WE HAVE THE KEY TO FREEDOM – NOT THE OPPRESSOR, December 16, 1957

Albert Luthuli's Presidential Address to the Forty-fifth

Annual Conference of the African National Congress, Orlando, Johannesburg, December

16, 1957

The powers that be have again made my personal presence at

this, our 45th annual conference, impossible. My mouth is zipped but,

Thank God, I can still speak to you in absentia, by the written word

through the medium of a proxy whom I thank in anticipation.

The Speaker, no doubt, will extend a word of welcome to the

delegates and others attending the Conference. With warmth and cordiality I wish

to associate myself with his welcome of you and wish the Conference the blessing

and guidance of the Almighty in all your deliberations.

What of this Conference?

Having expressed my sentiments of welcome, it is fitting to

pose the question: What of this Conference? What are your visions and hopes

about it and Congress generally? Yes, your doubts and fears, as you ponder on

the many duties and problems – internal and external – that face our

Liberatory movement. A constant reflection on such questions during this

conference and after should create in you a positive forward look and

co-operativeness that should drive every one of you to do his best for the

Freedom cause. It should help you to see the special task and significance of

this Conference and so help you all co-operatively to diagnose and prescribe

correctly for the ills and weaknesses that beset us in our struggle for freedom.

In this matter of significance of this Conference it is not

out of place to note without comment at this stage that it comes in a

pre-election year: an election that, for good or for worse, must affect our

struggle for liberation; an election that is a painful reminder to us of the

ten-year dictatorial rule of the Nationalist Party that has plagued our country

since 1948 with apartheid, a most deadly policy. Is it too much to hope that

this election will see the final end of this infernal Nationalist Party rule?

Would to heavens it would be so!

In the execution of its task Conference must seek to

re-assure the world in general and white South Africa in particular that our

struggle is a non-violent one and our goal is a democratic civilised pattern of

life and a belief in justice, fairplay, human dignity and in the equality and

brotherhood of man. With this assurance reiterated we can ask white South Africa

– which I here do, what else we could reasonably be expected to do to prove

our bona fides that we are no enemies of theirs or anyone else’s, but

only of domination, racialism and exploitation and that in our struggle we are

in quest for a South Africa where everyone in the land, according to individual

ability and inclination, shall have the right and the opportunity to serve his

country and enjoy its fruits.

1957 tells the same grim story of the persecution of the oppressed people,

the non-whites

If the year 1957 has presented us under trying conditions

with opportunities for service in the prosecution of our struggle for freedom,

it has given us also more than we can bear, tribulation and nagging anxiety

about our future.

The Nationalist Government, alarmed and greatly shaken by the

rising tide of freedom consciousness among the oppressed majority, the

non-whites, has continued, with greater vehemence, trickiness and fury, to pass

numerous restrictive and oppressive laws and administrative enactments as never

before. These laws and administrative enactments have rained untold cruelty and

suffering on the people. All this has revealed the evil intent of the

nationalist party in particular and white South Africa in general, towards

non-whites and freedom lovers in general. It has shown up the Nationalist Party

as power-drunk autocrats.

The extent of the cruelty they have perpetrated on

defenceless, voteless non-whites is too vast to describe in a brief address such

as this. Suffice is to say:

• Furious threats by nationalist party leaders including ministers of the
• crown against people and organisations opposing apartheid have been made;
• Mass pass raids and mass arrests;
• Ruthless enforcement of the law by the police;
• Bannings and deportations of political leaders;
• Deposition and banishment of African chiefs suspected of not supporting
• government apartheid schemes;
• Displacement of people from their long established homes and places of
• business;
• Starvation wages, and general insecurity and poverty arising out of many
• apartheid laws such as the industrial laws of the country and the land laws.

All this and more, has made the life of non-whites,

especially the African, to be a nightmare and an inferno.

For the non-whites the Union has become a police state where

he is made "prisoner in his own castle," a state where he is denied

the universal human rights accepted by all nations that qualify to be called

civilised.

