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JSELF - DISCIPLINE FOE VOLUNTEERS

of the Congress of the people

The foi.lowing is a speech by Dr. G. M. Naicker, president Natal Indian Congress, delivered at the 1st Natal C o n f e r ­

ence of the Congress of the people, held in Durban on 5th September.1954.______

-JT r£Pjesent at this Congress every shage of democratic opinion J -̂ -und by a spirit of comradeship and earnestness, our one

gu^uxiig rao,or nas oeen an anxiety to develop and preserve ourorganisation.

v^‘*b U l 'jUrf i1fiay n°t altogether conform to our expectation, it is nvar-j.y always the oase that visions are rosier in prospect than in realization and that achievement falls far short of the ideal. But ohis ooes nou detract from their value as objective and as inspirat­ion. A clear conception of things not yet in being w ill itself tend uo Invest them with substance and shape.

Con-reds should be aware that a tremendous amount of energy ana expenditure w ill be required to organise successfully for the Congress of the people. We should not underestimate the amount of .ime we should devote and the amount cf funds we should spend for

the Congress of the people.

The principal objects and achievements which we aspire fo~» through the Congress of the people are as follows

(i.) Wt do not seek geographical expression » for we are not a mere

- * ^ ° ° i 1fution,.of indivi<3u.als. We have to build up a tradition, an ordei. of thongi.it and manners, a loyalty to certain fundamental vaiues lostered by democratically minded people of all classes and

H o J f rouPs have found a home in this land. We should not be seauced^from adherence to these great values by the brib6s of

pleasure in a rapidly changing world it is not easy to -pea. v or tnink ox things which do not change, the foundation of goo <5 In . the faith in S p ir it , the beauty of action and the end"ur- ance of l.i..e»n charges. But ultimately these are the forces which Will,forge* the future of humanity, i f we are to write v/ith the honour a new chapter in our history, we must develop respect for these values which are neither national nor international but universal. The ^uture of humanity is bound up v/ith the regeneration of the deeper xoundations without which no political structure can last and the growth of a a«w loyalty to the world community. South A frica ’ s present condition is a challenge and an opportunity, it is our hope and faith that we shall not be found lo.cking in vision j courage and strength to jneo\ that challenge and use that opportunity.

(2) Tne oppressed people w ill be constantly reminded of the numerous disabilities which they suffer under the pressure of a tyrannical

government^and w ill be encouraged to devise ways and means to remove .•those disabilities , in other words they would be inspired to think how freedom, peace and democracy could be achieved and how a free society could be created founded on high principles which are universally accepted both in spirit and form,

(3) it is hoped that the oppressed people w ill appreciate it , that to achieve freedom, it is no easy task-* it is a long process re­

quiring tremendous- sacrifice,

(4) To inculpate in them the spirit of unity - to bind one another in a spirit of comradeship because our natural aspirations are the

same.

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(5) To test the sincerity and capabilities of Executive leaders and of rank and file members.

(6) To build up potential leaders by developing self-respect and self-reliance which are essential characteristics for would- be-leaders„ This is a virtual necessity in view of the imminent

threat to the leadership of our militant organisations.

(7) To attract into our struggle and to divert into practical channels the ardous enthusiasm of old men and old women., the

physically disabled, the infirm, and of women, youth and children.

When wo review our political action in 1946, in 195o and 1952, we find that we have come a long way together up the steep and u ifficu L . mountain, at the summit of which lies complete victory for ohe forces, of freedom, peace and democracy, We are almost within sight of the top, but as with most mountain climbs that are worth doing 'che fina.±. c liffs aro the steopest and most baffling of a ll .

We aiso find that during thG previous chapters in our struggle we V7jre able to rouse the paoplo by mass propaganda and at the cessation of activities we lost support and general interest in the struggle waned, This was perhaps due to the fact that the leadership failed to understand’- v

(a) The political immaturity of a number who participated in the struggle out of frustration and hope rather than from a true and real practical understanding of the necessity for such a struggle.

(b) That every participant in the struggle required practical demonstration and education to understand firmly the freedom programme and the type of struggle necessary to accomplish such a programme. Hithertowe have depended solely on discussions and lecturers in endeavouring to keep passionate freedom lovers politically informed.

