Laws

Continuing on the theme of last week, there are many more Acts to talk about in regards to South Africa. Going in chronological order, our first topic of discussion is the Natives (Urban Areas) Act of 1923. It decreed that cities were principally for the use of the White population. Any Africans residing there were required to carry passes. Any black person found without a pass was liable to be arrested and expelled to the reserves. This is eerily reminiscent similar to what the Jews were forced to do just 20 years later. However in their case they had to wear the yellow star of David and were being sent off to concentration camps.

The Industrial Conciliation Act of 1924 allowed for the legal registration of whites in a trade union, but not blacks. Trade unions in the United States exist for plumbers, electricians, carpenters and the like which allow the workers the opportunity to negotiate for better pay and working situations. However, in South Africa the blacks were denied the ability to do so as they were not included in the Industrial Conciliation Act. That wasn’t the only change that occurred in 1924. The South African Party was swept from power and replaced by a National Party led coalition government under J.B.M. Hertzog. What is a coalition you ask? Lucky for you I was wondering the same thing. According to the Dictionary a coalition is, “an alliance for combined action, especially a temporary alliance of political parties forming a government or of states.”

The last to laws to be enacted in the 1920’s include the Wage Act of 1925. It permitted the government to instruct private firms to grant preference to White workers when hiring. This meant employers decisions were based off the color of people’s skin, not their work ethic. Lastly, the Minds and Works Amendment Act of 1926. It further entrenched the color bar in the mining industry. Things always get worse before they get better, and the 1930’s will be a prime example of that in my next blog.