100 YEARS

"EMANCIPATION OF SLAVES"

This pamphlet was produced on 1st December 1934.

(A call to National and Social Emanicapation)

by: John Gomos District Organiser of Communist Party Cape Town Branch.

Pamphlet was sold for 3d.

On the 1st December, 1934, it was a 100 years since the "abolition"
of chattel slavery. The christian priests and missionaries called the people to church
services on that day to pray and give thanks unto God for the "emancipation" of
slaves. The newspapers and churches made quite a great deal of FUSS over
this arent, as if the descendants of slaves are so distinctly better off today.

Also, in January,1935, a pageant of magnificent dimensions is to be staged in order to
celebrate the "EMANCIPATION OF SLAVES" in 1834. We deliberately put the
"emancipation of slaves" in parenthesis, because, in face of the persistent
increase of exploitation, oppression, and injustice suffered by the non-Europeans
particularly to-day, to talk of "emancipation" is sheer hypocracy. In order to
expose this hypocracy the COMMUNIST PARTY has published this pamphlet and has laid down in
it as precise, enlightening ,and frank exposition as only a TRUE WORKER'S PARTY like the
Communist Party is capable of. It is the aim of this pamphlet to show to the workers,
particularly the non-Europeans, the slavery in one form - CHATTEL-SLAVERY - has been
abolished, its place taken by another form - WAGE SLAVERY - and therefore not to
rest content with that ,but to struggle for final emancipation from capitalist-imperialist
oppression and exploitation.

Under chattel-slavery the slave was bought and sold and became the property of the
buyer. Under the system of wage-slavery, to which workers of all races in all capitalist
countries are subjected at present, the LABOUR or LABOUR POWER of the individual worker is
bought, a wage is paid to the worker by the employer, and the employer only takes an
interest in the welfare of his workers in so far as it helps him to make profits out of
them.

Under chattel-slavery the slave was oppressed and exploited by the slave master and
slave rebellions took place time and again led by the instinctive surge to freedom. The
wage-slaves - workers of today - are exploited and oppressed by the capitalist employers.
As under the system of wage-slavery, so under capitalist slavery, workers are constantly
struggling for better conditions and for the ABOLISHMENT OF CAPITALIST SLAVERY in South
Africa and in all capitalist countries. The struggles of the industrial workers and
oppressed colonial peoples take on more and more a bitterly conscious fight against
exploitation and imperialist slavery, for that OVERTHROW of this FINAL slave system
of the government and for the establishment of a government led and controlled by the
workers and all toilers.

This shows that the fight for freedom, economic, and political is yet to be continued.
The abolition of slavery in 1834 has PAVED THE WAY FOR THE FINAL STRUGGLE AGAINST THE LAST
FORM OF SLAVERY, CAPITALIST WAGE-SLAVERY. We will show in this pamphlet by comparing the
present conditions of wage-slavery with the chattel-slavery of 100 years ago, that the
Native, Coloured, white, and other toilers in South Africa have very little to be
over-jubilant about. Each December 1st should NOT ONLY be a day to pray, celebrate and
rejoice over the "emancipation" of chattel-slaves in 1834, but must be a day to
review their forces for the struggle against the economic, political and social COLOUR
BARS, exploitation and oppression. Present day conditions necessitates this
struggle more than ever.

As the majority of Native, Coloured, and Indian toilers of S.Africa are still under the
mistaken impression that their economic, political and social problems can be solved
within the scope of the present capitalist-imperialist system of government, the Communist
Party will make it clear in this pamphlet that it is only by overthrowing this system of
government and by the setting up of and INDEPENDENT NATIVE REPUBLIC - WITH A WORKERS'AND
PEASANTS'GOVERNMENT AT THE HEAD will the way further have been paved to economic,
political ,and social freedom.

Up to hundred years ago, men, women, and children were sold by auction like cattle.
Greedy adventurers from Europe in search for wealth did not hesitate in capturing men,
women, and children from Mozambique, West Coast of Africa, India and the Far East to be
sold like cattle to farmers and plantation owners in the Cape in the West Indies and other
places. This "odious traffic in human souls" was of course a most profitable
one.

Consideration for the unfortunate slaves was, however, of no importance. Father, mother
and children were offered for sale individually and sold to different slave masters.
Husband and wife, parents and children were offered for sale individually and sold to
different slave masters. Husband and wife, parents and children would never see each other
again. It was not unusual for them to be beaton up by the cruel slave drivers as cattle
are never dealt with. 20 to 50 slaves often used to be herded together under on roof in a
gaol - like dormitory . Within the 24 hours of day and night there was no limit of a
working day for slaves. In many cases the dogs of the slaves . Yet "illicit union
between European farmers and slave women produced a new race of half breeds" , as
Prof A.F. Hattersley writes in his book "South Africa".