(°) The full value of d iscipline ; Civil protest, disobedience and resistance, mass or individual, is an aid to con­structive effort and is a fu ll substitute to armed revolt. Just as military training is necessary for armed revolt, training in constructive effort is equally necessary oniy when occasion demands it , even so is the use of civil resistance. There is no freedom or democracy for the oppressed without suffering and sacrifice. And just as an army w ill acquire no success unless it is disciplined so w ill a oivil resistance movement not attain the fruits of its struggle without discipline . The most successful.General throughout the history of war stressed the import­ance of discipline which was responsible for 75# of the army's victory.

Discipline in a non-violent struggle cannot be over emphasised. The form of struggle we are wedded to requires moral courage, determination and sacrifice apart frorn political understanding, unity and co-operation, in violence truth is the greatest suffer, in non-violence Truth Is ever triumphant, in non-violence discipline is a vital necessity,

(d) The necessity for intellectual activity or alternatively political therapy through manual or other physical occupations to strengthen the moral element in relation to our political programme and the type of struggle we have endorsed.

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HOW TO ACHIEVE DISCIPLINE

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We know that in an army discipline is achieved by means of drill regimentation and the strict obedience to regulations and superiors-i--D. X*Q.D,K ,

p J?4?o50n’“̂ ° } enJ f tr^ f le 3ucil aa ours we oannot think in terms of military physical training,physical nock combats or the strict adherenoe to military regulations and commands of superiors 3n rank we^can only think of a constructive programme which is full of deer)*

appeals to the imagination, mind and heart and is as f as political or platform oratory, it appeals to the

the aotual preoccupation of each and every individual with the freedom struggle. Such a constructive programme

underlying**it ^ ^ orradnce of manual work and the basic principles

(1/ Intelligent activity of a constructive and creative nature with a direct bearing on the freedom programme.

(Z) . Each and every passionate freedom lover and seeker men.,.women and children, professionals and labourers, farmers a^d peasants, abled -and disabled band to- get her and participate in such aotivity which must iicive a deep,lasting and permanent meaning - the achievement of maintenance of freedom.

f m a m l wofk tliat should b3' undertaken to ensure the discipline necossary in a national liberatory struggle and to provide a fruitful channel for the ardent en th u sia lfo f freedom volunteers and to offset the frustration and aggression that mev

ln the non' “ s . S K g g u

Many freedom lovers have garden sites in the rural T + ■ and urban areas in the front yards and back varriq

c ^ a s s e s ^ ^ T a n P ^ t? ! r? are laf ge tracts of land. Volunteers of all classes a,id races could be organised into groups and be directed toundertake communal work. land tilling and the fruits of our labour

5 * ? * ^ a bit £ar-fetched - but it could be done p r o v W W we areS I t i. , tJ? spare, the time. Time w ill be spared if we know that the

ga2den°si*ea t r a - t ^ o f ' * ach ?nd every back garden, open- s 1:1 act of Reserve land could be converted to account anr?

° ould be 3old and distributed for the benefit of the liberatory struggle, in the non-violent way closest co-operation

o r g a n ia d - ^ b o d l '^ n ^ r in *l?Solut?1y necessary. To this end special b e L a *?'omil f̂ e03 a^ould be formed. Land laws should

less n s i f J o r ^aaaa^oh! PW>8ra.atoa arransed - there is

, J1S: _ Under this heading can be grouped the following*Mat making, basket making, beadwork, sewing and knitting carpentry

S & K 2 , * & X T ” - lne aad alterations to f e S S a n dvario^ Sh£e ^p a ir in g , woodwork activities of

f it making of simple metal articles. There is nodoufcu that were every freedom volunteer to devote some of his time to any one of these activities -depending of course SpoS antitSde - groups o. rolunteers, irrespective of race and class could be organised for. the production of freedom vase3 and toys, freedom baskets and mats, beadwork, knitting and sewing d e p i i t W the *.,ruggle xor freedom, peace and democracy. This type of activity will

The production of something domestically of valuo and u&e ‘go -che oppressed.

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underscore the wastage of effort and w ill engage the minds of ■the oppressed in intellectual and physical activity which it is.hoped w ill pave the way for a lasting and permanent basis to our freedom struggle. In every home there would be talk of freedom and in every home ohere w ill burn in every heart the light and flame of freedom. Discussions and lectures w ill ensue.What work is undertaken must be done as well as could be done. To ensure this we must refrain from taking on more than we can .efficiently deal with. The temptation to overstrain the energies is one to which ambitious young men are prone but; it must be firmly resisted. At least one hour per week of your time should be set aside for the freedom programme.

