About this site

This resource is hosted by the Nelson Mandela Foundation, but was compiled and authored by Padraig O’Malley. It is the product of almost two decades of research and includes analyses, chronologies, historical documents, and interviews from the apartheid and post-apartheid eras.

1954

The formation of the Federation of South African women (FEDSAW), bringing together women from the ANC, the South African Indian Congress, the Trade unions and self-help groups. The basis of the formation of this body was to adredd demands through the establishment of the Women\'s charter.This deemanded the right to vote, the right to free movement without any restrictions, equal rights in relation to property and land ownership

Fietas, Johannesburg: H.F. Verwoerd states in his speech in Senate that the human reality needs to be racially defined and racially organised under the 'supremacy of the white race'

6 February 1954

Walter Sisulu addresses an African National Congress meeting in Durban and gives a comprehensive account of his travel through Russia and Communist China

9 February 1954

Walter Sisulu acts as speaker at a meeting of the "South African Society for Peace and Friendship with the Soviet Union" which is held in the Ambagsaal, Johannesburg. He talks of the way in which Communism has been implemented in Russia and China

14 February 1954

Walter Sisulu acts as speaker at an African National Congress meeting which is held in the Western Black Township of Johannesburg and again related of his visit to Russia and China

11 March 1954

Walter Sisulu addresses an African National Congress meeting in Port Elizabeth. He relates in detail about his trip to Europe and of everything he saw and experienced there

19 March 1954

Sisulu leaves by aeroplane to Durban, to discuss the possibility of extending the boycott campaign to Natal with African National Congress leaders

28 March 1954

Sisulu acts as speaker during a meeting of the ANC at Veeplaats. He speaks of the successes of the strikes and the co-operation of the black community in this connection

April 1954

Federation of South Africa Women is formed

1 April 1954

Walter Sisulu addresses a meeting of the African National Congress in Cradock

4 April 1954

Walter Sisulu addresses a meeting in Queenstown

11 April 1954

Walter Sisulu acts as speaker at a meeting of the African National Congress in Sophiatown, Johannesburg. He urges the blacks not to allow themselves to be removed from the Western areas

1 May 1954

Walter Sisulu acts as speaker at an ANC meeting in the Alexandra Township area, Johannesburg. The same day he also addresses a meeting under cover of the Transvaal Council of Non-European Trade Unions in the Ambagsaal, Johannesburg

9 May 1954

Walter Sisulu makes the following statement at an ANC meeting in Newclare, Johannesburg: "We are educated people, the Nationalist and United Party Leaders can come and take lessons from us", as well as ,"the white people's time has expired. The Africans are now going to rule. We are not going to Meadowlands"

20 June 1954

Sisulu attends the annual conference of the ANC branch of the Cape Province at Uitenhage. He officiates as secretary of the "National Action Council of the Congress of the People"

26 June - 27 June 1954

Walter Sisulu speaks at the meeting of the African National Congress (ANC) in the Communal Hall in the Western black township area of Johannesburg. Among others, he said the following: "We need 5 000 volunteers but we must get them before the removal of the "black spots" begins, they must then be ready

11 July 1954

Walter Sisulu attends a massive meeting of the ANC in Sophiatown, Johannesburg

23 July 1954

Walter Sisulu is served two notifications, in terms of Section 5 of the Suppression of Communism Act (Act 44 of 1950). He is herewith commanded to resign as member, official or office-bearer from certain organisations and not to take part again in the activities thereof, and is also prohibited from attending any gathering at any place within the Union of South Africa or the area South West, for a period of two years

24 July 1954

Walter Sisulu is taken into custody in the Bochabella location, Bloemfontein, on a charge under the Suppression of Communism Act. He attends a gathering there in spite of the notice that had been served on him

26 July 1954

Walter Sisulu appears before the Magistrate Bloemfontein and is released on £50 bail. The case would serve before the Supreme Court Bloemfontein during August 1955

14 August 1954

Walter Sisulu attends a secret African National Congress meeting in Durban. This meeting is held during a conference of the "Congress of the People " which is held over the weekend 13 - 16 August 1954

20 August 1954

Walter Sisulu sends a statement to the different branches of the ANC in which he vehemently attacks the present government over the restrictions that have been placed upon him and others. He also requests that all the left-wing organisations intensify their propaganda

September 1954

Walter Sisulu approaches a number of prominent organisations in the USA for funds for the "Campaign Plan" as a representative of the National Action Council of the Congress of the People

11 December 1954

Sisulu, together with a number of members from the Transvaal Indian Congress (TIC) and African National Congress (ANC), meet in the offices of the ANC in order to give certain instructions to delegates to the ANC conference, which will be held at Pinetown

This resource is hosted by the Nelson Mandela Foundation, but was compiled and authored by Padraig O’Malley. Return to theThis resource is hosted by the site.