That is how the "civilised" gentlemen who hailed from "Christian"
Europe treated the "backward" and "uncivilized" peoples. These
unfortunate people, whose rights they outraged, whom they stole from their country and
people, dragged husband from wife and children from parents, were not considered as human
souls but as so much profitable wares. We have for instance on record and advertisement in
the "Gazette" of 12th October, 1821;"THERE WILL BE SOLD A FEMALE SLAVE 54
YEARS, WITH 5 CHILDREN (13, 10, 9, 7, 5, YEARS OLD), EACH TO BE PUT UP SEPARATELY".
The utter callousness and insensibility of these slave drivers was indescribable. But
chattel-slavery was a landmark in the progress of mankind and the terrific denial of human
rights did not neglect to produce its effects.

The slaves many a time revolted against these in-human conditions to which they were
subjected by their slave masters. Many fled and escaped into the mountains from the
captivity of their slave masters. These runaway slaves became known as
"drostders". Near Stellenbosch there is a "drostders Cave", which used
to be the retire of such runaway slaves. If it was not for the fact that the number of
slaves owned by each slave owner were small the number of slaves revolts would have taken
on more serious aspects. It was otherwise with the Negro slaves of the West Indies who
worked together in large numbers of the cotton fields and other occupations under slave
matters. There slave revolts were more frequent and of enormous expansions. The slaves put
up disputed fights against slave driving and for freedom.

Chattel-slavery was not only a form of exploitation under which the black people of
Africa and Asia suffered. It was a definite STAGE IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF HUMAN SOCIETY.
Chattel-slavery existed in Europe and hardly a race of people escaped this scourge of
oppression. We read in the Bible of the Israelite and other slaves under the rule of the
Pharaohs. History tells us of the enslavement of the Britons by the Romans; of slavery in
the Roman Empire; of how the Moors of Africa conquered the Andalusians in Spain and made
them slaves. In the early days of human history a tribe or nation were made slaves by
their conquerors in war. Even the stronger Native tribes of Africa made slaves of the
weaker and more backward tribes, some even to this day.

WHY WAS CHATTEL-SLAVERY ABOLISHED ?

Slavery was abolished or a number of reasons. Primarily because of the improvement and
changes in the methods of producing the necessities of life. Secondly, because of the
development of the material conditions of humanity and on the basis of which developed and
advancing and progressive working class in Europe. Chattel-slavery under which the slave
is bonded to the land of the master, became a cumbersome and too backward form of
exploitation. It was necessary to have more "free"and technically advanced
slaves to do the work of the TECHNICALLY ADVANCED INDUSTRY. When workers were needed for a
few days, for casual work, it was certainly more expensive to buy slaves and to be
bothered with their upkeep when the boss had no more work for them. The changed face of
the world, the changing methods of production and distabution required "free"
labourers WHO WILL BE PAID FOR THE TIME THEY WORK AND NO MORE! There food, clothing,
shelter etc. they must find themselves. IF THEY HAVE NO WORK THEY STARVE!

THIS IS THE "ABOLITION OF SLAVERY"!

Various churches, missionary bodies, liberal institutions and persons will and have
celebrated this famous centenary with pompous clamorousness and claim credit for the
emancipation of slaves. But as we have stated above the setting free of slaves was
foremostly due to the changing material conditions in human society. More over, the slave
owners in the Cape were VERY LIBERALLY PAID BACK THEIR COIN, to the extent of $3,000,000
by the British tax payers. In the interests of the industrial capitalists of America, the
North went to war against the farmers and plantation owners of the South in order that the
chattel-slaves should become "FREE" WAGE-SLAVES.

But even then there were certain churches, representing the interests of the slave
masters, who were persistently opposing the liberation of the slaves. Precisely the same
today, the CHURCHES OPPOSE THE LIBERATION OF LABOUR AND OF THE NATIVE AND COLOURED PEOPLE
FROM WHITE IMPERIALIST OPPRESSION, because they represent the owning capitalist class. If
the ministers, missionaries of religion and l"liberal" gentlemen honestly detest
slavery and oppression,LET THEM COME OUT OF THE BRICK AND STONE WALET THEM "PREACH
FROM THE HOUSE TOPS" the organising of the oppressed and exploited non-Europeans who
groan under the tyranny of British and Boer Imperialism. But from experience we know, on
the contrary, that they are the sycophants and tools of the white ruling class, assisting
to keep in subjection the black and white toiling masses. Those who are not hopelessly put
to sleep by the slimy "presently craft" can very clearly understand the Dean of
Cape Town, Very Rev. J.C.H. Brooke, while preaching at a special service to commemorate
the Centenary of the Abolition of slavery at the Good Shepherd Church, Maitland, Sunday,
9th Dec., compared the Native and Coloured people of S. Africa with the younger brother of
the family; that they were not quite ready to use all the powers of freedom, as their
elder brother, the Europeans, who had centuries of experience under older civilisations;
that the non-Europeans should wait until they were trained, educated, experienced and
proven themselves ready and fit to govern and enjoy the other privileges of complete
freedom before trying to trust themselves into the councils of their elder brothers.

BROTHERS? IN THE MEANTIME THESE PRIESTS, "WOLFS IN SHEEP-SKINS", ARE DOING THEIR
DAMNEST NOT TO GIVE THESE NON-EUROPEANS A CHANCE TO PROVE THEIR WORTH AND TO KEEP THEM
CHAINED IN THE SHACKLES OF WHITE IMPERIALIST SLAVERY.

