New Age, newspaper and its' predecessors, The Guardian; Advance were founded by trade unionists, academics and and was known as a leftist publication. New Age was linked to the African National Congress and its' leadership. In 1954, Govan Mbeki joined the editorial board of New Age, together with Ruth First, Brian and Sonya Bunting and others. The articles and columns in New Age reflected the conditions of the Black people, including Indians and Coloureds of South Africa and showcased the reality of apartheid focusing on the socio-political and economic conditions with some articles covering fiction, poetry and sport. Some items that made "front page" were, the Treason Trial; revolts at Zeerust and Sekhukhuniland; Group Areas and the protests by Indians; Banning of the newspaper and political organisations; coverage of those activists abroad who were exiled; women demonstrating against the pass-laws; workers and their demands for better working conditions and wages. The leaders used their writing skills to document the state of South Africa, it's people, and their sufferings for the common struggle for liberation and freedom.
