About this site

This resource is hosted by the Nelson Mandela Foundation, but was compiled and authored by Padraig O’Malley. It is the product of almost two decades of research and includes analyses, chronologies, historical documents, and interviews from the apartheid and post-apartheid eras.

1950

The South African government bans Communism

The Group Areas Act is passed

Walter Sisulu's book "South Africa Behind Bars" is handed out among the representatives of the different countries during the session of the United Nations Organisation (UNO)

Fietas, Johannesburg: Indian stand owners start renovating the cottages on their stands and charging people higher prices.

All 'Africans' living in Pageview are there illegally in terms of the Native Urban Areas Act of 1927 and are removed to Orlando

1950 - 1960

Fietas, Johannesburg: TIC initiates and implements the 'Decade of Defiance'

May 1950

At a Johannesburg congress of the African National Congress, African People's Organisation, South African Indian Congress and the Communist Party of South Africa, Walter Sisulu is chosen to act as secretary and organiser of the National Protest Committee together with Y.A. Cachalia. They have to see to it that the resolution made at the congress is implemented, namely that all non-whites were to stay away from their work on 26 June 1950

1 May 1950

The ANC calls for a massive stay-away from work and intimidates those blacks seeking to go to work. Police action to protect non-strikers resulted in a fierce clash in which eighteen blacks lose their lives. A day of mourning is organized on June 26th by the ANC to honour those killed

18 June 1950

Sisulu addresses a meeting at New Brighton, Port Elizabeth and tells the blacks about the decision that everyone should stay away from their work on 26 June 1950 as a sign of protest against the \"Notorious Bill of the Malan Government"

20 August 1950

Sisulu officiates as speaker in a meeting which is held in Lady Selborne, a non-white township in Pretoria

30 September - 2 October 1950

Walter Sisulu speaks at the congress of the Transvaal branch of the African National Congress, held at Springs

6 December 1950

Walter Sisulu acts as one of the speakers at a meeting of the South African Peace Movement in the Ambagsaal, Johannesburg. The other speakers are Dr. Dadoo and Michael Harmel

This resource is hosted by the Nelson Mandela Foundation, but was compiled and authored by Padraig O’Malley. Return to theThis resource is hosted by the site.