HOTTENTOTS, BANTU AND BUSHMAN

ROBBED OF LAND AND FREEDOM!

While the Hottentots, Bantus, and Bushman were never bought and sold as chattels and
were never slaves in the real sense of the word, they nevertheless became worse off than
chattel-slaves.

The British and Boer landgrabbers successfully stole the land from the Native people -
Bantu, Hottentots and Bushman -of S. Africa. The Hottentots and Bushmen were deprived of
tilling the land for a living, deprived of grazing ground for their cattle, and were
imprisoned under the Vagrancy Law when roving about the COUNTRY OF THEIR BIRTH.
"Bushmen were shot at sight" by the farmers or landlords, because they dared to
take even roots off the land which had given them a living for generations.

Innumerable restrictive laws were imposed on the Hottentots and Bushmen people -
Vagrancy, Pass, Poll Tax, Master and Servants Laws, Compulsory Services, etc. Thus the
non-Europeans, were at the mercy of the cunning British and Boer landgrabbers. These
INVADERS has become the masters in judgement over the aborigines of this country. After
the abolition of slavery, the "freed" slaves were then coming under laws ruling
the "freed" persons of Colour. Under such conditions, it is understood, the
Native and Coloured people were only free to starve or to be exploited for a miserable
pittance by the white bosses of the country - "We have taken your land, now for us
our probe or starve! "

Most of these restrictions affecting the Coloured people in particular have
subsequently been alleviated under changing conditions but in the main are still very
brutally operating against the non-Europeans. The British and Boer Imperialists have
deprived the non-European races of the very PRIMARY MEANS OF EXISTENCE - THE LAND. With
the aid of the political machinery the economic and cultural development of the
non-Europeans has been hindered purposely. This is clearly done with the intent to keep
the non-Europeans in the position of "hewers of wood and drawers of water" for
the white ruling class and the aristocracy. Lord Milner, once Prime Minister of the Cape
stipulated that it should be the policy of the government of see that skilled and official
jobs should remain the exclusive occupations of white workers and that they should not be
allowed to sink to the level of doing unskilled work. The latter is to be done by the
non-Europeans. In the year 1716 Von Imhof, representative of the Dutch East Indian Co.,
said in Cape Town:

"Having imported slaves ... every common or ordinary European becomes a gentlemen,
and prefers to be served rather than to serve. We have in addition the fact that the
majority of farmers are not farmers in the real sense of the word, but plantation owners
and many of them consider it a shame to work with their own hands".

We will yet have to learn when and where the governmental policy of
"gentlemen" has turned out according to their wishes and guidance. If Mr Von
Imhof and Lord Milner and other lordly gentlemen, who guided the detinlens of S.Africa,
could raise their heads out of over 300,000 "poor" whites, for shame they would
prefer to remain in their graves. So over one third of the white population are not
"gentlemen" today, the present S. African Government persist that they should
replace unskilled Native and Coloured labourers. However, their policy of repressiveness
against the Native and Coloured people, succeeded. Threat leaves the "gentlemen"
rulers, Smuts, Hertzog, Pirow etc. with the Native and Colour Question - A PROBLEM TO BE
SOLVED.

Whereas the Native population of S. Africa number about 6,000,000, The white ruling
class permits the Native people to use and occupy only about one-eight (40,000,000 acres)
of the land of S. Africa. While seven-eighths (260,000,000 acres) are occupied, used and
owned by about 1,750,000 white people. All reports on the conditions of the Native people
on the land give the most fearful picture of poverty and hunger due to overcrowdedness.
The Native people on the land are living at starvation point.

The inadequate allocation of land to the Native people and the imposition and forceful
collection of unbearable taxes from them is a means of compelling millions of Native
toilers to work at a starvation low wage for the white farmers, in the mines , factories,
docks, etc., the imperialist ruling class is consciously aiming at robbing the masses of
their country is still more of their land. General Hertzog now proposes to incorporate
Bachuanaland in the territory of the Union in order to provide the Native people to submit
to GREATER EXPLOITATION AND OPPRESSION.

Under these conditions, is search for a living, the Native masses are driven from
piller to post. The black worker has not even the rights of the white wage-slaves. Pass
laws, Master and Servants law, Poll Taxes, Urban Areas Regulations, everything restricts
his freedom of movement, his right to organise and to strike for better conditions.

The Native peasant working on the white man's farm under Mr Pirow's new Contract
Service Law is literally a serf, if he is not a chattel-slave. He must render 180 days
free labour to the landowner merely for the right exist on the land, the LAND OF HIS
FORE-FATHERS, REMEMBER. He is bound to the landlord together with his wife and family, as
surely as any SERF was in Europe hundreds of years ago.

