Chief Cyprian Zulu warns his people not to participate in the Defiance Campaign

Date: 23 Mar 1952
Updated: 30 Sep 2019

Chief Cyprian Zulu warns his people not to participate in the Defiance Campaign

The Defiance Campaign was planned in the 1950s in response to the enactment of numerous apartheid laws by the South African government. During the African National Congress (ANC) Annual Conference in December 1952 it was decided, "to embark on mass national action, based on non-cooperation, against certain specified unjust and racially discriminatory laws of the Union Government, unless these laws were repealed before March 1, 1952". Organisations like the Congress of Democrats and the South African Indian Congress (SAIC) joined the campaign. More than 8 500 people were imprisoned for refusing to obey apartheid laws and the campaign attracted thousands of people to political activism. Conservative Chief Cyprian Zulu regarded this opposition to the government as dangerous and warned his people not to get involved. Read more about the Defiance Campaign.

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01SAHO, Defiance Campaign 1952, from South African History Online, [online], Avaialable at www.sahistory.org.za [Accessed: 20 March 2013]

Last updated · 30 Sep 2019

Cite this entry

South African History Online. (2011, March 16). Chief Cyprian Zulu warns his people not to participate in the Defiance Campaign. South African History Online. https://sahistory.org.za/ref/E-0011772

South African History Online (2011) 'Chief Cyprian Zulu warns his people not to participate in the Defiance Campaign', South African History Online, 16 March. Available at: https://sahistory.org.za/ref/E-0011772 (Accessed: 28 August 2026).

South African History Online, Chief Cyprian Zulu warns his people not to participate in the Defiance Campaign [website], https://sahistory.org.za/ref/E-0011772, (accessed 28 August 2026).

"Chief Cyprian Zulu warns his people not to participate in the Defiance Campaign." South African History Online, 16 Mar. 2011, https://sahistory.org.za/ref/E-0011772. Accessed 28 Aug. 2026.

South African History Online. "Chief Cyprian Zulu warns his people not to participate in the Defiance Campaign." South African History Online. March 16, 2011. https://sahistory.org.za/ref/E-0011772.