THE ROLE OF T.M. MAPIKELA IN THE MUNICIPAL ADMINISTRATION OF BLACK AFFAIRS IN BLOEMFONTEIN 1902-1945

Abstract

Die rol van T .M. Mapikela in die munisipale adrninistrasie van swart aangeleenthede in Bloemfontein, 1902-1945 Mapikela het in die afwesigheid van munisipale stemreg vir swartmense in 'n adviserende hoedanigheid 'n konstruktiewe rol in die sosiaal-ekonomiese opheffing van die swart gemeenskap in Bloemfontein gespeel. Sy advies het gesteun op sy skool- en ambagsopleiding, 'n suksesvolle loophaan as bou-aannemer, sy politieke loopbaan van ongeveer 30 jaar in swart organisasies soos die African National Congress en sy lidmaatskap van verskeie kerk-, skool en sportkomitees. Sy volhardende rol in die munisipaie Naturelle Adviesraad en die nasionale Naturelle Verteenwoordigende Raad, het die volgende sosiaal-ekonomiese vrugte afgewerp : handelsreg aan swartmense en die tydelike finansiering van noodlenigingswerk aan werklose swartes deur die stadsraad; ouderdoms- en ongeskiktheidsvoordele vir swartmense landwyd en voorkeur vir swart onderwysers in swart regeringskole deur die Unieregering. Mapikela se pleidooi vir beter gesondheids- en behuisingsgeriewe in die swart buurte van Bloemfontein het op die stadsraad se partydigheid vir sy blanke kiesersbelange gestrand. Sy strewe na 'n demokratiese, nie-rassige gemeenskap het gesteun op 'n vreedsame sarnewerkingstrategie met die owerhede en was gebaseer op Christelike en Westerse demokratiese (konstitusionele) waardes.

In the absence of the municipal franchise for blacks, Mapikela played in an advisory capacity a constructive role in the socio-economic upliftment of the black community of Bloemfontein. His advice was founded upon his school career and training as artisan, his successful career as building-contractor, his political career of about 30 years in black organisations such as the African National Congress and his membership of various church, school and sports committees. His persevering role in the municipal Natives Advisory Board and the national Natives Representative Council produced the following fruits in the socio-economic field : trading rights for blacks and the temporary financing of relief work for unemployed blacks by the City Council; old age and disability pensions for black people country-wide, including preference for black teachers in black government schools by the Union government. Mapikela's plea for better health and housing facilities in the black townships of Bloemfontein stranded upon the City Council's partiality for the interests of his white electorate. His ideal for a democratic, non-racial society rested on a peaceful co-operative strategy with the authorities, and was based on Christian and Western democratic (constitutional) values.