In view of this CELEBRATION OF "100 YEARS EMANCIPATION OF SLAVES" and in view
of the slave conditions the Native people suffer, we MUST AGAIN ASK "WHAT IS A
SLAVE? It is a person who can be bought like cattle, like and ox or an cow. It is one
who has no freedom of movement, who cannot come and go as he pleases. Are the Bantu than
slaves today? Well, they may not be slave entirely, but in many ways their lives are the
same or in most cases even worse than those of slaves. Though slavery has gone, the slave
laws have come and are being strengthened from day to day.

THEREFORE ALL THESE LAWS MUST BE SMASHED AND

FOUGHT BEFORE WE CAN BEGIN TO TALK ABOUT THE

ABOLITION OF SLAVERY, ABOUT REAL FREEDOM IN
AFRICA!

THE BLACK AND POOR WHITE PROBLEM

Resulting from the long historical repressive treatment of the non-European races by
the invading European landgrabbers we have now reached the "CROSS-ROADS", when
the "Black and Poor White Problems" can only be solved by a RADICAL CHANGE in
the economic, political and racial policy of S.Africa.

The policy of depriving the non-European races, in the first place, from the ownership
of land, restricting them from performing skilled work - engine-drivers, conductors,
shop-assistants, clerical work, artisans, etc. refusing them representation on the same
basis as whites, created a bitter racial hostility and social prejudice between the white
ruling class and the black workers on the one hand, and between the white working class
and the black toilers on the other. The economic and political Colour Bar against the
no-European people - "No equality between white and black, in Church or
"God" - is the root cause of this whole SILLY superstructure of race
hatred, white against black, and black against white.

THEAL, the S.African Historian, wrote : "The system of Negro Slavery caused the
Colonists to regard the black man as properly the hewer of wood and drawer of
water".This idea, propounded and pursued by the capitalist governments of the
country, has become with the passage of time, long after the abolition of slavery, a
deep-rooted character of S. African white people. But today the bankrupt feudal-
capitalist agricultural policy of the government, and therefore incapable of dealing
effectively with eliminate the white from the land and turned them into poor-white from
the land and turned them into poor-white and thus into hewer of wood and drawers of water.
The point is, if there are poor blacks there will be poor whites!

HOW WILL THE S. AFRICAN GOVERNMENT SOLVE THE
PROBLEMS OF SOUTH AFRICA?

WORLD CAPITALIST CRISIS AFFECTS SOUTH AFRICA

The International situation will give us some idea as to how the S.African Government
will attempt to find a solution for the problems of S.Africa, since it is the
international situation which in a very large measure influence the position in S. Africa.
The world of capitalism is faced with an ECONOMIC CRISIS THAT HAS LASTED SO FAR FOR 5
YEARS. This crisis has brought all the contradictions of class rule to breaking point.
Capitalists in all countries are seeking a way out of this UNEXAMPLED CRISIS by adopting
forceful measures of dictatorial government - FASCIST GOVERNMENT - to worsen the standard
of living of the toilers, depriving the workers of the right to organise, of free speech
and Press, thus still further increasing the CLASS CONTRADICTIONS and causing fierce and
bloody struggle between the toiling masses and ruling class State.

The imperialist powers are also feverishly preparing for ANOTHER WORLD WAR as a way out
of the crisis. Disagreements and antagonism between the imperialist powers on the question
of the redivision of the world's markets have brought the world again on the threshold of
WORLD IMPERIALIST WAR. RAPID WAR PREPARATIONS ANF RUMOURS OF WAR ARE ON THE ORDER OF THE
DAY.

Hand in hand with the policy of increased exploitation and FASCISM directed
against the working class, poor farmers ,and small business people, monopoly capital is
steering towards war and INTERVENTION AGAINST SOVIET RUSSIA, as a way out of the
crisis, Never has the world situation been so pregnant with war as now. The fact that war
has not yet broken out is primarily due to the consistent policy of peace pursued by the
Soviet Government and to the FEAR of the capitalists of the working class consciousness
and revolutionary movement of the workers and toilers.

S.A. RULING CLASS, TOO, PREPARES FOR WAY OUT?

Somewhat similar methods are being attempted by our ruling class to find a solution for
the problems of South Africa. The capitalists and landlord's continual boasting of "PROSPERITY",
is an attempt to conceal the further impoverishment of the masses and the sharpening of
the national and class contradictions in S. Africa. It has to be clearly understood that,
firstly, the so-called "prosperity" is confined chiefly to the gold mines and
secondary industries mainly on the Reef and to a very insignificant extent to the other
industries, which are far below the level of 1929. Secondly, the present
"revival" has been brought about through a merciless attack on the conditions of
S. African toilers, through the abandonment of the gold standard, increased speeding up
and more rationalised methods of production.

Only an insignificant number of the unemployed workers have been absorbed in industry,
and those chiefly Europeans and THROUGH THE "CIVILISED LABOUR POLICY". The
Civilised Labour Policy" is chiefly directed against the Native and Coloured workers
and must result in the lowering of the standard of living of the workers. Thirdly, the
crisis in agriculture - the means of livelihood of bulk of the people of S. Africa - is
becoming worse. This results the growing impoverishment and ruination of the landless
Native peasants, poor white farmers.

