The All-African Convention conference took place from 15–18 December 1935. Notable figures who attended the delegation included

Davidson Don Tengo Jabavu Davidson Don Tengo Jabavu (20 October 1885 – 3 August 1959) was a Xhosa educationist and politician, and a founder of the All African Convention (AAC), which sought to unite all non-European opposition to the segregationist measure of the South A ...

Pixley ka Isaka Seme Pixley ka Isaka Seme (c. 1881 – June 1951) was a South African lawyer and a founder and President of the African National Congress. Early life Seme was born the fourth son of Sinono Kuwana Seme in Durban, in what was then called the Colony of ...

Alfred Bitini Xuma Alfred Bathini Xuma, OLG, commonly referred to by his initials as AB Xuma (8 March 1893 – 27 January 1962), was the first black South African to become a medical doctor, as well as a leader, activist and president-general of the African Nation ...

James Moroka James Sebe Moroka, OLG (16 March 1891 – 10 November 1985) was a medical doctor and a politician, who was the president of the African National Congress 1949–1952.

and Thabo Edwin Mofutsanyana. The Convention consisted of representatives from across a broad political spectrum, including the

African National Congress The African National Congress (ANC) is a social-democratic political party in South Africa. A liberation movement known for its opposition to apartheid, it has governed the country since 1994, when the first post-apartheid election install ...

, the

South African Communist Party The South African Communist Party (SACP) is a communist party in South Africa. It was founded in 1921 as the Communist Party of South Africa (CPSA), tactically dissolved itself in 1950 in the face of being declared illegal by the governing Na ...

, and the Industrial and Commercial Workers' Union. They convened at a community hall in

Bloemfontein Bloemfontein, ( ; , "fountain of flowers") also known as Bloem, is one of South Africa's three capital cities and the capital of the Free State province. It serves as the country's judicial capital, along with legislative capital Cape To ...

in response to three proposed bills by President

J.B.M. Hertzog General James Barry Munnik Hertzog (3 April 1866 – 21 November 1942), better known as Barry Hertzog or J. B. M. Hertzog, was a South African politician and soldier. He was a Boer general during the Second Boer War who served ...

Reasons for the AAC formation

The Convention was arranged in response to three proposed bills affecting the rights of natives known as the ''Hertzog Bills''. These bills were:

Native Representation Bill

This bill proposed to abolish the

Cape Qualified Franchise The Cape Qualified Franchise was the system of non-racial franchise that was adhered to in the Cape Colony, and in the Cape Province in the early years of the Union of South Africa. Qualifications for the right to vote at parliamentary elections ...

which had been in existence for

Cape Coloureds Cape Coloureds () are a South African ethnic group consisted primarily of persons of mixed race and Khoisan descent. Although Coloureds form a minority group within South Africa, they are the predominant population group in the Western Cape. ...

since 1854. The bill proposed to set up a Native Representative Council with 21 members. Of the 21, five would be white officials of the Native Affairs Department; four of the remaining 16 members were to be appointed by electoral colleges composed of chiefs and headsmen. The other 12 members would be assigned by the government without an election process. In the end, only four white officials became part of the Native Representative Council.

Native Trust and Land Bill

The bill introduced black-only reserves for Africans on land that was identified by the

Natives Land Act, 1913 The Natives Land Act, 1913 (subsequently renamed Bantu Land Act, 1913 and Black Land Act, 1913; Act No. 27 of 1913) was an Act of the Parliament of South Africa that was aimed at regulating the acquisition of land. According to the ''Encyclopæ ...

. This bill would therefore formalise the separation of white and black rural areas. A South African Native Trust was to be established to purchase all reserve land not yet owned by the state. This bill was enacted into law in 1936 as the

Native Trust and Land Act The Native Trust and Land Act, 1936 (Act No. 18 of 1936; subsequently renamed the Bantu Trust and Land Act, 1936 and the Development Trust and Land Act, 1936) in South Africa passed a law that served as the reorganization of its agricultural struc ...

Native Urban Areas Amendment Bill

The bill proposed that blacks could not acquire land in urban areas from non-blacks, except with the consent of the Governor-General. The Act was passed in 1937 (Act Number 46).

Conference

A few leaders called on different organisations such as trade unions, civic, political, professional and religious groupings to send delegates to a convention to be held in

in December 1935. The conference was attended by about 400 delegates with representatives from both towns and rural areas. There were 30 delegates from

Natal NATAL or Natal may refer to: Places * Natal, Rio Grande do Norte, a city in Brazil * Natal, South Africa (disambiguation), a region in South Africa ** Natalia Republic, a former country (1839–1843) ** Colony of Natal, a former British colony ( ...

, 70 from the

Orange Free State The Orange Free State ( nl, Oranje Vrijstaat; af, Oranje-Vrystaat;) was an independent Boer sovereign republic under British suzerainty in Southern Africa during the second half of the 19th century, which ceased to exist after it was defeat ...

, 100 from the

Transvaal Transvaal is a historical geographic term associated with land north of (''i.e.'', beyond) the Vaal River in South Africa. A number of states and administrative divisions have carried the name Transvaal. * South African Republic (1856–1902; af, ...

