Suppression of Communism Act

The Suppression of Communism Act, No. 44 of 1950 was legislation of the national government in South Africa, passed on June 26 of that year (and coming into effect on July 17), [ [http://www.sahistory.org.za/pages/chronology/general/1950s.html General South African History Timelines] South African History Online] which formally banned the Communist Party of South Africa and proscribed the ideology of communism, defined by the government as any scheme that aimed "at bringing about any political, industrial, social, or economic change within the Union by the promotion of disturbance or disorder" or that encouraged "feelings of hostility between the European and the non-European races of the Union the consequences of which are calculated to further..." disorder. [ [http://lcweb2.loc.gov/cgi-bin/query/r?frd/cstdy:@field(DOCID+za0033) Separate and Unequal] "South Africa: A Country Study", Library of Congress] It allowed the government to label any person of the Minister of Justice's choice as a "Communist." [ [http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,816614,00.html Justice Takes Its Course] "TIME Magazine", July 28, 1952] The definition of communism in the wording of the act was so broad, that anyone seeking to change a law could be considered a communist, especially if it was a law enforcing racial segregation and Apartheid. The communism was so broadly defined in the act that even judge Franz Rumpff stated during the trial of ANC's president James Moroka that " [the charge] has nothing to do with Communism as it is commonly known." and defendants were commonly convicted of "statuatory communism. cite journal|title=Death the Leveler|journal=The Time|date=Monday, Dec. 15, 1952|first=|last=|coauthors=|volume=|issue=|pages=|id= |url=http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,820489-2,00.html|format=|accessdate=2008-10-01 ] Most of the Act was repealed in 1982 by the Internal Security Act No 74 [ [http://africanhistory.about.com/od/apartheidlaws/g/No15of54.htm Riotous Assemblies and Suppression of Communism Amendment Act No 15 of 1954] About.Com: African History] and in 1991, with the last provisions of it repealed in 1993.

The "Suppression of Communism Act" was in large part due to the believed anti-apartheid communist involvement. The act facilitated the government take down of organizations such as the ANC and PAC that advocated for black rights.cite book | last = Byrnes | first = Rita M. | authorlink = | coauthors = | title = South Africa: A Country Study | publisher = GPO for the Library of Congress | date = 1996 | location = Washington | pages = | url = http://countrystudies.us/south-africa/ | chapter= Legislative Implementation of Apartheid|chapterurl=http://countrystudies.us/south-africa/25.htm| doi = | id = | isbn = ] The Suppression of Communism Act forced these groups to go underground with their activism. Ironically, because of this act, groups such as Umkhonto we Sizwe, lead by Nelson Mendela as a branch of the ANC, did seek support from the Communist party for financial aid.

Footnotes

External links

* [http://www.sacp.org.za/docs/history/dadoo-37.html STATEMENT CONDEMNING THE FIRST BANNING ORDERS UNDER THE SUPPRESSION OF COMMUNISM ACT, MAY 22, 1952]
* [http://www.sahistory.org.za/pages/governence-projects/organisations/sacp/chronology.htm South African Communist Party chronology]

Further reading

*Benson, Mary. "Nelson Mandela: The Man and the Movement", 2nd Edition. W. W. Norton & Company. ISBN 978-0393312812
*Byrnes, Rita M. (ed.). " [http://memory.loc.gov/frd/cs/zatoc.html South Africa a Country Study (Area Handbook Series)] ". Claitor's Law Books and Publishing Division. ISBN 978-1579803551