The passive resistance movement begins with a mass meeting of 2000 Africans

Updated: 30 Sep 2019

The passive resistance movement began on 30 March 1919 when a mass meeting of two thousand Africans in Vrededorp decided to reject the passes. The next day, three thousand Africans demonstrated outside the Johannesburg pass office, dumping bags full of passes. The demonstrations were peaceful. The South African Native National Congress (SANNC) had even hired constables to ensure this was upheld. However, police used force on the crowd and arrested hundreds. When asked about their main grievances, the representatives stated two things: 1. The denial of the rights of citizenship. 2. The denial, through the operation of the colour bar, of the rights of ordinary human beings. More than two hundred Africans were brought to court and charged with disturbing the peace or inciting the workers to strike. Despite their efforts, the demonstrations proved futile. The government did not abolish the pass laws for men.

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How we know this

01African National Congress Campaign against passes in the Transvaal in 1919 [online] Available at: www.anc.org.za [Accessed on 14 March 2012]
02Van der Walt L. A History of the IWW in South Africafrom Bread & Roses Issue 7 [online] Available at: www.nelsonmandela.org [Accessed on 14 March 2012]

Last updated · 30 Sep 2019

Cite this entry

South African History Online. (2012, March 23). The passive resistance movement begins with a mass meeting of 2000 Africans. South African History Online. https://sahistory.org.za/ref/E-0080363

South African History Online (2012) 'The passive resistance movement begins with a mass meeting of 2000 Africans', South African History Online, 23 March. Available at: https://sahistory.org.za/ref/E-0080363 (Accessed: 25 July 2026).

South African History Online, The passive resistance movement begins with a mass meeting of 2000 Africans [website], https://sahistory.org.za/ref/E-0080363, (accessed 25 July 2026).

"The passive resistance movement begins with a mass meeting of 2000 Africans." South African History Online, 23 Mar. 2012, https://sahistory.org.za/ref/E-0080363. Accessed 25 July 2026.

South African History Online. "The passive resistance movement begins with a mass meeting of 2000 Africans." South African History Online. March 23, 2012. https://sahistory.org.za/ref/E-0080363.