I appeal to Congress members and officials at all levels -

national, provincial and branch - to give full support to all anti apartheid

campaigns Congress is prosecuting jointly with her allies and sometimes

including the Liberal Party of South Africa. Efforts should be made always to

explain the "why-for" of the opposition. As an example: Bantu

Education must be shown up as slave education: an education for ignorance

intended to isolate and brainwash the African child in order to more easily

indoctrinate him with theories of white supremacy and black inherent

inferiority. Pass laws and their ruthless enforcement must be seen as a means of

controlling African labour and canalising it to mines and European farms where

abundant African labour is shamefully exploited. In some cases national

headquarters and provincial headquarters provide study literature that could be

made use of in this connection.

Other victims of Nationalist Party Rule

The non-whites, no doubt, are the main victims of nationalist

dictatorial rule. For them there has never been any attempt to rule them by

consent. To some degree their lot is suffered by the whites who champion the

freedom cause. But the tentacles of nationalist party dictatorship are reaching

and threatening the limited autonomy of local authorities when it comes to the

implementation of apartheid laws; the freedom of industrialists to site

industries and negotiate with their African employees is being interfered with;

the movement of whites in the so-called Bantu areas in urban and rural centres

is being strictly regulated.

The freedom of association in churches and multi-racial

gatherings is threatened by the Native Laws Amendment Act of 1957.

All this is a warning to white South Africa that their own

freedom is in great jeopardy. One dreads to think to what peril it will be

exposed under a Nationalist Party dominated South African Republic. It is

non-whites now; but soon it will be all non-nationalist whites.

When the Halt

With cruel rigidity and terrifying callousness the

Nationalist Party machine, ostensibly to protect white civilisation, rolls

relentlessly, crushing all opposition to the Nationalist Party until what there

is of democracy, as known in the civilised world, disappears in the Union.

The tragedy is that the dominant minority white group seems

to be blind to the realities of our situation and to the lesson of history that

sooner or later – sooner rather than later - the non-white majority will be

free;

That the Almighty created man to be free is an immutable law

which any ruler neglects to his own undoing. The validity of this law is

attested to by the attainment of freedom by oppressed people from time

immemorial to our day.

How can the oppressed people of the Union of South Africa not

become free sooner or later?

THE LENGTH OF THE TERM OF SLAVERY DEPENDS LARGELY ON THE

OPPRESSED THEMSELVES AND NOT ON THE OPPRESSOR. 

The challenge of this fact to non-whites is too obvious to explain.

THE TASK AHEAD IS COLOSSAL.

We must not underrate the task ahead of us on our forward

march to freedom; it is most exacting and colossal. It confronts us with many

problems – internal and external – in our life and death struggle for

freedom – nay for existence of life itself since we are faced by a ruthless

oppressor. Success will only come our way if we face this threat with

indomitable courage and tenacity of purpose. We must build a formidable force of

freedom lovers on the basis of a broad freedom front. We must seek to develop in

our people a spirit of DEFIANCE that will despise terrorism and violence as

methods of struggle.

Let no difficulties and temporary set-backs in our struggle

discourage us and our vision of a united democratic South Africa; a South Africa

where human relations shall rest on the firm foundation of equality, friendship

and respect for human dignity. What is happening in our country as a direct

outcome of the policy of segregation and its variant apartheid gives a bad name

to South Africa in the outside world and has disastrous effects on the

well-being and character of the people in many ways.

It breeds in the down-trodden non-white a sense of

frustration and resentment; this in turn makes it harder for him to practise

patience and tolerance. To the oppressor it breeds an unsettling fear which

drives him more and more to greater severity in his enforcement of the unwanted

apartheid laws; this, unfortunately, is bound to leave on the oppressor marks of

inhumanity. The total result is strained human relations in our country. No

country can truly be prosperous and great and enjoy the peace when its people

are subjected to strained relationships.

It is our desire to see tensions and unco-operativeness

removed from our South African scene.

Letter to Prime Minister, Mr. Strijdom

It was this desire that prompted me to write a letter to the

Prime Minister, Mr. Strijdom, on behalf of my executive urging him and his

Government to take immediate steps to arrest the fast deteriorating race

relations in our country. I suggested to him that a preliminary step to this

desirable end would be to establish contact with the elected leaders of the

African people with a view to holding a frank discussion on our situation. I

pleaded that at this discussion means and ways should be sought of governing

Africans democratically with their consent and not as at present when it is by

force, by coercion and by camouflage enticement that hides the evil effects of

legislation and so trap the unwary and less politically tutored among us.

