The Individual, Auto/biography and History in South Africa

ooted in the past”, he suggested, “whereas the Youth League is the product of modern
conditions with a modern outlook”. The creation of the AAC in 1935 had represented “a
turning point in the organisational history of the African people”. The AAC’s argument
for a federal basis of political unity would “remove competition”, “eliminate all rivalry
between organisations” and provide a platform for a “unified leadership”. A “spirit of
co‐operation” would replace “mutual antagonisms”. Unfortunately, Tabata argued to
Mandela, the ANC had accepted “the theory of inferiority and trusteeship, with all its
political manifestations”. 104
Near the end of his letter to Mandela, Tabata was moved to explain the modernity of
principled unity in historical terms:
Principles are the backbone of any Movement. To put it another
way: any organisation which is not founded on the rock of
principles is a prey to every wind that blows. It was the failure
to recognise this important fact that was primarily responsible
for the fall of so many of our organisations in the past. We have
had large organisations which were at first hailed with
enthusiasm. But they have vanished away, leaving no trace
behind. 105
A young man such as Mandela who wanted to enter politics needed to “establish the
habit of basing his actions on principles”, Tabata argued. He needed to be ready “to
swim against the stream”. Armed with principles, the young man would be “protected
against the temptations of seeking popularity and ephemeral success”. Tabata ended his
letter by suggesting that they both turn their “combined energies towards stamping out
all opportunism and aim at the unity of the people on a principled basis. 106
This letter turned out quite a bit longer than intended, and came to be seen as a treatise
on the history of political organisation and the question of unity. Indeed, Tabata soon
104 I.B. Tabata to N.R. Mandela, 16 June 1948, I.B. Tabata Collection, BC 925.
105 I.B. Tabata to N.R. Mandela, 16 June 1948, I.B. Tabata Collection, BC 925.
106 I.B. Tabata to N.R. Mandela, 16 June 1948, I.B. Tabata Collection, BC 925. Tabata ended by sending
his regards to Mandela’s family, and expressed the hope that Mandela would be able to return to Cape
Town “when we can exchange our views”.
365