SOUTH AFRICAN CONGRESS OF DEMOCRATS

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SOUTH AFRICAN
CONGRESS OF DEMOCRATS
TBE FACTS
Few organisations have incurred the wrath of the Nationlists as have the Congress of Democrats.
But few organisations have made such an important contribution to South African political life in
such a short time.
WHAT SORT OF AN ORGANISATION IS THE CONGRESS OF DEMOCRATS?
WHAT IS THE
COD?
A n organisation pledged to uphold
dem ocratic ideals and to extend them
to all fields of South A frica n life, so
that all people, black and white, can
live as human beings in their home­
land.
WHEN WAS IT
FOUNDED?
The cornerstones of C O D policy a r e :
• The U nited Nations U n iversal D e ­
claration of H um an Rights.
• The Freedom C harter — a detailed
application of the U N O D eclaration
to South A frica , drawn up in 1956.
• joined in a m ulti-racial alliance —
w ith the A frica n N ational Congress,
S.A. In dian Congress, S.A. Coloured
Peoples O rganisation and the S.A.
Congress of T rade U n io n s;
Both are enshrined in its constitu­
tion.
WHY WAS IT
FOUNDED?
T o provide a home for all E u ro ­
peans — regardless of p olitical a ffilia ­
tion — who believe in a m ulti racial
South A frica n dem ocracy based on
equal rights and opportunities.
The C O D is not, how ever a political
party. It does not compete w ith any
of the existing political parties — or
ask voters to entrust the future of -the
country to it. B ut its m embers are
free — and encouraged — to p a rtici­
pate actively in the political p arty of
their choice.
D u ring the 1952 Defiance Campaign,
A frica n and In d ia n leaders repeatedly
urged Europeans to break through the
iron curtain of silent approval of N a ­
tionalist race policies. A European o r­
ganisation, they said, w hich rejected
white suprem acy would prove that not
all whites were solidly organised for
the oppression of non-w hites — and
so counter the grow ing a.nti-white
feeling among the country’s 9,000,000
non-whites.
Since then, the CO D has —
• co-operated w ith them as an equal
partner in campaigns against apart­
heid and race discrim inatio n;
• been the only real lin k between
white and non-white democrats —
and a livin g proof that all races
can w ork together for the common
good.
WHO CAN
JOIN IT?
A ll people who oppose the jJresent
S.A. policies of race and colour d is­
crim ination are welcome to CO D , r e ­
gardless of the beliefs they hold or the
parties they belong to.
T he C O D likes its members to take
an active part in all its public cam­
paigns — but does not make this a
condition of membership.
“ Im p a rtia lity is either a delusion of the simple minded, a banner for the opportunist, or a boast of the dishonest.” — P rof. Salvem ini.
T h e issues on w hich the C O D crosses swords w ith the N ationalists are m atters of life and death for all w ho live in South A frica .
T he building o f real bridges of trust between the white and non-w hite peoples and the preparation for a m ulti-racial dem ocracy based on equal rights and o p p o r t u n ity
— are vital insurance for the future o f all w ho call this country ‘home ,
uWw u u u u i.>
A t a time w hen the w ildest fanatics of apartheid are d rivin g us towards fearful racial strife, there can be no room for im partiality.
EACH OF US MUST MAKE OUR STAND. AND WE MUST DO IT NOW.
TIME IS RUNNING OUT.
The Congress of Democrats
publishes statem ents o f its p o licy fro m tim e to tim e .
The fo llo w in g
publications are available:
** AFRICAN POLL TAX
A critique of the new tax laws for
A frica n s w hich come into effect in
1959-
**
CHIEF LUTHULI SPEAKS
A public address by the
G eneral of the A .N .C.
President
A pam phlet explaining how democracy
can be won in South A frica.
**THE STRUGGLE FOR
DEMOCRACY
**
THE FREEDOM CHARTER
COUNTER ATTACK
A m onthly bulletin giving news and
views of C.O.D. and its branches.
FIGHTING TALK
A n independent m onthly jou rn al for
democrats is also obtainable from our
office.
IF Y O U ARE INTERESTED IN L E A R N IN G M O RE A B O U T C .O .D .
FILL IN THE FO R M BELO W
To S .A .C .O .D .,
P.O. Box 4088,
Johannesburg.
Please send me copies o f
Name & Address ................
Issued by:
$ P R O M P T — 1/ 5 9
S .A .C .O .D .,
8 Somerset House,
I 10 Fox Street, Johannesburg.
Collection Number: AD1137
FEDERATION OF SOUTH AFRICAN WOMEN 1954-1963
PUBLISHER:
Publisher:- Historical Papers Research Archive
Location:- Johannesburg
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