From: South Africa's Radical Tradition, a documentary history, Volume One 1907 - 1950, by Allison Drew
Document 18 - Letter from S. P. Bunting to the South African Federation of NativeTrade Unions, 20 September 1930
COPY.
4 la Fox Street,
JOHANNESBURG.
September 20th 1930.
The S.A.F.N.T.U.
27a Perreira Street,
JOHANNESBURG.
Dear Comrades,
Three requests from you or your Secretary were before the last meeting of the Party Executive, one for the use of a table and two chairs belonging to the Party, one for financial assistance for the sending of delegates to the All-in Trade Union Conference at Cape Town, and one for the use of the Party Hall for a social for the same purpose.
The Executive unanimously agreed that the hall be granted but that at the same time I should state that the Party cannot ignore the serious fact that the Federation has seen fit behind the Party's back to appoint as its General Secretary a member expelled from the Party on a serious charge and that until the intolerable situation thus created has been liquidated it is very difficult for the Party, ardently as it desires to assist the Trade Unions, to deal normally with them or the Federation. For this reason no reply can be given to the request for funds and no permission for the removal of the furniture. As a matter of fact the furniture has been removed without permission and the Executive requests its return accordingly.
It is earnestly hoped that your Federation instead of continually adopting an attitude of defiance or hostility to the Party will take the necessary steps to restore that harmonious cooperation between the Party and the Federation which is the essence of its existence. In this connection I may refer you to the concluding paragraph of the Executive’s letter of a couple months back to your present Secretary reading as follows; 30th June 1930.
Let us add that your potential abilities in the movement are still recognised no less than your shortcomings and that once it becomes clear that they would once again as heretofore be wholeheartedly and honestly devoted to the single purpose of loyally working for, in and under the Party, the Executive for its part would gladly take up the question of your reinstatement especially as the labourers are still far too few for the harvest.
On the subject of the hall the Executive in its turn has to remind you and the individual unions concerned that in spite of many requests in the past neither the Federation nor any of the Unions has ever contributed anything towards the rent of the hall although it is from the rank and file bodies that funds should be forthcoming. The Party Executive has no source of funds apart from them. The Executive therefore asks for financial support from the Trade Unions to the amount of 10/- per month per union and I trust that you will give the matter your serious and immediate attention.
The active cooperation of the Unions is asked for the campaign now being organized by a Joint Committee including representatives of the Unions, the Independent I.C.U. a section of the A.N.C. etc., for resistance to the Pass Laws. A Conference on the campaign will be held at the Inchcape Hall on Sunday, October 26th, next and it is hoped that all the Unions will send representatives and will attend in force. Coupled with this is a leaflet campaign on the Mines to familiarise the Mineworkers with the idea of trade unionism and the formation of a great Mineworkers' Union, and your assistance is also asked the task of getting these leaflets distributed in the Mine compounds and wherever else Mineworkers can be reached. They will be ready for distribution in a few days time.
Yours fraternally,
S. P. BUNTING,
ACTING SECRETARY.