Resistance and Opposition 1948-54

• 1943 – ANC (African National Congress) Youth League, led by Nelson Mandela, Walter Sisulu, Oliver Tambo, and Anton Lembede, was more radical than the old ANC, which had a soft approach to try to win white favour, initially, they aimed to remain separate from communists and Indians, as Lembede, an "Africanist," advocated for blacks as superior - not after equality, some members wanted to “drive the white man into the sea”
• 1947 – Lembede's death led to ANC Youth League's takeover by Mandela and Tambo - Mandela collaborated with SAIC (South African Indian Congress), Gandhi led non-violent protests in 1946, Mandela was impressed by them - Mandela also learned about mass demonstrations and power of support from Communists
• Late 1940s – Strikes, boycotts, and “stay at home”s organised; to disrupt and show the importance of blacks in South Africa’s economic output
• 1949 – ANC “Programme of Action” adopted aimed: to reject racial segregation entirely, work independent of whites, escalate to non-violent protest (strikes, boycotts, civil disobedience), it focused on disorderly behavior to cause police and government problems
• 1950 – SACP organized May Day strike against government, the 2,000 police called responded with fire, resulting in 18 deaths in Johannesburg; ANC followed (inspired) with National Day of Protest in June, a large-scale strike led to mass arrests, in cities black businesses closed, majority of workers stayed home
• 1950 – Suppression of Communism Act; outlawed communist party, any opposition called "communist" (any scheme attempting social, political, or industrial change), including ANC and allowed harsh punitive punishments
• 1952 – ANC and SAIC Defiance Campaign; Mandela called for 10,000 volunteers, 8,577 responded (ANC membership 7,000 -> 100,000) defied apartheid regulations, including going to"white-only" train compartments, post office queues, and benches, on the 6 April 1952 a significant day as whites were celebrating the arrival of the Dutch
• 1952 – By October, thousands were arrested, with 2,354 in custody and courts were clogged by the number of people arrested - South African and international newspapers were filled with their exploits
• 1952-1959 – Federation of South African Women founded in 1954, linked to ANC and liberal supporters, had coordinated campaigns, pass burnings, and petitions (similar to previous anti-pass events); it culminated in 1956 with a mass demonstration of 26,000 women in Pretoria, opposition slowed state action on extending passes but did not prevent
• 1952-1959 – Gov. issued passes to women in rural areas and vulnerable urban workers, saying refusal to comply meant dismissal - by 1959, the anti-pass campaignwas over
• 1953 – Criminal Law Amendment: Illegal to break laws as a protest or assist/persuade others to, gave harsher penalties - lessened spread of ideas and Public Safety Act: Government can declare state of emergency and suspend laws if major disturbance is suspected, they have more control
• 1953 – Mandela banned until 1961, and Albert Luthuli became ANC President; ANC backed boycott of "Bantu" schools, which taught black children inferiority and menial labor jobs
• 1953 – Mandela “banned” until 1961, many others also, Albert Luthuli became President of ANC
• 1953 –ANC backed boycott of “Bantu” schools which taught black children that they were inferior and only enough knowledge to work menial or manual labour jobs