# Consequently uo hrad not; r * that rhcn r»

nerab-t>r of ;*ny e:roop io tnkern, othuru im t yo undor^:ov»nd nnd nosro tboir

centre of operations i ^©d.itttely*

Thwe ^i:it''koo imnt novor be oemrr&tted a^.dn* If mo f il to l/v^ra tVrb,

!';">?on wo will 'only have ouraelvoo to blruraa for n Lmlnr ; •ot-lv'ckri in t' -s future#

*Jut tho com\leoio?> which wo crm now uraw in th;> the *±5te. ndof/'kes irr'o not

n>i trdcco of olicy* They wore v-de-taken in methods urted* Tb\v/;o ^ i^ t '" e • '-re

ee.*«xer to correct th-rn inoorroet policies#

gyxitox,

l ront nov on therefore wo mot got ourr-mlven *.rr) tt.*g •:?.-*» rot- ' • »f \>*

-.''■Aiding m v own or^nniaation and the other or *mni oration?* or tho Ccsr ‘rn 7.1 lienee,

V-'.it "oi I 'M-iatin*; hatred of f?.nd onpooition to tho Covem.":-o.n} it licien in

•>very" 8>»!u>ro0 ^vory rarvobor r’nd evo.ry supporter iv.v?. 1. ‘ :*e 1, /. . o' tivn

’iii nnn trmfc thought nnd bis loyal endeavours* fhi^ mo*>m t-v»

csupportero will ‘>e expected not only to work in their r*m r>rr- ni •”• • ut r

•Vo vork jn- ^ I b^coro activiftfcn in t~.iny other oty n:ir?gty 3 v;- j-o? ;• * -d

to v-orV. te r-. ~. x. cur rnnin objective^ ^nd to a r~rro ^xtr--iL\g p- ■■' -.-rr. an* n vr.y-

will h-'ve to out auch or^mi- ‘ tioni and u ••.• t r*ir ;?? Tv 3. -'i, ' ,uC' * ^

.'Orkin-'* th^r '# -'fovo nllf this io t>so time when --m-oro ^ v: t •••../ ;il^r

attention to individunls uhof irtth ut any bre.'»e> o rr • * * fy* *n otyer to

th^ nide of toe otnv:.;da for fro^'om for tho vnn*: v>yyriJ ■ ■« •, ;

vill ro pn^'o n itiont explanation -«r?.d oduc^.tion, :nt -;y ■ -oi .*\ii pe

l ikely to ,-o 00 won over and seeVln^ now cont^ctij eer:>. ,. 11. -e*-.- •,t " "oc

h '.ve not yet t 'vk n p'\rt in tho struggle®,

It v;ould ho in^ppror>rin';o in a Hocun^ : •■e-'

dot, »■"* i *■*

(a)

a

(b)

KC)

- 10 -

■il the erehiusry required for our purpose* This will ho done in cubseaxMot

rassion state:, anta, Kara oaly the general principles ean ho not Out,

rhis is obviously the tine when the "."roup'' system rant he applied in its

strictest fora, both in our own organisation and in nit Congress orgrmiaations*

Groups, i w t be small, they must neat in such a way that they cannot bo

identified as groups, end, wherever possible, only one p?rson should be tatown

to tho contact* lie.ro too, it was not tho form of th* machinery built up in

the past- that wns at fault and lad to tho discovery of groups by the 'police.

It vs® tho negli rent way in which the Machinery was operated.

In certain cases it may be necessary for members to operate on their own,

without being in a group and with only one contact, To-dny this would not bo

contrary to the .spirit of our organisation.

Discipline of the highest order must be maintained at i'll tinea. Instructions

s»d uniertakinfip lauot be carried out to the letter, pur.oduality jnMst be rigid

excopt vhar* security reasons prevent this.

Political education, in particular self-education, in an eneentiul need for our

organisation at the preaont ties. It ia essential for cnrnelvc:, Vr % we ir.-

cre ••ae ovr understanding of our theory? it is essential, for our .llty to

explain to others what tho present political situation is and im t powerful

potentialities for oh*>nge it holds.

Not only «m t individuals be »;->n over to the general stru-gla again. ;t die-

or.lninati.cn and econo'd.c oppression? they must also be w^a over to twderotnnd

find '>elieve in our principles nnd when .sufficiently edv-need, to join our

organisation,

V;® have referred earlier in this discussion to tho txsamt insupemi-le

contradictions that face the ruler! of this country* e have ‘ Iso rofe-^sd to the

relative success which has been achieved in the Completely F.v.eciot countries where

tho methods !v vo been adopted which we are now putting forward» Though naturally we

rust never underestimate our enemies, we must also never lose sight of the f -ot that

open oppoaitioa to the Rationalist Covernoeat has never boon destroyed. Oar

organisation and tho Con'presses ore still there, A section of ot.tr press in doing

a magnificent job in exposing tho cruelties end yieiouseess of spartYiid; so ero

individual liberals and Progresslveaj go are a number of at” -ent org-nirot-io^s?

so above : .11, are membor.i of the T .‘?,A, nnd oven of Location Mvisoty Pon.rds, who

nro nutting forward progressive demuads tho justice of which cannot ha denied br.t

which are in direct, conflict with nparthoid,J

In these eircumstnaces the perspective i ; clear, "o do not have to start

from "scratch”, This is not even o case where the opposition to th ' fascists is n

dying opposition, On the contrary, there is good reason to -eSievc that although

that oo'osilion h is heen ”vA still will bo severely per.---estr , it I-,.- a

opposition which will .receive growing international and

now blunder infco whioh their blind and unscientific roe.'

government* An excellent illustr- tion of 11 this is t

against our jail ayatom ia developing*

[a)

ro-':.D/

rie n support Trith each

1 policies ores this

■ 7 in which tho c-aprign

We must take full advnntni'* of this porn .-ot vn. !<ow is f a time when

every member wd supporter must mdro contacts, mu t -' a nnd • -at t ocruit, Ccr.-

tr dictions in the policies of « ruling class ulti- ■ tel r ;’r uco rad teal ci-ngca.

>- <w.cyrpnofWw»»n- -

let us nut ourselves immediate tasks*

(a) *'« must rebuild our ovo organisation as swiftly m possible, consistent

with proper and rigid security*

(b) be m at give ovary aid to rebuilding the Cavpror m a*

(c) '.••'» must expose and isolate traitors so that they can bo oeon for vbat

they nro and bo that they can no longer injure th - liberation reverent#

(d) be m at throw everything we have into developing tbs present caipaiirn

against the S , African jail ayatem into n campaign for tho proper treatment

of political prisoners and for their early release c-f> V'.nt !.M-y con play

their essential part in nolviag tho prctble*3 that face iho country* It

would be criminal negleot ->nd a its dereliction of <:«>ty towards cut

leaders i f we fail to tako advantage of the ground work which h- s already

been dene ihs here*

.All this will demand courage of a high degreo, selfless 'rt-nso

devotion end consistent work. It is because we can /'fodnoo just thos-jf

qualities that our organisation exists* Let us develop then row r.n never

before* • j

In many parts of tho worlds where cocialisso is to-d-y adr, nein? ■

with great trades, our sister organisations have at tir.-ar f»ced ’ v-’srse

than wo do to-day* They triumphed - so shall wo*

L H W t.v P B t a s k s •

Collection Number: AD1897 ERNST, D and ARENSTEIN, RI and FINKELSTEIN, J, Trial records, 1966 PUBLISHER: Publisher:- Historical Papers, University of the Witwatersrand Location:- Johannesburg ©2013

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