JOINT STATEMENT ON THE DURBAN RIOTS, BY A.W.G. CHAMPION OF THE ANC (NATAL) AND DR. G.M. NAICKER OF THE NATAL INDIAN CONGRESS, 1949
The African National Congress and the Natal Indian Congress appeal to the African and Indian people of Durban to do everything in their power to prevent any further disturbances of the like which occurred yesterday.
We are deeply grieved that there should have been such a disturbance and that violence and disorder were prevalent to the detriment of large numbers of innocent African and Indian people. We strongly condemn the violence and sincerely appeal to our people to be calm.
We call upon our people to avoid congregating in the streets and public places and to remain indoors as far as possible, and to go straight to their homes after work in the normal manner. There should be no panicking and no violence and provocation must be resorted to.
We sincerely appeal for greater tolerance and understanding between our peoples. We sympathise with all those Africans and Indians who received injuries as a result of yesterday's unfortunate incidents.
As leaders we appeal to our respective followers to assist in trying to discourage the wild and false talk which brought about this trouble.
