1937

Datum

Gebeurtenis
  1937 Industrial Conciliation Act No 36:

Provided for the registration and regulation of trade unions and employers? organisations, the settlement of disputes between employers and employees, and the regulation of conditions of employment.
Repealed by s 56 of the Industrial Conciliation Act No 28 of 1956
    Black (Native) Laws Amendment Act No 46:

Prohibited acquisition of land in urban areas by blacks from non-blacks except with the Governor-General?s consent (Horrell 1978: 3).
Commenced: 1 January 1938
Sections repealed by the Abolition of Influx Control Act No 68 of 1986 and the Abolition of Racially Based Land Measures Act No 108 of 1991. The only section remaining in force is s 36, which amended s 7 of the Agricultural Holdings (Transvaal) Registration Act 22 of 1919 and has no discriminatory implications.
    Very strict regulations are introduced regarding the urbanisation of women as part of influx control.
    Anti-Indian Legislation: The Marketing and Unbeneficial Land Occupation Act 26/1937
This Act debars Indians from holding seats on regulatory boards. It also controls imports and exports to South Africa.

Anti-Indian Legislation: The Native Administration Amendment Act 9/37

Anti-Indian Legislation: The Industrial Conciliation Act 36/1937.
This Act introduces the colour bar in trade unions.

Anti-Indian Legislation: The Transvaal Asiatic Land Tenure (Further Amendment) Act, 1937.
Indians are prohibited from employing whites.

Anti-Indian Legislation: The Immigration Amendment Act.
Children born outside of South Africa are deprived of rights enjoyed by South African Indians.
    The twenty-fifth year of the African National Congress (ANC) marks the beginning of a transitional period in African politics. The ANC begins slowly to revive while continuing to employ tactics of representation through resolutions, deputations and meetings.

Black (Native) Laws Amendment Act No 46:

Prohibits the acquisition of land in urban areas by blacks from Whites except with the Governor-Generals consent (Horrell 1978: 3).
Commences: 1 January 1938
Sections repeals by the Abolition of Influx Control Act No 68 of 1986 and the Abolition of Racially Based Land Measures Act No 108 of 1991. The only section remaining in force is section 36, which amends section 7 of the Agricultural Holdings (Transvaal) Registration Act 22 of 1919 and has no discriminatory implications

Frederick John Harris is born.

Ezrom Kgobonyane Sebata Legae is born in Vrededorp, Johannesburg.

Dan Rakgoathe is born in Randfontein, Gauteng.

Andrew Clement Verster is born.
    Orlando Pirates is founded.

The SAAFAs (South African African Football Association) Bakers Cup is renamed the Moroka-Baloyi Cup.
  January Sir Syed Reza Ali, Indian Agent-General, advises Indians to accept qualified franchise. This is contrary to advice given by Seth Govind Das and indicates the division between the Indian Government (colnial and British-controlled) and the Indian National Congress, comprised of people like Gandhi, Nehru, Seth Govind Das and Sarojini Naidu.

The Marketing Act, Act No. 26 of 1937 debars Indians from holding seats on regulatory boards. While the Marketing Bill was still under Parliamentary discussion, the South African Indian Congress (SAIC) sent a deputation to the Minister of Agriculture, Deneys Reitz, in protest, but to no avail.

The Native Administration Amendment Act, Act No. 9 of 1937 prohibits Indians and other persons of colour from employing whites.

The Industrial Conciliation Act, Act No. 36 of 1937 introduces the colour bar in trade unions.

Transvaal Asiatic Land Tenure (Further Amendment) Act of 1937 is passed.
  1 February Aliens Act No 1:

Restricted and regulated the entry of certain aliens into the Union and regulated the right of any person to assume a surname.
Commenced: 1 February 1937
Repealed by s 33 of the Births and Deaths Registration Act No 51 of 1992.
  22 February J.J. Pienaar and J.H. Grobler of the United Party introduce three Bills of discriminatory aim to the South African parliament:

1.The Mixed Marriages Bill aims to prohibit marriage between Asiatics, Europeans and Africans. In the event, the Bill is not passed, but a Mixed Marriages Commission is appointed.

