All-African Convention

The Convention was arranged in response to three proposed bills affecting the rights of natives known as the Hertzog Bills. These bills were: Native Representation Bill This bill proposed to abolish the Cape Qualified Franchise which had been in existence for Cape Coloureds since 1854. The bill proposed to set up a Native Representative Council with 21 members. Of the 21, five would be white officials of the Native Affairs Department; four of the remaining 16 members were to be appointed by electoral colleges composed of chiefs and headsmen. The other 12 members would be assigned by the government without an election process. In the end, only four white officials became part of the Native Representative Council. Native Trust and Land Bill The bill introduced black-only reserves for Africans on land that was identified by the Natives Land Act, 1913. This bill would therefore formalise the separation of white and black rural areas. A South African Native Trust was to be established to purchase all reserve land not yet owned by the state. This bill was enacted into law in 1936 as the Native Trust and Land Act. Native Urban Areas Amendment Bill The bill proposed that blacks could not acquire land in urban areas from non-blacks, except with the consent of the Governor-General. The Act was passed in 1937 (Act Number 46). ==Conference==

A few leaders called on different organisations such as trade unions, civic, political, professional and religious groupings to send delegates to a convention to be held in Bloemfontein in December 1935. The conference was attended by about 400 delegates with representatives from both towns and rural areas. There were 30 delegates from Natal, 70 from the Orange Free State, 100 from the Transvaal, 200 from the Cape, 10 from Basutoland and one from Swaziland (since 2018 renamed to Eswatini). Comprehensive resolutions to address African grievances were drafted during the conference, including the constitution of the All-African Convention – which was an umbrella organisation aimed at promoting African rights through boycotts. Bloemfontein had also been chosen as the founding venue of the African National Congress on 8 January 1912. The conference took place from 15 to 18 December 1935. The following members made up the executive committee: • DDT Jabavu – Chairman of preliminary meetings and later president of the convention • AB Xuma – Vice President • H Selby Msimang – General Secretary • James Moroka – Treasurer • RH Godlo – Record Secretary • ZK Matthews - Clerks Draughtsmen • Other committee members included John Langalibalele Dube, Reverend AS Mtimkhulu, WW Ndlovu, AWG Champion, and J Khambule from Natal; CR Moikangoa, Keable Mote, RA Sello, R Cingo and Thomas Mtobi Mapikela from the Orange Free State; RV Selepe, LT Mvabaza PAM Bell, TD Mweli Skota and ET Mofutsanyana from the Transvaal; and Zacharias Richard Mahabane, CK Sakwe, Alex M Jabavu, JM Dippa and P Mama from the Cape. Despite the proposals tabled to parliament, the Government proceeded to pass the proposed bills. ==References==