The starvation in the Native reserves has increased; the "poor white" problem
has become a problem of almost a third of the white population; unemployed among the
Native and Coloured people have increased and will continue to increase with the
Government's "civilised labour policy". Whilst the earnings, general conditions
and standard of living of the black and white workers and toilers as a whole has declined.

But the black and white workers and toilers in a number of cases are not taking the
attacks on their conditions lying down. Accordingly we see the discontent of the masses
becoming more and more translated into concrete mass actions, demonstrations and strikes
against imperialist exploitation and oppression. A considerable number of strikes took
place in 1933, the recent strikes of Native laundry and miners in Johannesburg and Nigel;
the strike of the coal miners in Natal; the strike of Native food workers at Krugersdorp;
the strike of 1,150 furniture workers on the Rand; the spontaneous demonstrations of
unemployed workers in a number of centres the struggles in the locations against the
police pick-up vans and police terror. The struggles of the Native peasants at Wiener
against taxes; the strikes of the white miners all these events testify the growth of the
national and class struggle and rising spirit of the workers and toilers to resist the
growing exploitation an oppression.

In this situation the policy of the capitalists and landlords is based on the attempt
to still more tighten the noose of national oppression to intensify exploitation, to
sharpen the terror and ruthless repression of the growing mass movements of the workers
and toilers, to prepare for and war at the dictates of British imperialism.

This policy has been expressed by the introduction of the Native Service Contract Act;
in the increased police raids and pick-up in towns, locations and farming areas, in the
ruthless suppression of strikes of Native workers by means of brutal police forces at
Nigel, New Castle, Johannesburg; and by the Masters and Servants Act and Riotous
Assemblies Act (arrests and imprisonment of the Rand furniture workers and illegalising
the collection and paying out of strike funds), in attacks on unemployed and Communist
Party meetings; in wholesale evictions of Native workers from the towns; in wholesale
evictions of unemployed workers from the towns; in evictions from farms and a sharpened
drive for taxes.

The policy of intensified repression is also expressed in the huge subsidies given to
the rich landlords an exporters. The purpose of the present Wage Legislation Commission is
to reduce the wages of the higher paid skilled and semi-skilled workers and to foster the
"civilised labour policy". The Poor White Conference at Kimberley has revealed
the attempt of British and Boer Imperialism to lull the discontent of the poor white and
unemployed with the perspectives of solving their problems AT THE EXPENSE OF THE NATIVE
AND COLOURED WORKERS, through segregation and by driving the Native and Coloured workers
out of employement.

Along with these preparation for wage-cuts and oppression the Coalition of British and
Boer Imperialism under the leadership of British finance capital is steering towards
fascism. This is expressed among other things in the attempt to muzzle the working class
press (persecution of the Editors of the Communist Party organ Umsebenzi - S.African
Worker), in the prohibition of collecting an distributing strike funds for the Rand
furniture workers, in the threat to interdict the funds of the trade unions, the formation
of the Special Service Battalions, which is done under the cloak of the "black
menace" cry and in the increased incitement to racial hatred against the Native and
Coloured people.

The increased expenditure on armaments, Pirow's 5 YEAR PLAN for increase of Defence
Force, the Joint Conferences of the British War Office and local military officials, the
payment of $8,000,000 war debts to Britain; the announcement by the Britain War Office
that in time of war S. Africa will have the task to defend British interests on the
continent of Africa, shows that our S. African Imperialist Government not only supports
the war preparations of Great Britain, but that it is and active participatant in these.

In these preparations for FASCISM and WAR, British finance capital as represented by
the Chamber of Mines and the bank have fostered the FUSION of the main force in that
direction. It also tacitly tolerates and supports the activities of the
"Greyshirts" and other fascist organisations, which will be used by the fascist
capitalist when the necessity arises.

The growth of the economic crisis and the growing discontent of the toiling masses, as
well as the sharpening of antagonism between the various sections of British and S.African
capitalists and landlords is further revealed in the formation of, a number of new
parties, such as the Centre Party, Malan's Party and Stallard's group which basicly aim at
organising for their own purpose the discontent of the poor white farmers, bywoners and
white workers into reactionary channels and directing them from the revolutionary path of
struggle for the betterment and freedom of all exploited and oppressed toilers.

This is how the S.African Government is attempting to find a solution for the problems
of South Africa:- the economic crisis, the Native and Coloured questions, the poor white
problem and the problems in general affecting the black and white workers and toilers.

This is THE NEW FORM OF SLAVERY and its menace in reality is to a great measure
by far more serious and abominable than this slavery abolished in 1834. In the face of
this glaringly apparent injustice, slavery and oppression there ins only ONE political
party coming forward with a true revolutionary programme, with a concise, scientific
platform pointing the WAY OUT. The Communist Party of South Africa, section of the
Communist International, only is capable of leading the working masses to fullest
emancipation from slavery, because the Communists linked with the workers and oppressed
peoples in all countries, have at their disposal the tradition an experience of the
fighting revolutionary working class throughout the world, experience of daily struggles,
of victories and defeats.

