Full-Length Video

Feature Video

UDF rally in Pretoria promoting the One Million Signature Campaign
January 22, 1984

Duration: 18:25

People: Mosiuoa Patrick Lekota, Oscar Mpetha

Primary Language(s): English

Description: Oscar Mpetha, who participates in this meeting, was a trade union leader in the 1940s and was a founder of the South African Congress of Trade Unions. He is one of three presidents of the UDF (with Albertina Sisulu and Archie Gumede). Speaker talks of the need to give strength to leaders who are imprisoned, mentioning in particular Father Smangaliso Mkhatshwa, Secretary General of the Southern African Catholic Bishops' Conference, who had been detained in the Ciskei, and also a number of people who died in detention. Martha Mahlangu, mother of Solomon Mahlangu, is introduced. Mosiuoa Lekota speaks about the launch of the one million signatures campaign in Pretoria, to recognize the heritage of the struggle going back to the 1950s, including leadership of women in the 1956 protest of the pass laws. Lekota explains that the reform to allow certain Africans to remain in urban areas divides the people and therefore is unacceptable. Organizers of the million signature campaign must be able to explain the recent reforms.

Short Clips

"Just as the women of our country came here in '56 to remind you that they did not accept your laws... That voice is still alive." 00:03:16
Description: Patrick Lekota harkens to the tradition of the women who protested against the pass laws in 1956 and the campaign of burning passes in 1960, explaining why the UDF's One Million Signatures campaign is being launched in Pretoria almost 30 years later.