Extract from an internal memo from the Union to the High Commissioner, 19 May 1952 concerning removals from Johannesburg and Cape town, Catalogue Ref: DO 35/3260
Families in Sophiatown, Johannesburg, were given orders to leave their houses, and move to a new location in Meadowlands according to the later Native Resettlement Act 1954.
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Native Urban Areas (Opdom 20 of 1951 paragraph 22)
- The removal of the Johannesburg “black spots” of Newclare, Martindale, Sophiatown and the Western Native Township was discussed between the Minister of Native Affairs and a delegation from the Johannesburg City Council in Cape Town on 7th May. As a result of these discussions the United Party majority in the City Council have agreed to proceed with the scheme to remove 57,800 Natives from those areas to new townships to be established. It appears that the City Council were holding out against the Government’s refusal to grant Natives freehold rights in the new townships, but in the face of Government pressure, have agreed to 30-year leases. Land for the new townships has already been acquired and Natives will be transferred as houses are completed. The intention is to use Native labour as far as possible. The African National Congress have announced that they will fight “every stage of the plan”.
Group Area Act in Durban (1951 Opdom 25 paragraph 8(a))
- The Durban City Council on 5th May, after heated discussion adopted a proposal that a modified plan prepared by the Technical Sub-Committee should be sent to the Land Tenure Advisory Board for examination, but that no further action should be taken until the Government had agreed to certain amendments to the Group Areas Act proposed by the council. Under the plan only 2,700 Europeans would be moved as compared with 62,900 Indians and 82,500 Natives, and £8,750,000 of Indian Property would fall into European zones, against only £750,000 of European property into Indian zones.
- What do you think is meant by the term Johannesburg “black spots”?
- How many inhabitants have Johannesburg City Council agreed to remove?
- Why do you think the City Council rejected the Government’s plan to refuse ‘to grant Natives freehold rights in the new townships’?
- What is the impact of the Group Areas Act on Durban for ‘Europeans’, ‘Indians’ and ‘Native’ communities?
- How does this source add to your understanding of effects of the Group Areas Act from Sources 3a & 3b?
- How do all three sources infer that the Group Area’s Act is the ‘kernel of Apartheid’ [see source 1b]?
- Find out about the later forced removals from Sophiatown to Meadowlands, Soweto.