In the name not only of the African National Congress but of

all African leaders of all shades of political opinion, I offered the Prime

Minister a hand of co-operation provided that the acceptance of the policy of

apartheid was not made a sine qua non to any consultation and

co-operation. Unfortunately to date I have had no response from the Prime

Minister to this appeal. This desire to see human relations regulated by a

spirit of friendliness and co-operativeness made the African National Congress

support the convening of a multi-racial conference recently in Johannesburg.

Some of our people attended this conference, I trust they will give Conference a

report on it to enable Conference to discuss the findings of this historic

Conference.

A word about the Human Rights Day anniversary on December 10th.

I trust that in compliance with directives sent out by the African National

Headquarters all lower Congress organs made arrangements for the observance of

this anniversary this year. The significance of this anniversary is that it is

world-wide and is observed where there are progressive groups to sponsor it. Its

observance must help to create and cement a world-wide fellowship of freedom

lovers and focus attention on those areas of the world where, as in the Union of

South Africa, some people are denied human rights as contained in the

Declaration on Human rights in the United Nations Charter.

This anniversary of Human Rights Day, December 10th,

must be included in our calendar of special days in our Liberatory Movement and

be observed regularly.

1957: A Year full of Hope for the Liberatory Movement

The year 1957 constitutes a most significant landmark in our

struggle for freedom in our country. It marks another turning point for the

better. It is brimful of events – anti-apartheid protests – and noble deeds

that show the growth of the resistance spirit among the oppressed people and

freedom lovers. This year augurs well for the broadening of the Freedom Front.

The significant thing about most of these protests is that

they were staged by groups: Ministers of Religion, University Authorities and

students, nurses, civil liberties bodies - not among the regulars in the freedom

struggle but new recruits concerned mainly with the introduction of apartheid in

their own spheres of activity.

The protests were many and came on one after another or

simultaneously. This made a tremendous impact on the public, white and black.

The Government was greatly disturbed by this unanimous opposition to their

policy by people outside the Liberatory Movement. The Security police must have

been kept busy this year more than ever before.

There are many events of this year which could be cited for

note Who will deny that the dramatic arrest of 156 leaders of this Liberatory

Movement on December 5th, 1956, is an event of unsurpassed

significance and ramifications that cannot yet be fully assessed? It made South

Africa the focal point of world interest. It generated a wonderful spirit of

solidarity within the Liberatory Movement itself and between the Congresses and

other progressive groups and individuals. What of the accused themselves? Their

being together at the Drill Hall knit them into a community of their own. In

tribulation they got to know one another more intimately and developed a most

effective comradeship that provides this Drill Hall family – for that is what

they are – with moral and spiritual resources that make them bear the

frustrations of the already long-drawn Inquiry. Adversity has not broken down

the morale of the group; on the contrary it seems to have geared the group to

greater determination. This is what I call "The Drill Hall Spirit."

The Rand and Pretoria bus boycott is another of the soul

inspiring events of 1957 and so is the wonderful resistance of African women

against taking passes. The women should be an object lesson to men; men should

bow down to them in shame. It must be put on record that their resistance,

notwithstanding setbacks in some areas has been magnificent. The demonstrations

have confused the Government and frustrated their plans to the point of putting

them out of gear.

These samples of courage, determination and consistency

demonstrated by the demonstrations carried out this year are sufficient to

proclaim 1957 as "A year full of Hope for the Future."

The Church Militant

I wish briefly to pay special tribute to some churches, here

and overseas, who on moral grounds have boldly, unequivocally and consistently

pronounced against the implementation of apartheid by the Nationalist

Government. It is our view that the church in our land has not been sufficiently

militant in this regard; it has not always raised its voice vocally whenever the

rights of non-whites were assailed. Protesting voices have been too few. We are

grateful when now we hear more church voices protesting loud against state

policies that enslave us.

Pay Tribute to Whom Tribute is Due

I must here congratulate and pay deserving tribute to all

Congress officials and members who rallied magnificently with added effort and

zeal to the freedom cause and to the routine work of keeping Congress machinery

moving under difficult circumstances. This swift rallying action frustrated the

plans of the government to cripple – if not utterly destroy the various organs

of the Liberatory Movement. The threats made then within government circles to

further attempt to destroy the African National Congress by more arrests,

bannings and deportation from the ranks of the new leaders is a significant

measure of the effective performance of these men and women who so ably and

devotedly carried on the work of the organisation during this difficult year.

