The adjournment of the Natives Representative Council 1946-1948
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.17159/hasa.v41i2.1672Keywords:
Mia Roth, Native Representative Council, Second World War, Anti-Pass Campaign, R.V. Selope Thema, Bloemfontein, ANC, Jan Hofmeyr, petition, South Africa, representation, National Executive of Congress, Native Affairs Department, Johannesburg, African Mine Workers Union, Communist PartyAbstract
Afrikaans
Die verdaging van die Naturelle Verteenwoordigende Raad 1946-1948 Die doel van die artikel is om die aandag te vestig op die gebeure wat gelei het tot die verdaging van die Naturelle Verteenwoordigende Raad in 1946. Die belangrikheid hiervan lê in die feit dat dit die gevolg was van doelbewuste optrede deur daardie swartes waaruit die Raad bestaan het, eerder as die gevolg van toeval of 'n skielike besluit vanweë verbygaande gebeure. Die verdaging van die Naturelle Verteenwoordigende Raad is nog altyd toegeskryf aan gebeure daarbuite. Dit is dus as 'n ad hoc-besluit gesien en die aandag het gevolglik gefokus op die gebeure wat die Raadslede aangespoor het om sodanig op te tree, eerder as op die implikasies van die verdaging. Hierdie artikel is geskryf om hierdie opvatting te hersien en die optrede van die Raadslede te ondersoek, en sodoende die belangrikheid van hul besluit teen sy historiese agtergrond te plaas. Dit was nie 'n daad wat geïnspireer is deur die onmiddellike dramas van 1946 uie, maar eerder 'n weldeurdagte strategie wat in eie reg staan as 'n gebeurteuis van betekenis in die stryd om gelykheid en demokrasie in Suid-Afrika.
English
The purpose of this article is to focus attention on the events that led to the adjournment of the Native Representative Council in 1946. The importance of these events lies in the fact that they were the result of purposeful action on the part of those Africans who made up the Council, rather than the effect of chance or a sudden decision occasioned by the transitory events of the time. The adjournment of the Natives Representative Council has always been viewed in the light that the impinging of outside events led the councillors to adjourn the NRC. This decision has thus been seen as ad hoc and attention has consequently focused on the events that caused them to act in this way, rather than on the implications of the adjournment itself. This article has been written to redress this view and return to the action of the councillors, placing the importance of their decision in its historical setting. It was an act not inspired by the immediate dramas of 1946 but rather a well thought out strategy which stands on its own as an event of some importance in the fight for equality and democracy in South Africa.
