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From: South Africa's Radical Tradition, a documentary history, Volume One 1907 - 1950, by Allison Drew
The All-African Convention came into being as an answer by the Native People to the Government's unjust Native Bills. It was born from the resentment and disgust which were felt by all Africans at the manner in which they were treated by their white "guardians" in this country.
Representatives from all over met in Bloemfontein in a militant spirit determined to create a united front against the slave morality and mentality of these Bills, determined to voice their disapproval and to create a fighting organization to win freedom for the Native people in their own homeland.
The All-African Convention met with the blessing and goodwill of a united people. They expected great things of their Convention. So far the All-African Convention has not fulfilled any of the expectations of the masses who support it.
It is true that the tide of feeling which mounted against the Government has receded after the excitement of the passing of the Native Bills. It is true that not sufficient time has passed for Convention to achieve its full organisational strength.
It is true that there are a great many factors which excuse the comparative inactivity of the Convention since its inception.
But already a great weakness is apparent in the composition of the All-African Convention, and a weakness which will prove fatal to the Convention if it is not quickly remedied. The All-African Convention is not sufficiently representative of the Native masses. Its leaders do not address themselves to and confide in and consult the people who gave them their prestige and their power.
Without the active support of the masses the All-African Convention will go the way of the I.C.U. and African Congress, empty shells making a noise without substance.
The coming elections for the Senators, Members of Parliament and Members of the Representational Council are now exercising the minds of the masses. The excitement of an election campaign is gathering force and gives the Convention a chance to bring the masses into action.
The elections must not be the subject of political intrigues amongst the leaders. They must not be cut and dried affairs in which the personal choice of the leaders is forced upon the All-African Convention.
It is necessary for the Convention to formulate its election platform and plan of campaign. The Convention's platform must be based on the grievances and demands of the Native people. In the forefront is the demand for land and the demand for liberty. Bread for the African People and freedom of movement and rights of organisation are the first essentials.
The plan of campaign of the All-African Convention must give a lead to the Native people how to achieve these demands. It must clearly point out that the election of Senators and Native Representatives will not help the Native people. Only mass demands and demonstrations, mass organisation and a militant spirit will shake the Government out of its stupid, selfish, reactionary attitude towards the Natives.
The record of British and Boer Imperialism is too black and consistent for the Native people to hope to achieve anything by appeals to fair play, justice, etc.
Only the organised, determined might of a united people will win bread and freedom for the African masses.
The candidates, therefore, must be chosen not as worthy, respectable citizens who will persuade and win over Hertzog and Co., and do wonders in Parliament, the Senate and the Native Representational Council. The candidates must be chosen as militant fighters for the rights of the Native people; not men who will have tea with Hertzog and use soft words in the Council, but men who will work in the reserves, in the locations, amongst the African masses.
Whoever is acceptable to Smuts and Hertzog is not acceptable to the masses or the African Convention. The only men acceptable are proven fighters and men who will speak with the weight of the organised might and threat of the Native masses.
The life of the All-African Convention depends on the mass work it will do, and the quality of the candidates it chooses for the coming elections. If it nominates opportunists and collaborates with the government it will lose the interest and support of the masses. If it nominates militant candidates who believe in mass action, who will organise and lead the masses, it will grow from strength to strength as the rightful leading organisation of the native, as the organisation which will be in the forefront of the inevitable coming fight for bread and liberty for the African masses.