E. T. MOFUTSANYANA

The significance of these events [surrounding the Party Conference of 1924], foreshadowing the absorption of the white workers as junior partners in the racialist establishment, no less than the growth in numbers and militancy of the African working class, strengthened the influence as those within the Communist Party who had long emphasised the priority of work among the indigenous masses. Many members questioned the weight and emphasis which continued to be given to Communist work among the white workers. A full-scale debate took place at the third national conference of the Party at the end of 1924. The central issue was a motion that a fresh approach be made to the Labour Party affiliation. The leading opponents of this proposal, S. P. Bumting, E. R. Roux and others, were known to be firm advocates of the Party's need to concentrate on work among the Africans. . . . Following the 1924 conference of the Party devoted great efforts to organising the African workers, then being driven in their thousands from the countryside into industry. . . . A considerable number of African workers and revolutionary intellectuals came into the Party at uthis time. Many of these were to play an outstanding role in the future of the liberation movement, the trade union movement and the Party. Among them were Albert Nzula (1906-1933), Moses M. Kotane, J. B. Marks, E. T. Mofutsanyana, Johannes Nkosi, Gana Makabeni, Josie Mpama, and many others.

-A. Lerumo [Michael Harmel], Fifty Fighting Years: The Communist Party of South Africa, 1921-1971, Inkuleleko Publications, London, 1971.