Textile Workers' Industrial Unions in South Africa by Bettie du Toit

"Textile Workers' Industrial Unions in South Africa", by Bettie Du Toit with Nancy Dick. Introduction by Nadine Gordimer. Typescript, 110 pages, [1976].
The work describes the early development of the Union through strike action; the problems which arose between the craft unions and the industrial unions; the way the trade union movement failed to respond to the threats of fascism and Afrikaner nationalism; the growth of African unions in the Cape after 1945; Government repression in the 1960s; and finally, the revival of black trade unionism in the 1970s.

Born Elizabeth Sophia Honman in the in Transvaal Province, South Africa, Bettie du Toit began working as a trade unionist in the textile industry in the 1930s: firstly in the Transvaal, and later in the Cape. She was active in the Communist Party. During the textile workers' strike of the 1920s, du Toit and four other women were taken to the Fort Prison in Johannesburg. In the 1950s she worked closely with the African National Congress and was imprisoned several times. She was one of the few whites who participated in the Defiance Campaign, 1952. It was her participation in this campaign that led to her being banned from engaging in any political or industrial organisation the same year, under the Suppression of Communism Act. She was the first female trade unionist to be banned. In 1957 she attempted, unsuccessfully, to persuade black trade unions to adopt the 'go slow' strike as their principal tactic in industrial disputes. The title of her published account of workers' struggles in South Africa's textile industry, Ukubamba Amadolo, translates literally as 'hold the knees' (meaning to go slow). In 1963, after several arrests and fearing long-term imprisonment, she went into exile in Ghana. There she worked in a trade union federation before becoming a researcher for Ghana Radio. It was in Ghana that she lost sight in both eyes as a result of an infection. She subsequently went to London for treatment and remained there, writing this manuscript in 1976 (GB 193 DUT). After spending years in London, she was to return finally to South Africa, where she died in 2002.

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Born Elizabeth Sophia Honman in the in Transvaal Province, South Africa, Bettie du Toit began working as a trade unionist in the textile industry in the 1930s: firstly in the Transvaal, and later in the Cape. She was active in the Communist Party. During the textile workers' strike of the 1920s, du Toit and four other women were taken to the Fort Prison in Johannesburg. In the 1950s she worked closely with the African National Congress and was imprisoned several times. She was one of the few whites who participated in the Defiance Campaign, 1952. It was her participation in this campaign that led to her being banned from engaging in any political or industrial organisation the same year, under the Suppression of Communism Act. She was the first female trade unionist to be banned. In 1957 she attempted, unsuccessfully, to persuade black trade unions to adopt the 'go slow' strike as their principal tactic in industrial disputes. The title of her published account of workers' struggles in South Africa's textile industry, Ukubamba Amadolo, translates literally as 'hold the knees' (meaning to go slow). In 1963, after several arrests and fearing long-term imprisonment, she went into exile in Ghana. There she worked in a trade union federation before becoming a researcher for Ghana Radio. It was in Ghana that she lost sight in both eyes as a result of an infection. She subsequently went to London for treatment and remained there, writing this manuscript in 1976 (GB 193 DUT). After spending years in London, she was to return finally to South Africa, where she died in 2002.

The manuscript has was later published as 'Ukubamba Amadolo: worker's struggles in the South African textile industry' (London, Onyx Press, 1978).

The permission of the author/estate must be obtained before quotation in any publication. Note however that the manuscript has now been published as Ukubamba Amadolo (Onyx Press, London 1978).
A reprographics service is available to researchers subject to the access restrictions outlined above. Copying will not be undertaken if there is any risk of damage to the document. Copies are supplied in accordance with the Borthwick Institute for Archives' terms and conditions for the supply of copies, and under provisions of any relevant copyright legislation. Permission to reproduce images of documents in the custody of the Borthwick Institute must be sought."

Further accruals are not expected.

* Borthwick Institute: Collection of South African Press Cuttings, collected by Nancy Dick (GB 193 DI)
* Borthwick Institute: Papers of the Industrial and Commercial Workers' Union, 1925-1943 (GB 193 CSASMF/69-74)
* Borthwick Institute: Speeches by Lucy Mvubelo of the National Clothing Workers' Union, South Africa, 1973-1977 (GB 193 TRA/A)
* Institute of Commonwealth Studies Library, University of London: South Africa: Trades Unions Material (GB 101 TU.SA)

Ukubamba Amadolo: Workers’ Struggles in the South African Textile Industry. By Bettie Du Toit. London: Onyx Press, 1978. Pp. 145.

Published

GB 193