In 1952 Chief Albert Luthuli became its new leader of ANC peaceful campaigns against Apartheid. He encouraged the ANC to work with other organisations that want change in South Africa. In 1955, they held a Congress of the people; there were repetitive from:
- ANC
- South African Indian Congress
- Coloured People’s Congress
- Congress of Democrats (whites)
They all drew up a list of basic demands of what need changing, this was known as the “Freedom Charter”.
- All adults should have the right to vote.
- Apartheid laws must end. South Africans of all races should have the same freedom and rights.
- The people must share South Africa wealth – for example gold coal, banks and major industries.
- The people who work the land (e.g. farmers) should have their fair share of the land.
- All people must have the same legal rights. Nobody must be punished without a fair trail.
- Scrap the Pass laws. All people must be free to choose where they live and work, to meet together and speak freely.
- There must be equal pay for equal work.
- Non-whites should have free education that is good as white peoples education.
- Better houses, more food, free medical care and better water supplies.
- Let there be peace and friendship among all South Africans.
These were so basic that every true democracy had them in the world. The government decided that the “Freedom Charter” was a high act of treason. In 1956 the government arrested 156 people and charge them under the “Suppression of Communism Act”. The “Treason Trial” lasted from 1956 – 1961 and all defendants were founded not guilty.
The ANC had very good and strong leaders such as Walter Sisulu. He was the secretary of the ANC and one of the founders of the Youth league. He led the “Defiance Campaign”. On bail appealing against a 6 years sentence, he went underground with MK.
He was caught and sentenced to life imprisonment. Also there was Nelson Mandela, he became the president of the Youth league of the ANC in 1950. Nelson Mandela was put in prison for life in 1963. He always refuses to believe that black South African were inferior to whites and was involved in organising the “Freedom Charter”. Due to the involvement in the “Defiance Campaign” he was put on the 1956-1961 “Treason Trial”, he was found not guilty. After the massacre of Sharpeville in 1960s Mandela said that they would have to use violence against South African government. The organisation MK used sabotages to avoid killing people. When he was put on trial again he made a famous speech where he said he was prepared to die because Apartheid was so wrong. These 2 leaders were intelligent and gained publicity for the cause e.g. the speech at “Rivionia” and the “treason Trials” convinced many people including some whites that Apartheid was wrong.
The rise of African Nationalism and the opposition to Apartheid was because of things like Macmillan’s speech “wind of change” where he said the British government didn’t agree with Apartheid and warned them they couldn’t ignore blacks demands. As – well during the 1950s and 1960s there were campaigns in America for black civil rights lead by Martin Luther King and Malcolm X who encouraged people to look that the roots of racism and why black people were treated as second class citizens around the world. Also there was increasing criticism from the UN and in 1963 the organisation of African Unity expelled South Africa and asked its member to close their air space to South Africa planes. In 1964 South Africa was banned from the Olympic games and Britain banned arms sale to South Africa. There was huge worldwide media coverage of the massacre of Sharpeillve, which raised awareness and opposition to Apartheid. Also in Africa, countries gained their independence. This all gave confidence and support from overseas countries, gave the black people hope and something too fright for.
