Heritage Cases

In 1953 ZK Matthews proposed an idea to develop a clear statement for the future of South Africa which outlines the people’s demands for a free and equal South Africa. The idea was accepted and volunteers across the country rallied up demands from the people, workers, mothers, unions, and other organizations. During this campaign the ANC and its allies invited the whole of South Africa to record their demands so that they could be incorporated in a common document. The document would be accepted at the Congress of the People and would become the Freedom Charter. Thousands of people participated in the campaign and sent in their demands for the kind of South Africa they wished to live in. These demands found final expression in the Freedom Charter. The 3000 delegates that gathered at the dusty field in Kliptown on 25th and 26th June 1955, were workers, peasants, intellectuals, women, youth and students of all races and was the most representative gathering in the history of South Africa. Over the two days, clause by clause the Freedom Charter was adopted a vision for a united non-racial and democratic South Africa. This all took place amidst singing, cheering, and over sense of camaraderie and the watchful eye of the Apartheid Government. Subsequently all the members of the Congress Alliance adopted the Freedom Charter in their national conferences as their official programme. Thus the Freedom Charter became the common programme enshrining the hopes and aspirations of all the progressive people of South Africa. Towards the end of the second day, the police issued a search warrant. As the police walked up the podium the delegates became restless. However, the organizer appealed for calm and refused to be swayed from completing their task. Calm prevailed and the last clauses were read and adopted. Once the Congress closed, the police seized documents and recorded everyone’s names and details. White delegates had photographs taken. The dusty field has been developed into a commemoration square with the Freedom Charter Monument, a museum, hotel, conference facilities and space for vendors and shops.