The Communist International can show in its record of its victories the establishment
and consolidation of the workers and peasants power in Russia, covering one-sixth of the
world surface. The Communist International can show the liberation from the imperialist
yoke, 90 millions Chinese workers and peasants and the establishment of Soviet Rule on a
fourth of China. To show a concrete example of real emancipation we will deal below with
the achievements of the workers in the UNION OF SOCIALIST SOVIET REPUBLICS AND SOVIET
CHINA.

IN THE LAND OF SOCIALISM

A BROTHERHOOD OF NATIONALITIES

17 years ago on the 7th November, 1917, the workers and peasants of Russia, under the
leadership of the Leninist Bolshevik Party, wrested all power from the hands of the
capitalists and landlords and established their own rule over what had been the domain of
the Tsarist feudal-militaristic Russian capitalists. That revolution has shown that only
by the dictatorship of the proletariat, ONLY SOVIET POWER, on the path led by the
Bolsheviki Communists, will bring the working class and all toilers out of the burdens of
oppression to which they were doomed by capitalism.

TSARIST IMPERIALIST OPPRESSION. Under the Tsar of Russia all toilers, including
intellectuals and small business people were deprived of capitalist democracy and its most
elementary rights. Particularly all minority nationalities were mercilessly oppressed,
robbed, deprived of the right to use Native tongue, deprived of culture. The were
considered out casts though they wee natives of the land. The capitalists of Russia proper
(Great Russia) used the outlaying districts inhabited by the non-Russians as they used
colonies in foreign lands: they took their raw materials, they grabbed their grabbed their
most fertile lands they turned the Native toilers into slaves. No rights were allowed of
organisations, no schools, no newspapers or books in the language of the local population
were allowed.

THE NEW FREEDOM. The Bolshevik Revolution smashed the power of the capitalist
and with it abolished national exploitation. Every nationality was given freedom to form
its own Soviet Republic. Each State is independent in local affairs. Soviet Russia is only
one part of the Union of Socialist Soviet Republics; the others are national republics,
and autonomous regions. In Russia proper, with a population of about 80 millions, the
language is Russian. In the other republics and regions, with a population of over 84
millions, the languages vary according ti the local population. The local language - be it
Ukrainian, Bashkir, Usbek, Georgian, Marian, Tartar, Eskimo, Kalmucks, Kirghiz, etc. - is
the language of the administration, of the educational system from the grammar schools to
academy of sciences, of poetry, of fiction, the theatre and movie, and even the Red Army.

The U.S.S.R. knows no ECONOMIC CRISIS and has abolished the scouge of
unemployment, which always characteristic of capitalism which in the capitalist countries
has become especially during the last 5 years is a source of terrible night -mere for the
capitalist politicians. Under the 5 YEAR PLANS the Soviet Government is investing the huge
sums of money in building factories and railroads, is improving agriculture, is developing
higher economic and cultural standards. Proportionately greater investments were made in
the building up of the district of the backward and formerly oppressed nationalities than
in Russia proper.

Hand in hand with the tremendous industrial and agricultural progress has come progress
in housing, in sanitation, in culture. A new life is stirring in those regions where only
a few short years ago poverty and superstition ruled supreme. The library and the reading
room, the movie and radio, made their appearance among the masses. Books are published now
and taught in schools in the USSR in over 70 languages. The increase in culture activities
may be seen from the tremendous rise in the number of books published in the small Native
republics - in 1928, 2,721,000 copies; in 1930, 11,650,000; in 1933, about 5 times the
figure of 1930.

Together with economic and political advances, came the emancipation of women; in
Kasakstan for instance, where under the Tsar, 99 per cent, of the Native could not read
and write, over a quarter of the judges and of the members of the local soviets
(Governments institutions) are women.

The Native tongue had to be developed in these regions.

A written language had to be invented where there was none. This was done not because
of nationalism but because the Native language was the instrument best adapted to lift the
masses out of the county. The national republics speak over 70 languages, but THEIR AIM IS
ONE: THE BUILDING OF SOCIALISM - OF A CLASSLESS SOCIETY.

WHAT HAS BEEN THE RESULT OF THE POLICY OF THE
WORKERS AND PEASANTS GOVERNMENT?

It has succeeded in drawing the most backward sections of the 175 million people into
the struggle for a better life. And today the Soviet workers can boast of social
legislation, which no other country in the world can show. $450,000,000 social insurance
annually! And this figure is to rise with the further development of the Second 5 YEAR
PLAN. Wages in the USSR has risen in 1933 by about 35 per cent. of the level of 1929.
What a comparison to the decline in the standard of living of the masses in S. Africa! The
reduction of wages to merepittances and the degradation of hunger of thousands of white
workers and farmers to the position of poor whites Nearly every tourist from S.Africa, who
has travelled in the USSR has returned with an indelible impression of progress and
advance, of true emancipation of a 170 million people.

