GUM OF MECAlS LIBERATION STRUGGLE - KORA

The Gathering Rain Cloua3
Location at Kimberley, where 13 Africans were kilied and at least 28
injured. Although these were widely separated places, the incidents were
triggered by police violence in each instance, and the Africans were killed
by gunfire. Two Europeans were killed in East London, a Catholic nun
and an insurance representative. Three Europeans were killed in New
Brighton.
As a result of the riots, the government cracked down on all organized
protests. Quintin Whyte, head of the South African Institute of Race
Relations, wrote to me (November 14,1952), 'While we must distinguish
between the campaign and the riots, nevertheless the state of tension is
very high. There has been a marked hardening against liberals in the
country." The institute was a nonpolitical body that confined itself to
carefully researched studies on the state of race relations in the country. It
was generally liberal and opposed to apartheid, as its own interracial staff
and constituency would indicate. But it was careful not to take action other
than through its literature and reports.
Whyte's letter was an important assessment of the campaign. He said
that it was "training heroes and martyrs as well leaders for funue work."
He spoke of the "remarkable self-control of the resisters" and summarized
that the effect of the campaign was "to unite non-Europeans to give
expression to African nationalism; to train for the future; to demonstrate
the power of Africans; to make Europeans question themselves; to make
the government more adamant; to make liberal Europeans more un-
popular; and in the long run to gain concessions."
BROADENING CAMPAIGN-GOVERNMENT REACTION
The discipline of the volunteers in the Defiance Campaign began to win
new adherents and to gain the sympathy of some skeptics about the
practice of nonviolence. On December 8, international publicity was given
to the arrest of Patrick Duncan and Manila1 Gandbi as part of a group that
violated the law by entering the Germiston location near Johannesburg
without passes. Duncan's arrest attracted special attention not only bemuse
of his father's rank but also because he was on crutches as a result of
a motor acadent. He was sentenced to ~oo days in jail or a $280 fine.
Gandhi was given a go-day sentence or a $140 fine. Both chose to serve
their sentences.
Up to December 16, 1952, the total number arrested in the campaign
was 8,057. In response to the growing impact of the campaign, the
government passed the Public Safety Act and the Criminal Laws Amendment
Act. Dr. R.T. Bokwe, brother-in-law of Matthews, wrote me on
December 30 saying that no meetings of more than 10 people were allowed
in African locations or in reserves (now rural homelands). Practically all
African leaders, including himself, bad been served letters from the minister
of justice forbidding them to attend gatherings. He could not even
attend a church service.