, 200 from the

Cape A cape is a clothing accessory or a sleeveless outer garment which drapes the wearer's back, arms, and chest, and connects at the neck. History Capes were common in medieval Europe, especially when combined with a hood in the chaperon. Th ...

, 10 from Basutoland and one from Swaziland (since 2018 renamed to Eswatini). Comprehensive resolutions to address African grievances were drafted during the conference, including the constitution of the All-African Convention – which was an

umbrella organisation An umbrella organization is an association of (often related, industry-specific) institutions who work together formally to coordinate activities and/or pool resources. In business, political, and other environments, it provides resources and ofte ...

aimed at promoting African rights through boycotts.

had also been chosen as the founding venue of the

on 8 January 1912. The conference took place from 15 to 18 December 1935. The following members made up the executive committee: *DDT Jabavu – Chairman of preliminary meetings and later president of the convention *AB Xuma – Vice President *H Selby Msimang – General Secretary *

James Moroka James Sebe Moroka, OLG (16 March 1891 – 10 November 1985) was a medical doctor and a politician, who was the president of the African National Congress 1949–1952.

– Treasurer *RH Godlo – Record Secretary * ZK Matthews - Clerks Draughtsmen *Other committee members included

John Langalibalele Dube John Langalibalele Dube (22 February 1871 – 11 February 1946) was a South African essayist, philosopher, educator, politician, publisher, editor, novelist and poet. He was the founding president of the South African Native National Congress ...

, Reverend AS Mtimkhulu, WW Ndlovu, AWG Champion, and J Khambule from Natal; CR Moikangoa, Keable Mote, RA Sello, R Cingo and Thomas Mtobi Mapikela from the Orange Free State; RV Selepe, LT Mvabaza PAM Bell, TD Mweli Skota and ET Mofutsanyana from the

; and Zacharias Richard Mahabane, CK Sakwe, Alex M Jabavu, JM Dippa and P Mama from the Cape. The following resolutions were made regarding the three proposed bills: *Native Representative Bill

"This convention is strongly opposed to the creation of another colour bar in the Provincial Councils under the guise of the Provincial Council representation of Natives, as contemplated under the proposed Representation of Natives in Parliament Bill. The system of representation in vogue in the
Cape Provincial Council The Cape Provincial Council was the provincial council of the Cape Province of South Africa. It was created by the South Africa Act 1909, with effect from the formation of the Union of South Africa on 31 May 1910. The first election to the provinc ...
, where there are no restrictions on the participation of non-Europeans in Provincial Council matters is, in the opinion of this convention, a model which might well be adopted in the provincial systems of other provinces, as well as by the Union Parliament itself". The convention proposed the adoption of a policy of political identity which would safeguard the interests of all races in
South Africa South Africa, officially the Republic of South Africa (RSA), is the Southern Africa, southernmost country in Africa. It is bounded to the south by of coastline that stretch along the Atlantic Ocean, South Atlantic and Indian Oceans; to the ...
. It acknowledged the different racial groupings and the development of their own lines socially and culturally; it also stressed that they would be bound together by the pursuit of common political objectives. The convention requested the extension of rights of
citizenship Citizenship is a "relationship between an individual and a state to which the individual owes allegiance and in turn is entitled to its protection". Each state determines the conditions under which it will recognize persons as its citizens, and ...
to all groups in South Africa."

*Native Land and Trust Bill The convention requested the proper adjustment of the land problems and therefore welcomed the attempt by the government to deal with this matter. However, according to the Convention, there was a gross inadequacy in the maximum amount of land to be acquired by the Natives' land trust. Of the total 143 million morgen, the Natives were only afforded 17 million which the convention perceived as unacceptable, as this did not take into account the future needs of an increasing Native population.

"The convention resolved that:— (1) The resolutions on the three bills - the Representation of Natives, the Native Land and the Trust Bill - be submitted to Parliament by a deputation of Africans during the next session of Parliament. (2) The deputation presents the viewpoint of the African National Convention held at Bloemfontein on December 16 at the bar of the House of Assembly. (3) The deputation submits to Parliament the contention that no permanent or peaceful solution of the franchise or land question is possible unless it be the result of mutual agreement between representatives of White and Black races, which is only possible by means of a round-table or similar conference."

*Urban Areas Amendment Bill The following resolution was taken regarding the Urban Areas Amendment Bill:

"The projected amendment of the Natives (Urban Areas) Act threatens to disorganise everything already initiated by urban Africans in the way of self-development. This is occurring at a time when no real efforts are being made to remove the causes of the drift to the towns of the rural African families. Therefore this convention respectfully and yet strongly urges the Government to desist from introducing further legislation that disturbs the progress already initiated by Africans in the urban areas”.

Despite the proposals tabled to parliament, the Government proceeded to pass the proposed bills.

References

External links

* ttp://www.sahistory.org.za/topic/segregationist-legislation-tmeline-1930-1939 {{DEFAULTSORT:All African Convention Anti-Apartheid organisations 1913 in South African law