AND SOVIET CHINA! China is a country with a population of 400 million people.
This great country has been torn to pieces by the warring influence of various imperialist
powers. 400 million people paid a penalty of bloody slavery and oppression for the
interest of international imperialism. But the Chinese workers and peasants have revolted
and already established their own form of government in a number of important provinces.
More than that. They have succeeded in building up a mighty RED ARMY, well equipped to
defend the Chines Soviet territories against the continuous campaigns of Chiang Kai Shek,
the head of the Nanking National capitalists Government. This general, Chiang Kai Shek has
sold his country and people to foreign imperialists. he allowed the Japanese capitalists
to take away the North of China and did not only not raise a finger against them but even
actively supported them.

Only the Chinese Soviet Government, under the leadership of the Chinese Communist
Party, has FREED 90 MILLION CHINESE FROM FOREIGN OPPRESSION; has began the development of
industry and agriculture; had given the law back to the peasants and work and bread to the
workers. Even capitalist commissions investigating the problems of China, have had to
admit, that the Chinese Soviet Government was the only efficient government in the whole
of China.

The glorious examples of the USSR and the Soviet China point also THE WAY OUT FOR THE
S. AFRICAN WORKERS AND OPPRESSED MASSES,

WHAT MUST BE DONE?

The emancipation of humanity from all forms of slavery and oppression is the historical
TASK OF THE WORKING CLASS AND CAN ONLY BE REALISED BY THIS CLASS. In S.Africa, however, a
section of the working class, are privileged and thriving on the backs of he exploited and
downtrotten Native and Coloured masses. Karl Marx, the founder of Scientific Communism,
and his historical statement: "No people can be free that oppresses another
people" has had its drastic confirmation in this country. Witness the degradation of
the poor whites already mentioned; witness the total industry enslavement though the
elaborate machinery of capitalist industrial legislation. It is clear from this, that even
if the white workers wish to achieve their own emancipation they must exert all efforts IN
ORDER TO ACHIEVE THE TOTAL EMANCIPATION OF THE NATIONALLY OPPRESSED NATIVE AND COLOURED
MASSES. The white worker MUST HELP TO SMASH THE COLOUR BAR, the Pass
Laws, Native Service Contrast Act and all the hundred and odd laws an Acts, which make the
bar him from every road to enlightenment and progress. The white workers and poor white
farmers must assist in the struggle of the Native and Coloured masses for land, work and
bread. Not unless the white workers and poor white farmers of S.Africa will realise that,
will they be able to achieve their freedom, FREEDOM FROM CAPITALIST EXPLOITATION.

But the main responsibility for emancipation rests on the shoulders of the Native and
Coloured workers themselves. Only true, militant, revolutionary organisations of the
oppressed people of this country, fighting in revolutionary actions against national and
class oppression,

AGAINST COLOUR BAR AND WHITE CHAUVINISM, FOR NATIONAL EQUALITY, FOR LAND AND WORK,
MOBILISING THE SUPPORT OF THE WHITE WORKING CLASS, CAN WREST POWER FROM THE BRITISH AND
BOER IMPERIALISM AND INTRODUCE A GOVERNMENT OF FREEDOM JUSTICE AN EQUALITY.

THE A.N.C., I.C.U. , AND A.P.O.

The history of the African National Congress and of the I.C.U., these, once, two mighty
mass organisations of the non-European masses of S.Africa is a valuable lesson. They have
in the period of their most militant activities, awakened the admiration, sympathy and
support of the white workers and have made the bosses on the throne, the rulers of the
country to tremble in the face of the grow strength of the libratory movement. But both
the A.N.C. and I.C. U. were led by people, who lacked a definite programme, who lacked the
experience an traditions of struggle of the international working class and oppressed
peoples. As a result their leaders smashed the organisations (A.N.C. & I.C.U.) of the
working class and oppressed people of S.Africa.

But these organisations, trade unions and a national emancipation organisation will be
built up again, and put of the past mistakes, the S.African masses will learn to see that
ONLY WITH THE PERSISTANT FIGHT FOR THE DAILY ECONOMIC NEEDS, AGAINST THE OPPRESSIVE
DISCRIMINATIONS, AND FOR A GOVERNMENT OF WORKERS AND PEASANTS AFTER THE EXAMPLE OF THE
SOVIET UNION AND SOVIET CHINA, WILL THEY BE ABLE TO EMANCIPATE THEMSELVES FROM NATIONAL
AND CLASS SLAVERY.

The A.P.O. LED BY DR. A. ABDURAHMAN is another organisation that pretends to defend and
"fight" for the rights of the Coloured people. But the method of fighting of
this organisation and its leader has never been anything else but to MISLEAD THE COLOURED
AND NATIVE PEOPLE, and to maintain the APO as a vote catching machine for the white
imperialist parties. The APO has in this manner STAYED AND CONFUSED the non-
European people from the correct method of struggle that is to be forged in order to go
forward to progress and emancipation. the APO and its leader, Dr.Abdurahman, had served
the white imperialist ruling class as a MOST SUBTLE TOOL AND DECOYDUCK TO KEEP THE
COLOURED PEOPLE CHAINED IN SUBJECTION CONFUSED AN HOPELESS AS TO THE CORRECT METHOD OF
STRUGGLE AGAINST THE RUTHLESS BRITISH AND BOER IMPERIALIST OPPRESSORS. Dr.Abdurahman, the
lackey an tool of the white imperialist ruling class, despite the MERCILESS AND OPPRESSIVE
TREATMENT METED OUT TO THE COLOURED PEOPLE BY THE S.A.P. GOVERNMENT in the past has never
for once stopped exhorting the Coloured people to VOTE SAP. once stopped exhorting
the Coloured people TO VOTE SAP.