All officials and members who thus did their duty by Congress

at this critical time so richly deserve our thanks which I am here happy to

convey. This tribute is extended in equal measure to those of the public who,

here and overseas, have responded to the call to support the Treason Trial Fund.

The events of 1957 have brought greater co-operation and

devotion to the cause of freedom. May this spirit grow.

It is encouraging to note that whilst the Nationalist Party

Government was becoming more and more ruthless in the implementation of

apartheid, whites, including some supporters of the government, were beginning

to have doubts about the efficacy of apartheid in ensuring white South Africa an

exclusive hold on the Union of South Africa. This is a good sign.

Ourselves and the World

The Annual Report of the National Executive which I commend

to members for careful study has dealt fully with "External Affairs."

For emphasis I shall only touch on some aspects of our External Affairs Policy.

We hold that Congress must take an interest in world affairs

as world affairs inevitably impinge on and effect our situation in the Union.

The Union of South Africa, no doubt, is encouraged to pursue its immoral policy

of apartheid because it feels that in the end her friends will not abandon her;

my friend, right or wrong attitude. In a recent debate on the apartheid policy

of the Union by U.N.O., Great Britain supported the Union. Often nations will

adopt benevolent neutrality whose effect is to help their friends.

Peace: Congress stands for peace, hence it

opposes all practices that create world tension; big nations often by coercion

or enticement divide the world into spheres of influence each dominates. The

net result is that small or weak nations become dependencies or satellites of

some big nation. For the same reason, we are opposed to economic aid with

strings tied on to it.

Co-Existence: We support this policy as the only

one likely to ease tension among nations with different ideological outlook.

The policy of destroying a nation of a differing ideology is not democratic.

Colonial Powers: We are opposed to colonialism. It

favours domination and so oppression of natives of the country who are

entitled to self–determination. In multi-racial communities the principle of

common society must be adopted and citizens left to elect as they please. We

charge that where the population is black – white metropolitan powers always

adopt a policy that favours white settlers. This is the error and weakness of

Britain, France and others.

Emergent Native Territories: We support Liberatory

Movement anywhere; that is, the emancipation of the oppressed.

Our Policy of Relations with Nations in the World:

We make no connection whatsoever with governments of foreign states. In our

struggle we seek aid from persons or societies in a country whenever these

people support or are sympathetic to our view or objectives. We are neither

East nor West, but draw friends from either with due regard to our honour and

dignity. We are nobody’s satellite.

What Next?

In the coming year our work shall largely be that of

streamlining and reinforcing our present plans and campaigns.

I would like to pin-point some special needs as I see them:

• There is much organisational work to be done, but so far to do it. I
• reiterate with greater force my call for Freedom Volunteers. I want
• them by the thousands. Congress must not just be brought to every town and
• rural community, but to every African home in the Union.
• The need for building a broad UNITY without sacrificing our principles and
• stand by an iota. The ANC. must continue to give a lead in forming a UNITED
• FRONT AGAINST ALL THAT APARTHEID STANDS FOR.
• Re-think our idea of indifference to a white general election. Such period
• properly used can be most fruitful politically. It provides a favourable
• climate for the political education of our people. For our policy in this
• matter I commend to you the views I expressed in a recent interview with New
• Age. The views there expressed received the endorsement of the National
• Executives ANC and the NCC. I am happy to state that it is now in fact the
• policy of the Congresses on the General Elections.
• I commend to organs and members of Congress to study the POLICY STATEMENT
• you will be furnished with. Reinforce it by referring to other sources such
• as Presidential addresses and letters written at different times to the
• Prime Minister, in particular the last letter of May 8th, 1957.

Let me end up by reminding you that WE HAVE THE KEY TO

FREEDOM – not the oppressor. It all depends on how much we sacrifice ourselves

for Freedom. Let us make the coming year a special ANTI-APARTHEID year and to

that end, with the maximum of UNITY within our ranks, work to the maximum of our

ability to deliver a knock-out blow that will end apartheid by the shortest time

possible. WE DETERMINE THE PACE not the oppressor.

MAYIBUYE! AFRIKA, INKULULEKO NGESIKATI SETHU.