At 20:10 on 23 June 1946 a group of White men attacked and assaulted Indian Passive Resisters. This followed a call to the South African government by Mahatma Gandhi made at a prayer meeting in New Delhi, India, the previous day. He had asked the government to stop "hooliganism" of Whites and the authorities responded by warning the Resisters to vacate their premises in South Africa. During that evening the police arrested 13 Resisters. The hooligans launched another attack at 23:15 on the same day in which several resisters were seriously hurt. The attackers smashed car windows, threw bottles at cars and assaulted Indian spectators. Reverend Michael Scott, who had been a victim of the earlier assault later stated that: "None of those who resorted to violence were arrested ... 2 Indian girls were both struck by the hooligans. These girls were very brave and self-possessed, and referred to the Europeans as misguided."
23 June 1946
A group of White men attack and assault Indian Passive Resisters
- Updated
- 23 Jun 2022
How we know this
- 01SAHO Indian passive resistance in South Africa, 1946-1948 by E.S. Reddy [online] Available at: www.sahistory.org.za [Accessed on 23 June 2013]
- 02SAHO Indian Passive Resistance. A mass meeting in Johannesburg, 1946 [online] Available at: www.sahistory.org.za [Accessed on 23 June 2013]
Last updated · 23 Jun 2022
South African History Online. (2011, March 16). A group of White men attack and assault Indian Passive Resisters. South African History Online. https://sahistory.org.za/ref/E-0011686
South African History Online (2011) 'A group of White men attack and assault Indian Passive Resisters', South African History Online, 16 March. Available at: https://sahistory.org.za/ref/E-0011686 (Accessed: 22 October 2026).
South African History Online, A group of White men attack and assault Indian Passive Resisters [website], https://sahistory.org.za/ref/E-0011686, (accessed 22 October 2026).
"A group of White men attack and assault Indian Passive Resisters." South African History Online, 16 Mar. 2011, https://sahistory.org.za/ref/E-0011686. Accessed 22 Oct. 2026.
South African History Online. "A group of White men attack and assault Indian Passive Resisters." South African History Online. March 16, 2011. https://sahistory.org.za/ref/E-0011686.
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