This Day in History: 25 March 1961
Nelson Mandela was appointed the Secretary of the National Action Council during the All Africa Conference attended by 1 400 delegates from 145 institutions. The conference was held in Pietermaritzburg. During the conference the following resolutions were passed.
* WE RESOLVE that should the minority Government ignore this demand of
the representatives of the united will of the African people -
* We undertake to stage country-wide demonstrations on the eve of the
proclamation of the Republic in protest against this undemocratic act.
* We call on all Africans not to cooperate or collaborate in any way
with the proposed South African Republic or any other form of Government
which rests on force to perpetuate the tyranny of a minority, and to organise
and unite in town and country to carry out constant actions to oppose oppression
and win freedom.
* We call on the Indian and Coloured communities and all democratic Europeans
to join forces with us in opposition to a regime which is bringing disaster
to South Africa and to win a society in which all can enjoy freedom and
security.
* We call on democratic people the world over to refrain from any cooperation
or dealings with the South African government, to impose economic and other
sanctions against this country and to isolate in every possible way the
minority Government whose continued disregard of all human rights and freedoms
constitutes a threat to world peace.