Excerpted from an Article, March 1961

I am attending this conference as delegate from my village. I was elected at a
secret meeting held in the bushes far away from our kraals simply because in
our village it is now a crime for us to hold meetings. I have listened most
carefully to speeches made here, and they have given me strength and
courage. I now realise that we are not alone. But I am troubled by my
experiences during the last weeks. In the course of our struggle against the
system of Bantu Authorities, we heard many fighting speeches delivered by
men we trusted most, but when the hour of decision came they did not have
the courage of their convictions. They deserted us and we felt lonely and
without friends. But I will go away from here refreshed and full of confi-
dence. We must win in the end.

These words were said at the All-in African Conference held at Pietermaritz-
burg on 25 and 26 March. The man who said them came from a country area
where the people are waging a consistent struggle against Bantu Authorities.
He wore riding breeches, a khaki shirt, an old jacket and came to conference
barefooted. But his words held fire and dignity and his remarks, like those of
other speakers, indicated that this conference was no talking shop for persons
who merely wanted to let off steam, but a solemn gathering which appreciated
the grave decisions it was called upon to take.

The theme of the conference was African unity and the calling, by the
government, of a national convention of elected representatives of all adult
men and women, on an equal basis, irrespective of race, colour, or creed, with
full powers to determine a new democratic constitution for South Africa.

Conference resolved that if the government failed to call this convention by
31 May, countrywide demonstrations would be held on the eve of the republic
in protest against this undemocratic act.

The point at issue, and which was emphasised over and over again by
delegates, was that a minority government had decided to proclaim a white
republic under which the living conditions of the African people would con-
tinue to deteriorate.

Conference further resolved that in the event of the government failing to
accede to this demand, all Africans would be called upon not to cooperate with
the proposed republic. All sections of our populations would be asked to unite
with us in opposing the Nationalists.

The resolution went further and called upon democratic people the world
over to impose economic and other sanctions against the government. A
National Action Council was elected to implement the above decisions.

Three other resolutions were passed in which the arrests of members of the
Continuation Committee were strongly condemned and in which conference

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