Coupled with such physical and intellectual activity young minds should devote themselves to singing and music, composing freedom songs, singing and p±a.ying music, carrying the message of freedom while they are engaged in their manual work in groups.

The springs of culture w ill stagnate and eventually dry up, if we cut ourselves away from the refining influence of art and music and neglect the humanizing agencies which serve to broaden the mind and keep it to remain fresh and alert. Music and singing reduce the moral tension and bring about a sense of comradeship. What makes a nation is not a race or religion but a way of l ife . '’Without virtue” Anstole said *tivTan is merely the most dangerous of animals” . Bi- calling on men to be better we cannot make them better. But through social and economic co-operatives and through social.cultural and political institutions they must be moulded into proper shape. We can discipline their minds and activity along the path of the struggle for liberty. For instance groups consisting of men, women, professionals and workers of all races learning to make mats under the instruction of the leader should spend at least one hour a week on this self imposed task. Through such type of-manual" work discipline will be cultivated. The following points may be noted

(1) Obedience to the group leader would be developed.

(2) Every freedom volunteer would develop self respect whenhe realises that he ;ias accomplished something by his own endeavour,

(3) His self-reliance w ill reach a new level. He v/ould be made to feel that he would do something independent of the others.

Self-respect and self reliance are essential characteristics in persons upon whom the demands of leadership are trust in time of a cr is is .

(4) Such manual activity would make every freedom volunteer app­reciate and understand the meaning and reward of self sacrifice. The stead devotion of one hour a week to creative activity instead of a fruitless afternoon at the th ‘eatre or some place where time and effort is wasted w ill result in the gradual realisation by every freedom volunteer that out of self sacrifice that is by giving up a little in order to secure something greater not only for oneself but for the entire community a great deal can be accomplished. In this way the true meaning of self sacrifice w ill reveal itself to the volunteer i

(5) Regular and constant attendance in groups w ill develop thetenacity of purpose and w ill .

(6) Such manual activity v/ould develop a sense of unity with others and respect for order of thought and manners and co-operation for a common purpose, it would greatly assist

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to reduce mutual intolerance, misunderstanding, distrust, suspicion and hatred and would decrease national egotism!

(7) Freedom material thus produced could be sold to help the cause of freedom.

(8) It would develop moral courage:

(a) It would make each and every volunteer feel that othei‘3

are with him and are giving their support in the common effort.

(b) In the absorption and love for the cause one tends to forget the danger to oneself.

(c) The fostering of goodwill promotes moral courage,

(9) Volunteers w ill learn the lesson of patience.

(10) By bridging the gap between races and classes, a freedom volunteer w ill feel that he could make as good a mat or vase or tend a garden as good a.s a doctor and that he is not onlv a volunteer but a potential leader.

(11) Finally in the process of collection of materials for manual work o .g . seeds, old clothing and wood, there w ill spring the political eduactive influence, others w ill respect and under- *- jc.nd the manner in which volunteers of all classes and races ore sacrificing their time for a common good. It would make them think politically .

Speaking to the youth, we may say that they must entertain lofty aspirations and cultivate generous ideals but at the same tirne they must have the sharp edge of discipline and pratical knowledge. They can be of tremendous help in the formation of disciplined volunteer corps for service to the community. The task of shouldering the future burden would be that of the youth and at no stage whatever their status or position should they forget it .

m stru§gle for liberty must go on until our goal is reached.T ? . oppression and injustice is a virtue and let us practicethis virtue whenever the occasion arises, but let us at the same uime prepare the minds of the oppressed on positive and constructive lines which alone can make them better fitted to offer resistance fearlessly and without expectation of favour. Not by emotional abandon but^by rigid self-discipline, by constant self-sacrifice and elaborate macerial preparation can we hope to turn a country of slaves into a land of free men.

Collection Number: AD1812

RECORDS RELATING TO THE 'TREASON TRIAL' (REGINA vs F. ADAMS AND OTHERS ON CHARGE OF HIGH TREASON, ETC.), 1956 1961 TREASON TRIAL, 1956 1961

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