Steytler launches a nationwide protest campaign against the General Laws Amendment Bill

Updated: 30 Sep 2019

Steytler launches a nationwide protest campaign against the General Laws Amendment Bill

Dr. Jan Steytler, leader of the Progressive Party, which was later renamed Progressive Federal Party (PFP) launched a nationwide protest campaign against the General Laws Amendment Bill, published by the government on 12 May 1962 defining the crime of sabotage in the widest terms. Steytler believed it was within the party's rights and mandate to launch such a protest as they were inclusive in their membership, henceforth Black people, being the most going to affected should the bill be passed into law. Despite this protest, the General Law Amendment Act was enacted into a law on 2 May 1963 by Dr. Hendrik Verwoerd's National Party (NP) government.

How we know this

01Kalley, J.A.; Schoeman, E. & Andor, L.E. (eds)(1999). Southern African Political History: a chronology of key political events from independence to mid-1997, Westport: Greenwood.
02Steytler, J., (2000), 'Biography and news about Jan Steytler', from digplanet, [online], Available at https://www.digplanet.com/wiki/Jan_Steytler [Accessed: 29 May 2014]

Last updated · 30 Sep 2019

Cite this entry

South African History Online. (2011, March 16). Steytler launches a nationwide protest campaign against the General Laws Amendment Bill. South African History Online. https://sahistory.org.za/ref/E-0011956

South African History Online (2011) 'Steytler launches a nationwide protest campaign against the General Laws Amendment Bill', South African History Online, 16 March. Available at: https://sahistory.org.za/ref/E-0011956 (Accessed: 8 November 2026).

South African History Online, Steytler launches a nationwide protest campaign against the General Laws Amendment Bill [website], https://sahistory.org.za/ref/E-0011956, (accessed 8 November 2026).

"Steytler launches a nationwide protest campaign against the General Laws Amendment Bill." South African History Online, 16 Mar. 2011, https://sahistory.org.za/ref/E-0011956. Accessed 8 Nov. 2026.

South African History Online. "Steytler launches a nationwide protest campaign against the General Laws Amendment Bill." South African History Online. March 16, 2011. https://sahistory.org.za/ref/E-0011956.