What will Dr. Abdurahman do now since the SAP and Nationalist P arty have joined
together and formed a UNITED PARTY? It will do the Coloured people to watch the
anties and manoeuvres of this professional "boot-licker" and
"tool-bag-carrier" of the white ruling class. WATCH HIM! What is he calling the
APO Conference for ? Suddenly organisers got busy travelling about the country to revive
the dead APO branches: telling the Coloured people what a WONDERFUL organisation
the APO and the UNMATCHED LEADER Dr. Abdurahman going to tell the
Coloured people to support FUSION or is he GOING TO TELL THEM TO ORGANISE AND STRUGGLE BY
OTHER MEANS THAN MERELY VOTING FOR THE EXPLOITERS'?

We cannot, of course, expect a thorn tree to bear figs.

According to the UNDEVIATING, MISLEADING AND TRAITOROUS ROLE which Dr.
Abdurahman has played for the past 20 years only simpletons and sluggards, too lazy to
take stock of the historical role of Dr. Abdurahman can expect a lead from him out of the
growing misery, want and oppression, that the Coloured people are suffering at present.
NO!

The Road to Freedom lies not by following the Dr Abdurahman type of leader. The road to
freedom lies not in voting for one set of rogues after the other. The road to freedom lies
in MASS ORGANISATIONAL STRUGGLES which will be conducted OUTSIDE of Parliament - in the
factories, and the workshops, on the farms and the streets, along with the native and
white toilers.

THIS IS THE STRUGGLE THAT MUST BUILT UP! THIS IS THE STRUGGLE THE COMMUNIST PARTY IF
ORGANISING!

THE COMMUNIST PARTY LEADS THE FIGHT FOR
FREEDOM!

In the U.S.S.R. and Soviet China, the workers only succeded in seizing political power
and consolidating their rule, because they were led by a Party of TRAINING LEADERS, of
STEELD EXPERIENCE FIGHTERS who had lived through all the struggles of the masses
and who always stood in the leading front ranks, equipped with the armament of
revolutionary experience. In S.Africa, too, the oppressed masses will only succeeded in
their struggles, if they are led by a revolutionary Party with a concise Marxian, Leninist
Programme. That party IS THE COMMUNIST PARTY, the same Party that also led the Russian and
Chinese workers to victory.

The Communist Party is the only Party that has written on its banner the day to day
struggle for the rights of the workers. The Communist Party calls upon the Native and
Coloured workers, along with the white workers, to enrole in Trade Unions and mass
organisations and to be ACTIVE in both; to form grievance committees in places of
employment; to struggle for higher wages and shorter hours; to fight against dismissals,
the "civilised labour policy"; and to demand unemployment relief.

The militant, active, coloured, Native and white toilers, engaged in these struggles
must RALLY more and more round the Communist Party, must take advice and leadership from
the Communist Party, as the only Party representing the interests of all toiling people,
the only Party with a programme to advance their struggles and interests to final
emancipation.

The Communist Party gathers its strength from and is joined by the most active,
fearless, persistent, disciplined, politically advanced fighters in the ranks of the
Native, Coloured and white workers and toilers. ONLY such a group of ACTIVE, DISCIPLINE,
POLITICAL, REVOLUTIONARY LEADERS ORGANISED IN THE COMMUNIST PARTY can lead the Coloured
along with the UNITED STRUGGLE of the Native and White toilers to emancipation and victory
over the British and Boer exploiters and oppressors.

The Communist Party organises an leads the fight for the smashing of imperialist rule
in South Africa, for bread and land, for SELF-DETERMINATION for the South African
oppressed races, for a South African Federation of Independent Native Republics - A
Workers and Peasants Government: the revolutionary democratic dictatorship of the workers
and peasants in the form of soviets (councils), which alone can guarantee full equal
rights to ALL TOILING NATIONAL MINORITIES AND WHICH ALONE CAN ADVANCE TOWARDS THE BUILDING
OF SOCIALISM IN SOUTH AFRICA.


The 1st of December, 1934, the Centenary of the emancipation of slaves, became for all
toiling people a DAY OF STRUGGLE FOR FINAL EMANCIPATION from all forms of national and
class exploitation. The capitalists freed the chattel-slaves in order to transform
them into wage-slaves; the WAGE-SLAVES WILL FREE THEMSELVES, IN ORDER TO FREE
HUMANITY.

FORWARD IN THE STRUGGLE FOR FREEDOM!

Published by the Communist Party of S. Africa

P.O.Box 1176,

Cape Town