2.The Provincial Legislative Powers Extension Bill aims to refuse trading licenses to non-Europeans who employ white people. The Bill is later passed as the Native Administration Amendment Act, Act 9 of 1937.

3.The Transvaal Asiatic Land Bill aims to deny the right of owning property to any white woman married to a non-European. The Bill is later passed as the Transvaal Asiatic Land Tenure (Further Amendment) Act of 1937.

The Pienaar-Grobler Bills elicit strong protests from the South African Indian Congress (SAIC). At the same time, Indian Congress members of the Legislative Assembly in India question the Indian Government (at this stage still a colonial government under British control) on what it is doing to safeguard rights of Indians in South Africa. The Indian Agent–General is to present the Indian Government’s viewpoint to the South African Parliamentary Select Committee, but the Agent-General and Indian Government is considered ineffective by SA Indians.
  June The 1936 Representation of Natives Act is the recognised and accepted mouthpiece of Africans in their various representative state chambers.
  December Delegates at the All African Convention (AAC) representing thirty-nine organisations adopt a constitution calling for the affiliation of all African religious, educational, industrial, economic, political, commercial and social organisations within its ranks.

Executive Committee issues the policy of All African Convention (AAC)

Constitution of the All African Convention (AAC) is drafted

Delegates of the All African Convention (AAC) representing thirty-nine organisations, including three provincial sections of the African National Congress (ANC) adopts a constitution which invites the affiliation of all African religions, educational, industrial, economic, political, commercial and organisations.

The All African Convention (AAC) constitution is ratified. The AAC decides to meet every three years.

The Third All African Convention (AAC) conference to promote the interests of Blacks convenes in Bloemfontein. Only 130 members attend a far cry from the 400 delegates that attended AAC’s first meeting in 1935.

Professor Z. K. Matthews favours the disenfranchising of all Africans in order to promote unity. Matthews remains a member of the All African Convention (AAC) until 1943.

Professor Davidson Don Tengo (D. D. T.) Jabavu is re-elected president of the All African Convention (AAC).

P. Mda dismisses the All African Convention as devoid of substance and inspiration.

Dr. Alfred. Bitini (A. B.) Xuma, Vice-President of the All African Convention (AAC) states that, “Anyone who will endeavour to wreck the principle of unity that gave birth to the All African Convention will be doing so for personal reasons and will be a traitor to Africa”. Yet the AAC is not united within.

Despite internal conflict, the All African Convention (AAC) proclaims itself the voice of Africans. It devotes itself to act in unity in developing political and economic power.
    Delegates of the All African Convention (AAC), representing thirty-nine organisations - including three provincial sections of the African National Congress (ANC) - adopts a constitution which invites the affiliation of all African religions, educational, industrial, economic, political and commercial organisations.
    The Executive Committee of the All African Convention (AAC) issues a statement regarding its policy.
    Constitution of the All African Convention (AAC) is drafted.
    The All African Convention (AAC) constitution is ratified. The AAC decides to meet every three years.
    The Third All African Convention (AAC) to promote the interests of Blacks convenes in Bloemfontein. Only 130 attend, a far cry from the 400 delegates that attended AAC’s first meeting in 1935.
    Z. K. Matthews favours the disenfranchising of all Africans in order to promote unity. Matthews remains a member of the All African Convention (AAC) until 1943.
    Professor Davidson Don Tengo (D. D. T.) Jabavu is re-elected president of the All African Convention (AAC).
    A. P. Mda dismisses the ALL African Convention as devoid of substance and inspiration.
    Dr. Alfred Bitini (A. B.) Xuma, Vice-President of the All African Convention states that anyone who will endeavour to wreck the principle of unity that gave birth to the All African Convention will be doing so for personal reasons and will be a traitor to Africa. Yet the AAC has a lot of internal conflict.
    Despite the conflict, the All African Convention (AAC) proclaims itself the voice of Africans. It devotes itself to act in unity in developing political and economic power.
  11 December Adriaan Johannes Vlok is born in Sutherland, Cape Town.