Protest in South Africa: Prominent Black Leaders’ Commentary on the Natives Land Act, 1913-1936

Abstract

English

This article examines one aspect of the aftermath of the Natives Land Act of 1913, namely the commentary of black South African leaders about the Act and its impact from 1913 to 1936. The article emphasises the continuing anger of educated Africans towards the Land Act. The author also demonstrates that black leaders had many opportunities to discuss their opinions about political and economic life in South Africa and to protest against government policies which were increasingly discriminatory. These opportunities included writing for black newspapers, speaking to black organisations such as the ANC, meeting with whites (private individuals or government officials) at conferences, and testifying before commissions or parliamentary committees. To prominent Africans, the land issue continued to be very important into the early 1930s, and their bitterness towards and denunciation of the Land Act did not diminish. Because of their attitudes, educated Africans ignored a clause in the Natives Land Act which allowed the government to approve new purchases by Africans of land outside the reserves. In addition, black leaders failed to admit that thousands of Africans benefited from this exception clause in the Land Act by purchasing farms and lots after 1913. 

Afrikaans

Protes in Suid-Afrika: Kommentaar van Prominente Swart Leiers op die Naturellen Grond Wet, 1913-1936

Hierdie artikel ondersoek ʼn aspek van die nadraai van die Naturellen Grond Wet van 1913, naamlik die kommentaar van swart Suid-Afrikaanse leiers op die Wet en die gevolge daarvan van 1913 tot 1936. Die artikel beklemtoon die deurlopende woede van geleerde swart Suid-Afrikaners teenoor die Grond Wet. Die outeur dui verder aan dat swart leiers talle geleenthede gehad het om hulle menings oor die politiese en ekonomiese lewe in SuidAfrika te lug en teen regeringsbeleid wat toenemend diskriminerend geraak het, te protesteer. Hierdie geleenthede het die skryf van insette vir swart koerante, toesprake by byeenkomste van swart organisasies byvoorbeeld die African National Congress (ANC), ontmoetings met witmense (beide individue uit die privaat sektor en staatsamptenare) by konferensies, en getuienis voor kommissies of parlementêre komitees ingesluit. Vir prominente swart Suid-Afrikaners het grondsake tot in die vroeë 1930’s van die grootste belang gebly, en hulle bitterheid teenoor en veroordeling van die Naturellen Grond Wet het nie afgeneem nie. As gevolg van hulle houding, het geleerde swartes ʼn klousule in dié wet, wat die staat toegelaat het om nuwe aankope van grond deur swartes buite reservate goed te keur, geïgnoreer. Verder het die swart leiers nie in die openbaar erken dat duisende swart Suid-Afrikaners by hierdie klousule gebaat het, deur na 1913 plase en persele aan te koop nie.